Iran World Heritage Attractions (No. 2)

As a vast country with a history that stretches millennia, Iran has made significant contributions to human civilization. Over the centuries many awe-inspiring monuments have been set up in Iran. In 1979 Iran joined the UNESCO World Heritage Convention. As of 2009, ten Iranian monuments had been officially registered as World Heritage Sites. Several others have been nominated for registration.

In an October special issue that focused on tourism and sustainable development, Safar (Travel) monthly, took a closer look through a camera lens at these World Heritage Sites, among them Isfahan’s Meidan-e Imam which is also known as Naghsh-e Jahan Square:

The square, a masterpiece of urban construction in the center of Isfahan, was built in the 17^th century on orders of Shah Abbas, a Safavid Dynasty king. Naghsh-e Jahan, which means image of the world in Farsi, has been described as an Iranian equivalent to Saint Mark’s Basilica in Venice.

The square, which was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, is 508 meters long and 160 meters wide. Two beautiful mosques, namely Masjed-e Imam and Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah, along with Aliqapu Palace, a six-story structure, surround the historic square.