Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Public square in Isfahan, Iran
Naqsh-e Jahan Square is a large open plaza in Isfahan surrounded by grand buildings on all four sides. Two-story arcades line the edges of the space, with shops and workshops tucked behind the covered passages.
The plaza was created in the late 1500s when a ruler chose the city as a new capital and wanted to reshape it. The space became the center of this fresh capital, gaining its four grand buildings gradually over time.
The square serves as a gathering place where people stroll and pause under the covered arcades along the edges. Visitors naturally move around the four grand buildings that frame the space, exploring the shops or resting in the open center.
You can explore the plaza on foot by walking around its four sides and browsing the shops at a leisurely pace. It helps to allow time for strolling under the arcades, as these areas offer shade and a chance to rest.
The plaza once had a completely different function and was used as a sports field, with goal posts standing at both ends. These ancient poles still stand today and serve as reminders of the space's athletic past.
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