Isfahan: Your gateway to masterpieces of Iranian art and architecture

Isfahan sits in the middle of Iran. Travelers head there to see first rate Islamic art and buildings. Every street looks like part of an outdoor museum - mosques, palaces and bridges carry fine patterns.

The city has existed for more than one thousand years. It hit its peak under the Safavid kings, when it became the capital of Iran. Art building styles plus daily culture all grew fast and the town turned into a key seat of power and taste.

Naqsh Jahan Square lies at the heart of town. Shah Abbas I ordered it built in the 1600s. The Imam Mosque besides Aali Qapu Palace stand on its sides - both show the wealth of Persian-Islamic design.

Khawajo Bridge also from the 1600s, crosses the Zayandeh River. The arches line up in perfect balance but also people use the lower corridors as a path and as a quiet place to sit beside the water.

Shah Abbas I paid for the Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque. The dome carries bright tiles and the walls hold tiny painted patterns. The building works both as a house of prayer as well as as a jewel of design.

Chehel Sotoun, called “Forty Column Palace,” served as a Safavid party hall. Twenty wooden pillars hold up the porch - their mirror image in the long pool gives the look of forty.

The Grand Bazaar fills lane after lane with craft stalls. Sellers offer hand knotted Persian rugs, beaten copper trays, painted miniatures and other goods that carry on skills passed down for ages.

Green parks break up the stone and brick. Gulhastan or Hazar Jarib hold lawns, water channels or rose beds laid out in the old Persian way giving residents a place to rest.

Local cooks serve “Beryani,” a plate of roasted lamb seasoned with spices and served on flatbread. The dish sits at the top of the city's food list and draws eaters as strongly as the monuments draw sightseers.

Isfahan is not just a city - it is a walk through centuries of Persian history, art also culture. Travelers who skip it miss a required stop.