Naqsh-e Jahan Square
Safavid-era square in Isfahan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Naqsh-e Jahan Square, also known as Shah Square prior to 1979 and sometimes Imam Square, is a historic square at the center of Isfahan, Iran. Constructed between 1598 and 1629, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key example of Safavid urban planning, designed to centralize power under Shah Abbas the Great.
- location
- Isfahan, Iran
- construction_period
- 1598–1629
- dimensions
- 160 m wide by 560 m long (89,600 sq m)
- architect
- Shaykh Bahai (Baha' ad-Din al-'Amili)
- patron
- Shah Abbas the Great
- unesco_status
- World Heritage Site
- notable_features
- Shah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Qeysarie Gate
Quick Facts
- Location
- Isfahan, Isfahan Province, Iran
- Criteria
- (i)(v)(vi)(i)(v)(vi)
- Year
- 1979
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
In 1598, Shah Abbas the Great moved the Safavid capital from Qazvin to Isfahan, initiating a grand urban remake. The chief architect, Shaykh Bahai, focused on the Chaharbagh avenue and Naqsh-e Jahan Square. The square was designed to undermine Iran's decentralized power structure by centralizing authority in the new capital. The square's orientation is deliberately misaligned with Mecca so that the dome of the Shah Mosque remains visible from anywhere within the square.
Reader's Guide
Naqsh-e Jahan Square is a landmark of Safavid architecture and urban design, reflecting Shah Abbas's ambition to create a grand capital that centralized political and economic power. Its four sides feature the Shah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and the Qeysarie Gate leading to the Grand Bazaar. The square's dimensions and layout influenced later city squares. Today, it remains a major historical site and tourist attraction, depicted on the Iranian 20,000 rials banknote. The Friday prayer is held in the Shah Mosque. Its UNESCO designation underscores its global cultural significance.
Did You Know?
- The square is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 20,000 rials banknote.
- Italian traveler Pietro Della Valle in 1617 described it as 'without doubt superior to everything in Constantinople or wheresoever in Christendom.'
- The square's orientation is deliberately not aligned with Mecca so the Shah Mosque's dome remains visible from anywhere in the square.
- Under Shah Abbas, some 300 Chinese artisans were brought to Isfahan to teach porcelain-making.
More in World Heritage Sites in Iran 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record