ISFAHAN ATTRACTIONS (ALI QAPU)

Ali Qapu is a grand palace in Isfahan, Iran. It is located on the western side of the Naqsh e Jahan Square, opposite to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, and had been originally designed as a vast portal. It is forty-eight meters high and there are seven floors, each accessible by a difficult spiral staircase. In the sixth floor, Music Hall, deep circular niches are found in the walls, having not only aesthetic value, but also acoustic. The name Ali Qapu, from Arabic ―Ālī‖ (meaning ―imperial‖ or ―great‖), and Turkic ―Qāpū‖ 16 (meaning ―gate‖), was given to this place as it was right at the entrance to the Safavidpalaces which stretched from the Naqsh e Jahan Square to the ChaharBaq Boulevard. The building, another wonderful Safavid edifice, was built by decree of Shah Abbas I in the early seventeenth century. It was here that the great monarch used to entertain noble visitors, and foreign ambassadors. Shah Abbas, here for the first time, celebrated theNowruz (Iranian New Year) of 1006 AH / 1597 C.E. Ali Qapu is rich in naturalistic wall paintings by Reza Abbasi, the court painter of Shah Abbas I, and his pupils. There are floral, animal, and bird motifs in his works. The highly ornamented doors and windows of the palace have almost all been pillaged at times of social anarchy. Only one window on the third floor has escaped the ravages of time. Ali Qapu was repaired and restored substantially during the reign of Shah Sultan Hussein, the last Safavid ruler, but fell into a dreadful state of dilapidation again during the short reign of invading Afghans. Under the reign of Nasirol Din Shah e Qajar (1848–96), the Safavid cornices and floral tiles above the portal were replaced by tiles bearing inscriptions. Shah Abbas II was enthusiastic about the embellishment and perfection of Ali Qapu. His chief contribution was given to the magnificent hall, the contractures on the third floor. The 18 columns of the hall are covered with mirrors and its ceiling is decorated with great paintings.The chancellery was stationed on the first floor. On the sixth, the royal reception and banquets were held. The largest rooms are found on this floor. The stucco decoration of the banquet hall abounds in motif of various vessels and cups. The sixth floor was popularly called the Music Hall. Here various ensembles performed music and sang songs. Ali Qapu reminds every Iranian of the famous mansions in Isfahan which was built during the Safavid era. However, this edifice — also from the Safavid era — was built in the city of Qazvin before the capital was relocated to Isfahan. Qazvin contains few buildings from the Safavid era, when it was the capital of Persia. Perhaps the most famous surviving edifice is Ali Qapu Mansion.