The literal translation of the Farsi name is: ‘Image of the World Square’ and it is certainly as beautiful as anything I can recall seeing anywhere!   Hopefully the pics can do it some justice....

In 1598 when Shah Abbas decided to move the capital of his empire to Isfahan he initiated a programme to remake the city.  The resulting Square is almost 1 million square feet and is  surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era having been constructed between 1598 and 1629.  You will see from the pics that in addition to the 160 metre wide by 560 metre wide square, complete with lake and fountains there are four major buildings, one along each side:

* The Shah Mosque is on the South Side

* On the West side is the Ali Qapu Palace

* On the Eastern Side is the Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque

* On the North Side the Keisaria Gate opens into the Isfahan Grand Bazaar

The Persian national sport of Polo would have been played in the Square with the Shah’s important guests watching from the upper galleries of the Ali Qapu Palace.  By all accounts the Shah himself was no mean Polo player!!

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