Life Overseas

If you travel to Iran, I’m sure you will visit Isfahan at some point. The reason is that everyone speaks so highly of this beautiful city that it has turned to be the most touristy city of Iran. Many attribute such significance to this part of Iran due to its architectural highlights. My focus is on observing life as it goes on the streets.

Chahar-Bagh Avenue

Being the longest street of Isfahan, it is extended all the way from the North to the South of the city. Around the city center, there is plenty of space for pedestrians to walk on both sides of the street as well as the middle of the avenue where benches are set along the trees and paved paths.

Chahar-Bagh traces back to Safavid time when Isfahan was the capital of Iran. It was crossing a well-to-do zone in city center close to the royal gardens. Today, tens of thousands of people walk at this street to enjoy the cooling breeze under the shade of its trees in the sunny days of Summer time.

Monuments at Chahar-Bagh Avenue

On the Northern bank of the river, the avenue goes through some old areas of the ex-capital and you see some interesting monuments some of which are still in use. You will see a park that has been part of the royal garden. In the middle of this green area, there is a stunning palace called Hasht-Behesht, meaning eight heavens. It is one the last palaces built in Safavid period on a Chahr-Taghy style.

Next to the park, there’s a roofed passageway called Bazaar-e-Honar. The people who travel to Iran or the locals, who visit Isfahan, go to this passageway to stroll and do some window-shopping even if they don’t buy anything. There are lots of gold shops with glittering displays here.

Madreseh Chahar Bagh is after this bazaar and at the corner of Amadegah Street. Religious students are still using this school as a seminary. The blue dome and tile works on the facade are grand and beautiful.

Almost half way down the street, it reaches Si-o-Seh-Pol (33-arch bridge), the longest bridge over the river called Zayandeh rud. This bridge, with its unique shape has been built to be used as both a bridge and a water dam like other bridges of Safavid era. The traffic is blocked on the bridge and it is open only for the pedestrians. The landscape of Eastern and Western part of the city is really enjoyable on this bridge.

On the Southern bank of the river, city planning changes and you see less traditional buildings. The culture is different too. More modern shopping centers can be seen and the population is less dense. All along Chahar-Bagh, you can see the people of various walks of life.

There are other interesting streets to walk at in Isfahan during your travel to Iran.