Imam Mosque in Isfahan

Isfahan's main mosque closes off the southern side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square. Construction began in 1611 under Shah Abbas I and was completed under his successors — the work stretched over almost two decades. The builders had a tricky problem to solve: the portal had to face the square, while the prayer hall had to face Mecca, so beyond the entrance iwan the building turns through about forty-five degrees, and from outside this kink is almost impossible to read. The facades are covered entirely in tiles of the seven-colour haft-rang technique: it was chosen for speed, since assembling mosaic out of individual pieces over such an area would have taken far too long. Under the main dome there is a spot where a clap comes back as a multiple echo — a guide will usually show it first. Inside the courtyard are four iwans, two madrasas and a long pool for ablutions. From the square the mosque looks best from the water: the turquoise dome and the pair of minarets are reflected in the pool almost in full.

On the map