Magnificant Buildings

Ali Qapu

"Ali Qapu, Exterior"

Ali Qapu, beginning 17th century. When Shah Abbas decided to move his capital to Esfahan there was already a small Timurid pavilion alongside what was to become the great square. This he converted into the Ali Qapu, the great gatehouse of the palace complex overlooking the square.

"Ali Qapu, Music Room"

Ali Qapu Music Room, 17th century. The entire uppoer floor of the palace gatehouse consists of a group of rooms whose walls are decorated with a fretwork of niches and bottle shapes cut into a wood and plaster membrane which lines the wall.

"Ali Qapu, Music Room acostic design"

"Ali Qapu, ceiling painting"

Forty Columns

"Forty Columns"

The Chehel Sotoon Palace, Forty Columns Palace is an even more striking example of the refinement of the Safavid King's courts. It is a charming pavilion in the heart of a park, at the far end of a long pool. Chehel Sotoon is supported by twenty wooden columns, and since these are reflected in the water, you have a palace with forty colums. Shah Abbas II and his successor received there dignitaries and ambassadors, either on the terrace or in one of the state reception halls.

"Forty Columns"

Like in the Ali Qapu, the walls are covered with frescoes and paintings. They are damaged by old age, but are also being restored. They depict historical scenes such as a reception for a Uzbek King in 1646 when the palace had only just been completed. A banquet in honor of the King of Turkestan in 1611; the battle of Chalderan against the king of Osmanlis in 1514 in which the Persians fought without fire-arms. The welcome extended to a Mongol King who took refuge in Iran in 1544; the battle of Taher-Abad in 1510 where the Safavid King Shah Esmail vanquished and killed the Uzbek King, a sixth large painting, which is more recent, depicts Nader Shah's victory against the Indian Army at Karnal, in 1747. There are also less anecdotic but prettier small mural compositions in the traditional miniature style which celebrate the joy of living.

"Forty Columns"

"Forty Columns"

The superb wooden roof of the porch was painted with a series of geometrical decorations interspersed with flowers. The waterproofing of this, and other palaces, was achieved by covering the roof with a fresh layer of beaten earth every year, the weight of which has caused many others to collapse.

Hasht Behesht

"Hasht Behesht, Interior Ceiling Design"

"Hasht Behesht"

Just after the madresseh and the entrance of the new bazzar, a high stone gateway leads into a park which used to be for a long time one of the largest and most pleasant in 17th century Esfahan. It is called Bagh_e Bolbol, the Nightingale Garden. In the center of the trees and flowers there is a charming pavilion with wooden columns, the Hasht Behesht.