Isfahan

Isfahan, اصفهان‎ Esfahān), historically also rendered in English as Ispahan, Sepahan or Hispahan, is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located about 340 km south of Tehran. It has a population of 1,583,609 and is Iran's third largest city after Tehran and Mashhad. The Isfahan metropolitan area had a population of 3,430,353 in the 2006 Census, the second most populous metropolitan area in Iran after Tehran.
The cities of Najafabad, Se-deh (Homayounshahr, renamed Khomeinishahr since 1981), Khan Isfahan, Shahin-shahr, Zarrinshahr, Mobarakeh, Falavarjan and Fouladshahr all constitute the metropolitan city of Isfahan.
Isfahan is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history. Even today, the city retains much of its past glory. It is famous for its Islamic architecture, with many beautiful boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, mosques, and minarets. This led to the Persian proverb "'Esfahān nesf-e jahān ast" (Isfahan is half of the world).
The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the largest city squares in the world and an outstanding example of Iranian and Islamic architecture. It has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also has a wide variety of historic monuments.


Tourist Attractions
Isfahan is a unique city. It is an important historical center for main different group of tourists in the domestic and international in the world. The central historical region and the area called Seeosepol (the name of a famous bridge)
– Naghsheh jahan square – Sheykh Lotfolah Mosque – Imam Mosque – Ali Qapou palace – See-o-se pol bridge – Ghaisarieh bazaar – Ghaisarieh bazaar entrance – Chehel setoon building – Chahar Bagh complex – Jameh Mosque – Hasht Behesht Building – Charhar Bagh school – Ashraf saloon – Khajoo bridge – Flower Garden – Bird park – Waterfall Park – Bozorg bazaar (grand bazaar) – Zargarha bazaar – Honar bazaar – Honar Museum – Rangrazha bazaar – Ferdosi Bridge – Darol shafa bazaar – Shishehgarha bazaar – Mokhels saray – Golshan saray – Haj Karim saray – Kodak Boston – Tofang and shamshir bazaar – Najvan park – Shahrestan Bridge – Safeh park – Folad Takht – Leleh park – Baba Roknoldin cemetery – Shahsheham Boghah – Ghasr Darb – Baghoshkaneh park – Isargarn park – Zalyandeh rood Bostan – Melat Bostan – Aeneh Khaneh Bostan – Abozar bridge – Sadi Booston – Osan commercial complex – Carpet shopping center – Vanak church – Maryam church – Chehel Dokhtaran Monareh – Dardasht Monareh – Sareban Monareh – Shaigh Bahaee public bath – Ghazvineha house – Bait-oll-ham church – Darolziafeh Monareh – Petros house – Darid house – Jewish synagogue – Mesri Mosque – Koshk Darb – Malek Gorestan – Ghazviniha Museum – Lebanon Mosque – Khat Museum – Shohada Museum – Halal Ahmar Museum – Shaikholeslam house – Safa Mosque – Ali Agha public bath/hamam – Jolfa church – Bazi shahr – Atashgah – Monar Jonban – Ghadir cultural complex – Japanese garden – Daeme exhibition – Ibrahim Emam zadeh – Khan Mosque – Ghodsi house – Laleh park – Haghighi house – Baba Ghasam cemetery – Massod Boghaeh – Haronieh Imam Zadeh – Ismeel Imam zadeh – Ahmad Imam Zadeh – Ali Mosque – Malek shahr complex – Hassan Abad bazaar – Jacob church – Marta house – Narsis church – Bidabad bazaar – Soltani complex – Shahzadeghan Bogheh – Mirza Kochek khan park – Ghadir recreational cultural complex


Transport in Iran


Isfahan is served by the Isfahan International Airport which handles domestic flights to Iranian cities and international flights, mostly to regional destinations across Middle East and central Asia including Dubai and Damascus.


Metro and Inter City Public Transportation
Esfahan Metro is under construction and will include 2 lines with 43 km length. The first line of that is planned to be finished by end of 2010 with 21 km length and 20 stations. Until the metro is completed an expanded bus system accompanied by taxis will handle Isfahan intra-urban public transportation.
Rail
Isfahan is connected to three major rail lines: Isfahan-Tehran, Isfahan-Shiraz (Recently opened), Isfahan-Yazd and via this recent one to Bandar Abbas and Zahedan.


Road transport
Isfahan's internal highway network is currently under heavy expansion which began during the last decade. Its lengthy construction is due to concerns of possible destruction of valuable historical buildings. Outside the city, Isfahan is connected by modern highways to Tehran which spans a distance of nearly 400 km (248.55 mi) to North and to Shiraz at about 200 km (124.27 mi) to the south. The highways also service satellite cities surrounding the metropolitan area.