Imagine an architectural ensemble so astonishing in its craftsmanship and execution that it effectively embodies the cumulative skill of five hundred years of Islamic culture, and you have just imagined Esfahan. There are at least a dozen sights of dazzling quality here, including three of the finest religious buildings anywhere - the Jame, Imam and Sheikh Lotfollah Mosques – that would rank alongside the glories of Damascus, Samarkand and Istanbul in any list of the “must-sees” of the Islamic world.
Nothing can prepare you for the moment when you first experience the scale and grandeur of Imam Square, the world’s second largest public space, containing within it the zenith of Persian art and architecture. Walking along the banks of the Zayandeh River, exploring the Armenian quarter or simply relaxing in a teahouse, Esfahan is an unmitigated delight and one of the best places in Iran to meet locals, for whom this city is their proudest achievement.