!!!Impressions of Iran, Part 3 (Isfahan)
by H. Maurer 
!!Introduction
This report can be see as continuation of the trip described in [Impressions of Iran, Part 1|Geography/Asia/Iran/Special_Information/Impressions_of_Iran_(Schiras_and_Persepolis)] and [Impressions of Iran, Part 2|Geography/Asia/Iran/Special_Information/Impressions_of_Iran_(Yazd_and_Nain)] or as independent report on the famous city Isfahan. The larger part of the city of about 2 million is north of a  major river, the Zayandehrud, but our visit starts with the Armenian church in the Djolfa-area south-west of the river. The bridges crossing the river are long and lit, hence are one of the big attractions at night. The city boasts one of the largest squares of the world, the Meydan-e Iman, with the Palace Ali Qapu on the western long side of the rectangular area, just opposite the private mosque Sheik Lottfollah, and with a good view towards the encredible assembly of the Masdjid-e Iman mosques (at the south end; shown as Naghsh-e Jahan in the map). However, there are many more attractions like the large complex of the Friday mosque (Jame-Moqsque), the Chehelstoon Palace and garden, the huge bazar, and more. The map below  can be used to discover some of the above by zooming and moving it around. [{GoogleMap location='Isfahan', zoom='14', width='800' height= '800', type='embedded'}]
!!The Armenian church
Around 1600 many Armenians moved into Isfahan since ther was quite a need for skilled labor. Some 30.000 settled. This Christian community is still quite alive today.
%%center
[{Image src='ar05.jpg' caption='The Armenian church is part of the Vank cathedral, with a cupola looking almost like a mosque, just with a tiny cross instead of the half moon on top of it. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='490'}]
[{Image src='ar01.jpg' caption='Tower of church, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='314'}][{Image src='ar02.jpg' caption='Tower of church, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='247'}]
[{Image src='ar03.jpg' caption='One of the entrances to the inner square, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='255'}]
[{Image src='ar04.jpg' caption='Armenian inscription, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='545'}]
[{Image src='ar06.jpg' caption='Inside the church, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='402'}]
[{Image src='ar07.jpg' caption='Inside the church, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='321'}]
[{Image src='ar8.jpg' caption='Inside the church, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='514'}]
[{Image src='ar9.jpg' caption='Archbsihop Karchatour Kesaratsi,responsible for the construction of the Armenian chruch in 1636, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='293'}]
[{Image src='ar10.jpg' caption='Genocide plaque, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='461'}]
[{Image src='ar11.jpg' caption='Genocide memorial next to plaque, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='350' class='image_block' width='283'}]
[{Image src='ar12.jpg' caption='Beautiful manger from the museum next to Armenian church. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Armenian church' height='700' class='image_block' width='773'}]
%%
!! Friday mosque (Masjed-e Jame mosque)
Located at the north end of the bazar it has a huge inner courtyard, surrounded by mosques, medreses (schools of Islam) and other buildings. The medrese on one side was hit by bombs in the Iran- Iraque war and has not been restored, possible on purpose so Iranians do not forget that Iraq is an enemy. The other buildings around the big inner courtyars are intct and beautiful.
%%center
[{Image src='01.jpg' caption='Small part of the beautiful interior courtyard. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='527'}]
[{Image src='02.jpg' caption='Medrese, not in use, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='399'}]
[{Image src='03.jpg' caption='Medrese, not in use, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='517'}]
[{Image src='04.jpg' caption='Medrese, not in use, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='443'}]
[{Image src='05.jpg' caption='Nicely decorated olumn, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='263'}]
[{Image src='06.jpg' caption='Some part are still intact, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='525'}]
[{Image src='07.jpg' caption='Others are blackened by fire caused by bombs. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='486'}]
[{Image src='08.jpg' caption='The library was destroyed. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='588'}]
[{Image src='09.jpg' caption='And nobody seems to take care of the remaining books. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='543'}]
[{Image src='19.jpg' caption='Mosque; Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='467'}]
[{Image src='20.jpg' caption='Main entrance, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='435'}]
[{Image src='21.jpg' caption='Main entrance, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='337'}]
[{Image src='22.jpg' caption='Entrance, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='412'}]
[{Image src='25.jpg' caption='Inside mosque, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='270'}]
[{Image src='24.jpg' caption='Prayer area, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='525'}]
[{Image src='27.jpg' caption='Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Friday mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='286'}]
%%

