Persian Palaces and Polo - Esfahan, Iran (ancient persian palaces, persian palaces#i=29)

A TripAdvisor™ TripWow video of a travel blog to Esfahan, Iran by TravelPod blogger Mikeandfi. See this TripWow and more at tripwow.tripadvisor.com Persian Palaces and Polo "For your reading pleasure the following entries are by Fiona. A womans perspective on travelling in Iran. The morning saw us heading off on a walking tour of the city, starting with a bit of currency exchange (US$1 = Rial 9800). We avoid the banks and just use the small money changing shops, because there is no red tape, no delays and the rate is often better. Then it's a tour of Emam Khomeini Square with its surrounding mosques and palace, and dating back to the early 17th century. It's a huge area (500m by 160m) and the world's second largest square after Tianneman in China. Shah Abbas initially used the square as a polo field and you can still see the goalposts. First stop was the Masjed-e Emam Mosque, which is considered by many as the most magnificent in Iran. The typical Persian blue tiles abound both inside and outside. The interior seemed enormous and its dimensions quite stunning -- the dome 54m high, twin minarets both 42m, and the entrance portal 30m tall. It gave the architects a unique challenge, as the Shah required the portal and minarets to face the Square, and Islam required the mosque itself to face Mecca which was in a different direction altogether. Solution? Place the mosque at the appropriate angle for Mecca and build a cleverly angled corridor leading from the entrance. This was ...

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