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VARZANEH ATTRACTIONS

Varzaneh Kabotar Khaneh (Pigeon House)

Pigeon Houses are enclosed brick structures in which a large number of pigeon nests are built, just like beehives. In the past, farmers used pigeon droppings to fertilize and increase crop yields. People also sometimes hunted the birds for eating their meat. The construction of these Pigeon Houses increased during the Safavid era, and their owners had to pay taxes to the government

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VARZANEH ATTRACTIONS

Mills are structures that, with the help of the forces of natural elements such as water and wind, turn wheat, barley, and legumes into flour. The bread was once the main part of the food chain to ancient people. To make bread, people had to first harvest wheat and then turn it into flour so that they could make bread. This was done by rotating two large millstones on top of each other

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HAMMAM

The Emergence of Private and Public Hammam

Little is known about how water was used for pre-Islamic Bathhouses. But according to some sources, archaeologists found out that the first Hammam were built near hot springs and rivers. In religious mythology, the building of the first Bathhouse is attributed to Suleiman. On the other hand, in Iranian mythology, the founder of the first Bathhouse is known to be Jamshid. But there is little information available about private Bathhouses. Some of these Private Bathhouses belonged to Parthians of Assyria or to more recent times such as the Achaemenids and then Sassanids.

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HAMMAM

Water, the Rare Gold

Hammam & Water has long been sacred to Iranians. The ancient religions of Iran, such as Mithraism and Zoroastrianism, considered water as a symbol of purity. That is why water was considered a divine element. The ancients believed that water was the embodiment of the goddess Mithra. On the other hand, they considered the lakes to be the home of this ancient goddess. In a plateau like the Iranian plateau, which is an almost warm and semi-arid region, this natural element became the most valuable element. Thus, even in ancient religions, polluting and wasting water was considered as one of the greatest sins. Above all, water became highly important for personal hygiene.

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ZURKHANEH

Background

The history of the construction of the first Zurkhanehs is rather vague. Accordingly, the history of Iran does not provide us with much evidence of the first Zurkhanehs in the country. However, we know that during the Safavid era, Zurkhaneh’s exercises became more elaborate. The famous courtiers, nobles, and merchants of the city, who sometimes built public buildings in the city, started focusing on building Zourkhanehs. Therefore, people were motivated to join the Zurkhanehs more and more during the Safavid era. One of the best examples of Zurkhanehs in Isfahan, which is still standing, is Ali Gholi Agha Zurkhaneh. This Zurkhaneh was built in the Ali Gholi Agha complex in the Bidabad district of Isfahan. During the Qajar era, Zurkhanehs were still open. Plus, Pahlavan and Sadat (the highest-ranked people in Zurkhanehs) were also widely respected by the people. Zurkhanehs gradually were replaced by other sport centers with the rise of modernity. Today, there are still Pahlavans who have kept the candles of the Zoorkhanehs burning.

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ZURKHANEH

Zurkhaneh, a Spiritual Gymnasium

There is an ancient sport that the people of Isfahan are still familiar with and consider it a symbol of heroism and morality. These places are known as Zurkhaneh that are indoor gyms. In the past, they were built in different districts in the city. Zurkhanehs are associated with the religion and culture of the Iranian nation. Every practice in these places reflects the traditions and lifestyles of generations of Iranians.

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MONAR JONBAN

The Miracle of the Shaking Minarets

As the name implies, the minarets of Monar Jonban are movable while they can also maintain still. These shaking of the minarets of this building was the very thing that used to amaze its visitors in the past. They were amazed to see how minarets can shake. Interestingly, when one minaret was shaken, the other one began to shake as well. They considered this miracle to be related to the will of the sheikh who was buried there. In other words, before finding out the scientific reason behind this, they used to believe in the miracle of the sheikh.

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MONAR JONBAN

On the banks of the Zayandeh Rud River in the western part of Isfahan, there is a monument that has amazed its visitors for the past five decades. Monar Jonban, literary meaning Shaking Minarets, was built outside of Isfahan in one of the villages called Karladan

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JAMEH MOSQUE OF ISFAHAN

Expansions done by the Kings during different eras

It should be noted that the following dynasties each added a part to the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan. Some of these dynasties also added decorations such as plasterwork, brickwork, tilework and Gereh Chini (a type of decorative pattern) to different parts of the mosque. The first structure of the mosque was built during the Buyid Dynasty. This mosque was a mosque with a large courtyard and a small Shabestan (prayer hall) in its southern part.

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JAMEH MOSQUE OF ISFAHAN

The Greatest Museum of Iranian and Islamic Architecture. This is the title given to the Jameh Atiq (ancient) Mosque of Isfahan. Jameh Mosque of Isfahan with an area of ​​20,000 square meters is one of the best examples of mosques of the Islamic era in Iran. During the 8th century, a small mosque was built in this area by a tribe of Arabs who had moved to Isfahan after conquering Iran

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HISTORICAL BRIDGES OF ISFAHAN

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HISTORICAL BRIDGES OF ISFAHAN

Marnan Bridge

Marnan Bridge is 185 meters long and 5 meters wide and it is the oldest bridge on Isfahan’s western end. This bridge was probably called Mehrbin in ancient times. Mehr refers to one of the ancient religions of Iran. One of the greatest and most important gods of the ancient Iranian religion was called Izad Mehr.

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JOLFA QUARTER

Vank Cathedral

During the Safavid era, Jolfa quarter had 26 churches. Today, the city of Isfahan has 13 churches. Of these 13 churches, only two churches are open to the public. The main cathedral of Isfahan, called Vank (Amena Parkij), occupies an area of 8,700 square meters.

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JOLFA QUARTER

Jolfa is a quarter located in the southwestern part of Isfahan. This neighborhood was given to the Armenians of Isfahan during the Safavid dynasty under the reign of Shah Abbas, the Great. This quarter is named after the prior settlement of Armenians in northwestern Iran

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SI-O-SE-POL BRIDGE

The restrictions toward moving vehicles on the Si-o-se-pol Bridge

Until the Pahlavi era, vehicles could cross the Si-o-se-pol Bridge, but after that, the mayor’s office banned vehicles from crossing the bridge and prevented the process of the short-term destruction of the bridge. Abbas Beheshtian was one of those who strongly opposed the passage of vehicles across Siosepol Bridge and considered it extremely harmful to the bridge. He could not prevent this by writing letters and working around the clock. Until in a military maneuver, tanks and military vehicles were to cross the bridge. Beheshtian did not allow any military vehicles to cross by sleeping on the bridge. With his resistance, the vehicles were finally banned from crossing the bridge.

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SI-O-SE-POL BRIDGE

Why do they call it the Allah Verdi Khan Bridge?

As we mentioned before, Si-o-se-pol Bridge is also known as Allah Verdi Khan Bridge. Allah Verdi Khan was the commander of Shah Abbas the Great’s army. Accordingly, he was in charge of the southern regions of Iran such as Fars, Hormozgan, Kerman and the present-day Bushehr.

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SI-O-SE-POL BRIDGE

Si-o-se-pol Bridge is the longest bridge over the Zayandeh Rud River. This bridge is about 300 meters long and 14 meters wide. It was built on a river that now divides Isfahan into two northern and southern parts. Sio-se-pol Bridge is also known as Allah Verdi Khan Bridge and Jolfa Bridge