!!Meydan-e Iman: Main square and buildings around it
!Ali Qapu Palace
The name means somethin like "imperila" or "great". It is forty-eight meters high and there are six floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. It was built by order of Shah Abbas I in the early seventeenth century.
%%center
[{Image src='p01.jpg' caption='Frontal view of Palace, Foto: Dieof Deslo, September 2016 in [Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80l%C4%AB_Q%C4%81p%C5%AB#/media/File:Palacio_Aali_Qapu,_Isfah%C3%A1n,_Ir%C3%A1n]' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='638'}]
[{Image src='p20.jpg' caption='View of palace from the side, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='291'}]
[{Image src='p02.jpg' caption='View from palace across the square to Sheik Lotfollah mosque; the pool is emtpy during winter months. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='525'}]
[{Image src='p03.jpg' caption='Close up of Sheik Lotfollah mosque. it was a private mosque with an underground passage leading from the palace to a prayer room for women one level below the main floor, to allow women to attend prayers without beeing seen in public. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='427'}]
[{Image src='p04.jpg' caption='View of Sheik Ltofoollah mosque from palace. Foto: Jeanne Menj, April 1999 from [Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80l%C4%AB_Q%C4%81p%C5%AB#/media/File:Iran_-_Ispahan_-_vue_de_Place_royale_(9259630291).jpg]' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='535'}]
[{Image src='p05.jpg' caption='View across square, direction bazar, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='593'}]
[{Image src='p06.jpg' caption='Ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='403'}]
[{Image src='p07.jpg' caption='Ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='280'}]
[{Image src='p08.jpg' caption='Ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='492'}]
[{Image src='p09.jpg' caption='Ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='629'}]
[{Image src='p10.jpg' caption='Painting in the palace, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='267'}]
[{Image src='p11.jpg' caption='Painting in the palace, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='229'}]
[{Image src='p13.jpg' caption='Decorated ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='487'}]
[{Image src='p14.jpg' caption='Decorated ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='410'}]
[{Image src='p15.jpg' caption='Decorated ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='505'}]
[{Image src='p16.jpg' caption='Music room on top floor of palace. Foto: Kiumars, 2006 in [Wikiepdia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%80l%C4%AB_Q%C4%81p%C5%AB#/media/File:Iran_Isfahan_Ali.Qapu_Music_Room_02.jpg]' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='525'}]
[{Image src='p17.jpg' caption='View from backside of palace, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='506'}]
[{Image src='p18.jpg' caption='View from balcony of palace towards the mountains, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='482'}]
[{Image src='p21.jpg' caption='Evening view across square to Masdjid-e Iman mosque with palace on the right, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='428'}]
[{Image src='p22.jpg' caption='Evening view across square to Masdjid-e Iman mosque with mountains in the background, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Ali Qapu Palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='577'}]
%%
!Masdjid-e Iman mosque
This mosque (called Shah mosque before the Islamic revolution) was built by and during the reign of Shah Abbas I ("The Great") starting in 1612. It is located in a large walled area, sorrounding mosque and gardens. What makes it very unusual is that the large "outer" iwan (entrance) aligned with the square with two minaretes, but then ones turns a corner to reach the mosque proper which is, at it must, facing towards Mekka. This is clearly recognizable in the first picture below.

%%center

[{Image src='mas00.jpg' caption='View of the outer entrance, and the entrance of the mosque, placed at an angle. Foto: Patrickringgenberg, 2009 from [Wikipedia|https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_general.JPG]' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='525'}]
[{Image src='mas01.jpg' caption='Entrance from square, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='242'}]
[{Image src='mas02.jpg' caption='Entrance from square, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='231'}] 
[{Image src='mas03.jpg' caption='Here is the turn to right to aling the mosque properly. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='261'}] 
[{Image src='mas04.jpg' caption='The mosque, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='250'}] 
[{Image src='mas05.jpg' caption='The mosque, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='274'}] 
[{Image src='mas06.jpg' caption='Minaret, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='237'}] 
[{Image src='mas07.jpg' caption='The mosque from the other side, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='283'}] 
[{Image src='mas08.jpg' caption='Inside mosque, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='509'}] 
[{Image src='mas09.jpg' caption='Garden with beautifully decorated walls. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='270'}] 
[{Image src='mas10.jpg' caption='Garden with beautifully decorated walls. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='449'}] 
[{Image src='mas11.jpg' caption='Garden with beautifully decorated walls. Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Masdjid-e Iman mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='511'}] 
%%
 

