Isfahan's historical monuments

Abbasi caravanserai, a new residential touristic site
In the eleventh century, in the Safavid era, many remarkable caravansaries were built across Iran. They were built to develop tourism and especially commercial travel. After the 12th century they were forgotten and half-destroyed. But some have been restored for special purposes due to their exceptional locations; this caravanserai has been changed into a glorious and superb hotel. In the last 3 years, some were restored with the initiative of Moezeloddin, the head of Iran Tourism and Touring Organization, and changed into residential sites to attract domestic and foreign tourists. The Abbasi caravansary, 40 km on the Isfahan-Tehran road, is an example which will not only turn into a beautiful traditional and peaceable historical residential place but will attract foreign tourists.

Abbasi guest house, a museum of contemporary decorative arts

One of the caravansaries in the 11th hijri century at the center of Isfahan has been turned into a magnificent and wonderful guest house. It’s the same as it used to be, with its original and traditional structure, but some restorations and additions were involved. Its decoration is inspired by the old ornamental arts used in Isfahan’s historical buildings, and it was converted to a museum after hundreds of Persian artists assisted in constructing it. It is not only an inn but also a treasure of contemporary decorative arts. It is recommended to visit it if you ever travel to the area.

Treasures of decorative arts in Isfahan

The museum of decorative arts treasures is located in the historical monument of Rakib Khane. In the early 11th century AH, when Shah Abbas I of the Safavid was the king, it was used to keep horse-riding equipment and royal harnesses and was built amongst Safavid Dolatkhane(government house) buildings. The building was also used in the Qajar period when Zill al-Sultan ruled Isfahan and it was Iran’s registry office during the Pahlavi dynasty.The treasures consist of various artworks in calligraphy such as manuscripts and writing, cover-making, lacquer work, painting, weaving and traditional needlework, metalwork, woodwork, pottery and glass which have remained from the Safavid and Gajar periods.

Sayed Mosque

The largest and best-known mosque in Isfahan was founded in the 13th hijri century under the order of Haj Sayed Bagher Shafti, a Shiite scholar who lived in the reign of Mohammad Shah from Gajar. In its tiling decorations with vase and landscape patterns the color red plays an important role as it is seen in several other mosques of the Gajar period such as Rahim Khan and Roknolmulk mosques. There are manuscripts with the handwritings of Mohammad Bgher, the Shirazi sharif. The magnificent tomb of Sayed Hojjatolislam is situated in the northeast corner of its open space, decorated with plaster molding, mirror works, and gilding.

Hakim mosque

Hakim mosque with 4 porches was built from 1051 AH to 1073 AH, when Shah Safi and Shah Abbas II were rulers, by the physician Hakim Mohammad Davoud Khan known as Tagharrob Khan. It was built on the ruins of the mosque of Jame Joor Jiraz founded in the fourth hijri century by Mohammad Ali Ibn Setad Ali Beik Isfahani.
It’s outstanding due to its various inscriptions by the renowned calligrapher of the Safavid Era, Mohammadreza Imami. It also has a beautiful altar decorated with Mogharnas (a form of architectural ornamented vaulting) and inscriptions in Sols in an azure background.