Naksh-i Cihan Square, located in the Isfahan province of Iran and built during the Safavid era, resembles an open-air museum with its historical monuments.
The square, surrounded by historic bazaars and architectural landmarks on all four sides, is a popular destination not only for domestic and foreign tourists but also for the city residents.
With its trees, green gardens, and pool, the square serves as a resting place for visitors. Those who come to the square can also shop at the market, where nearly everything can be found.
The square, once a venue for military exercises, executions, and religious ceremonies, where jereed (cirit) games were played on horseback, is now frequented by visitors taking carriage rides.
The shops around the square offer customers some of Isfahan's most beautiful handicrafts.
Listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Naksh-i Cihan Square was constructed in the 17th century after the Safavid ruler Shah Abbas moved the capital to Isfahan.
Among the structures surrounding the square, besides the shops, are some of Isfahan's most visited sites, including the Ali Qapu Palace, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Shah Mosque (Masjed-e Shah), and Qeysarie Gate.
Naksh-i Cihan Square, known as the world's largest square when it was built, has dimensions of 500 meters in length and 167 meters in width.
A striking example of Islamic architecture, the square has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979.
Describing Naksh-i Cihan Square to an AA correspondent, tourism expert Muhammed Cafer Şahsevendi said that in the eyes of the people of Isfahan, this place is seen as the "heart of the world."
Şahsevendi mentioned that thousands of local and foreign tourists visit the square every year, attributing the high number of visitors to its size and being surrounded by historical monuments on all four sides.
Şahsevendi stated, "There are many historical buildings in the square. We have the Ali Qapu Palace, built during the reign of Shah Abbas I, the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which took 17 years to build and is now known as the Imam Mosque, right across from it."
He also mentioned the presence of the Qeysarie Gate on one side of the square, saying, "The construction of Qeysarie Gate marked the transformation of the square into its present form."
Şahsevendi added that the ground floor of the structure around the square hosted around 400 shops and workshops, stating, "The revenue generated from the shops was used for the budget of the Shah Mosque and to meet its needs. The upper floors were built for the beauty of the square."
Highlighting that the square was used for various purposes at different times, Şahsevendi mentioned that military exercises and religious ceremonies were organized here. He added that the square was utilized to showcase the grandeur of the Shah.