Naqsh-e Jahan Square (Meidan Emam)

Naqsh-e Jahan Square ("Image of the World"), also known as Imam Square, is one of the largest public squares in the world, measuring 560 by 160 metres. Constructed between 1598 and 1629 during the reign of Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty, the square served as the political, economic, and spiritual heart of Isfahan — then the capital of Iran.

The square is framed by two storeys of arcaded shops and anchored by four masterworks of Safavid architecture. On the south side stands the Shah Mosque (Masjed-e Shah), renowned for its soaring iwan, double-shelled dome reaching 52 metres, and magnificent tilework in seven colours. To the east, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, built as a private royal chapel, is celebrated for its cream-coloured dome and extraordinary interior decoration — widely considered among the finest in all of Persian architecture.

On the west side, the Ali Qapu Palace served as the seat of government and royal reception hall, its six-storey structure offering panoramic views of the square and featuring the famous Music Room with intricate acoustic niches. The northern entrance leads to the historic Isfahan Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, Naqsh-e Jahan remains the living heart of Isfahan and one of the most remarkable urban spaces ever created.