!Sheik Lotfollah mosque
This was a privat mosque opposite the palace. What makes it unusual is the ceilign of the main hall, soemn unusaul decoration and that ithas a large simpe prayer room one floor down, bascially for women form the palace, with an undergroudn tunnel connecting the two buildings 
%%center
[{Image src='lot1.jpg' caption='The mosque as seen from the square, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Sheik Lotfollah mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='417'}]
[{Image src='lot2.jpg' caption='Inside mosque; a small peacock seems to iluminate a cone-shaped part of the ceiling, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Sheik Lotfollah mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='484'}]
[{Image src='lot3.jpg' caption='The usual kind of ceiling decoration, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Sheik Lotfollah mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='527'}]
[{Image src='lot04.jpg' caption='Unusual kind of decoration, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Sheik Lotfollah mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='534'}]
[{Image src='lot05.jpg' caption='Unusual kind of decoration, Foto: U. and H. Maurer' alt='Sheik Lotfollah mosque' height='350' class='image_block' width='388'}]
%% 







!!Chehelsotoon Palace and garden 
The construction of palace and garden started a bit before 1600. The arrangement is dominated by a large pool, reflecting the 20 columns of the reception hall: this is reportedly the reason for the term "Hall of 40 columns". The hall and large room behind it plus some smaller side areas were used for ceremonial receptions and festivities.

%%center
[{Image src='ch01.jpg' caption='Pool and reception hall as seen when entering the site. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='564'}]
[{Image src='ch02.jpg' caption='Closer look while walkign towards reception hall. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='548'}]
[{Image src='ch03.jpg' caption='Roof with famous columns. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='524'}]
[{Image src='ch04.jpg' caption='Roof with famous columns. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='502'}]
[{Image src='ch05.jpg' caption='Upper part of entrance to main hall. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='513'}]
[{Image src='ch06a.jpg' caption='Entrance to main hall. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='314'}]
[{Image src='ch07.jpg' caption='The frescoes are showing vrious battle scenes. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='479'}]
[{Image src='ch08.jpg' caption='Detail of battel scene. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='482'}]
[{Image src='ch09.jpg' caption='Ceiling. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='521'}]
[{Image src='ch10.jpg' caption='Frescoe in side area, surprisingly including women with transparent blouses. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017', alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='348'}]
[{Image src='ch11.jpg' caption='Frescoe in side area, surprisingly including women with transparent blouses. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017', alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='504'}]
[{Image src='ch12.jpg' caption='Frescoe in side area. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='560'}]
[{Image src='ch13.jpg' caption='Window with decoration. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='525'}]
[{Image src='ch14.jpg' caption='Looking into the garden from reception hall. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='259'}]
[{Image src='ch15.jpg' caption='Guardians of pool and halls. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='190'}]
[{Image src='ch16.jpg' caption='Guardians of pool and halls. Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017',
 alt='Chehelsotoon palace' height='350' class='image_block' width='435'}]
%%
 

!! The bridges of Isfahan during night
Half of Isfahan seems to be walking on or near the lit-up bridges, quite ready to chat with you, or take a rowing boat out into the river to enjoy the view of lights and the ripple of waves.

%%center
[{Image src='ni01.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='631'}]
[{Image src='ni02.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='515'}]
[{Image src='ni03.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='409'}]
[{Image src='ni04.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='482'}]
[{Image src='ni05.jpg' caption='Non-native in a niche on a bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='235'}]
[{Image src='ni06.jpg' caption='Native in a niche on a bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='463'}]
[{Image src='ni07.jpg' caption='Entertainment in rowing boats at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='447'}]
[{Image src='ni08.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='251'}]
[{Image src='ni09.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='459'}]
[{Image src='ni10.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='461'}]
[{Image src='ni12.jpg' caption='Symbol of freedom, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' height='300' class='image_block' width='256'}]
%%
%%center
[{Image src='ni11.jpg' caption='Bridge at night, Foto: U. and H. Maurer, 2017' alt='Bridges at night' width='1000' class='image_block' height='281'}]
%%
----
> Continue to Impressions of Iran, Part 4 [(From Isfahan to Tehran)|Geography/Asia/Iran/Special_Information/Impressions_of_Iran_(Red_village_and_Qom)]
> Continue to Impressions of Iran, Part 5 [(Tehran)|Geography/Asia/Iran/Special_Information/Impressions_of_Iran_(Tehran)]
> Back to Impressions of Iran, Part 1[(Schiras and vicinity)|Geography/Asia/Iran/Special_Information/Impressions_of_Iran_(Schiras_and_Persepolis)]
> Back to Impressions of Iran, Part 2[(Yazd and Nain)|Geography/Asia/Iran/Special_Information/Impressions_of_Iran_(Yazd_and_Nain)]
 
 

 











[{Metadata Suchbegriff=' ' Kontrolle='Nein'}]