Half of the World
The old adage and nice pun Esfahan nesf-e jahan , literally “Esfahan is half of the world”, was coined actually in the West. The capital of the Safavid Empire is a city of great splendor. Shah Abbas created in the 17th century particular the Naqsh-e Jahan square with its almost overwhelming architecture. It is expressing function, of course, but even more, pure beauty. The noble Esfahanians know, they are living in one of the world’s finest, most beautiful cities. Three main buildings are ingeniously arranged around the square which is known to be one of the largest on Earth. The Grand Shah Mosque, the Lotfallah Mosque, and Ali Qapoo Palace. Imagining Shah Abbas The Great watching, from the balustrade of Ali Qapoo, his polo playing horsemen in the center of the square is just fun. Nowadays, the huge lawn with its fountains and flowerbeds is used by relaxing Esfahanians for picnic, watching people, and enjoyment of life. Horse-cart carriages provide tourists with memorable rides around ...