Mr. Sadeqzadeh Naini is a tour guide for over 20 years and knows things inside out. After checking in at the hotel we have lunch there in the revolving restaurant on top of it. Quite nice view and good food - for USD 60.00 for the four of us not too bad.
Afterwards we drive to Jolfa, the Armenian quarters. It dates back from the time of Shah Abbas I, who transported a colony of Christians from the town of Jolfa en masse and named the village „New Jolfa“. Abbas sought their skills as merchants, entrepreneurs and artists and he ensured that their religious freedom was respected. At one time over 42’000 Armenian Christians lived here. Today there are a number of Armenian churches and an old cemetery, serving a cChristian community of approximately 5’000.
Afterwards we visit several mosques - and they are impressive. The first one, Masjed-e Shah (Iman Mosque), we can’t go in since they have a very special service there. People are praying in the mosque for 3 days. So we have to respect it and continue to the Naqsh-e Jahan (Iman Square). The name means „pattern of the world“ and was the centerpiece of Abbas’ new capital. At 512m long and 163m wide, this immense space is the second larges square on earth, after Mao Zedong’s Tiananmen Sq. in Beijing. In the old days it was also used as a polo ground and the goal posts still can be seen.
Next stop is Masjed-e Sheikh Lotfollah (Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque). The richness of this mosque’s blue-tiled mosaic designs and its perfectly proportioned Safavid-era architecture form a visually stunning monument. The Kakh-e Ali Qapu (Ali Qapu Palace) is where the royal family lived and is as impressive as the other buildings
We visit some of the handicraft shops where they sell beautiful miniatures, visit a carpet shop where we get Iranian carpets explained before we head for tea at the Abbasi Hotel, a former caravanserai. A real beautiful place! Dinner we have at a restaurant on top of a mountain with a beautiful view over the city.