Geography and History of Isfahan City
Isfahan (32°38′N 51°39′E) is located in the lush plain of the Zayandeh River, central Iran, with an elevation of about 1570 meters. Royal family resided in Isfahan during the Achaemenid Empire. The city was prosperous throughout Achaemenid, Seleucid, Parthian and Sasanid Empires.

Scattered, magnificent historical sites around Isfahan dating back to Seljuq Dynasty bear evidence to the fact that Isfahan was not only a wealthy and developed city of its time, but also a vast area surrounding the city benefited from its central role in those times. Ardestan Jame Mosque (1158 AD), Pamenar Mosque (1068 AD), Parsian Mosque (1099 AD), Gaar Mosque (1121 AD), Seen Mosque (1132 AD), Gaz Mosque (11th century) and Rahrovan Minaret (11th century), as some of the most sophisticated examples of Islamic buildings and Isfahan architecture school, indicate the excellence of design and construction, imitated for a long time by other Iranian architects.

A closer look reveals that Safavid Architecture began in the time of Shah Abbas. In this regards, Wilfred Blant comments, "the beginning of urban planning by Shah Abbas was an ambitious idea in terms of both imagination and scale, including establishment of a great capital composed of streets, palaces, courts, mosques and schools, bazaars, bathhouses, castles and gardens. In materializing this ambitious plan, a prominent man served as Shah\'s hand: Sheikh Bahayi. A scholar, philosopher, Quran commentator, jurist, astrologist, teacher, poet and engineer of his time, he could be considered an abstract of the people of that time. Isfahan was an example of nice weather among writer and poets, with its people being famous for intelligence, innovation and artistic spirit."

Isfahan has always been known as a cradle of Persian art. In the last century, various foreign historians of considered Isfahan as equal to cities such as Beijing, Venice, Rome and Florence. Due to its historical and Islamic prominence, Isfahan is titles Star of the Muslim World.

Must-See:
33 Bridge
Khajou Bridge
Shahrestan Bridge
Choubi Bridge
Imam Mosque
Jame Mosque
Sheikh Lotfullah Mosque
Naqshe Jahan Square
Chaharbagh Seminary
Ali-Qapu Palace
Chehel Sotoun Palace
Monar Jonban (Shaking Minarets)
Toghchi Minaret
Gheysarie bazaar