Naqsh-e Jahan Square

Isfahan, Iran, Iran

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Naqsh‑e Jahan Square, in Isfahan, Iran, is a vast, grand city square built in the early 17th century during the Safavid era under Shah Abbas the Great and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lying at the heart of the city, it measures roughly 560 meters long by 160 meters wide and is surrounded by four major historic structures: the domed Imam Mosque on the south, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque on the east, the Ali Qapu Palace on the west, and the Qeysarieh Gateway on the north, which leads into the covered bazaar. The square was designed as the ceremonial and commercial center of Isfahan, hosting royal events, polo matches, and public festivities, and it remains a lively hub for locals and tourists alike, with shops, arcades, and beautiful tile‑covered pavilions around a central courtyard planted with trees and fountains. Its symmetrical layout and stunning Persian‑Islamic architecture make it one of the largest and most iconic city squares in the world.