Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which is located on the eastern side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square in front of Aali Qapo Palace, is one of the most beautiful and unique attractions in Isfahan province.

What makes this mosque one of the prominent examples of Iranian Islamic art is its small size and at the same time its harmony with the buildings around the square. The beautiful and functional entrance of the mosque was completed in 1603, but other parts of the mosque and its tile decorations continued until 1618. The entrance is decorated with a very beautiful Suls inscription with white mosaic tiles on an azure background, which is its completion date and the signature of Ali Reza Abbasi, one of the prominent calligraphers of the Safavid era. The unique altar of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which is one of the masterpieces of Islamic art and architecture, is decorated with the signature of Ustad Hussein Bana Isfahani. This mosque, along with other monuments in Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan province, was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

The History of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, which took about seventeen years to complete, was built by the decree of Shah Abbas I. It. This mosque was also mentioned in the Safavid era with titles such as Fathollah Mosque and Sadr Mosque. It is said that Shah Abbas built this private mosque and a school next to it on the remains of an old mosque in honor of Sheikh Lotfollah, his father-in-law. Sheikh Lotfollah Jabal was one of the Safavid Shiite scholars and clerics who came to Iran from Lebanon; at present, there is no trace of the mentioned school where this cleric taught. The lack of a courtyard and minaret, which are the main components of Islamic mosques, is kind of confirming this theory. This is probably why few European tourists, such as Pietro Della Valle and Eugene Flandin, have spoken about the mosque.

Architectural Features of Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

As mentioned above, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, like other mosques, does not have a courtyard and minaret. This mosque is a domed shabestan (prayer hall) that is connected to Naqsh-e Jahan Square by a very luxurious portico. Based on historical evidence, some scholars believe that there was an underground corridor under Naqsh-e Jahan Square that connected Aali Qapo Palace and Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque.

In different parts of the shabestan of the mosque, artistic decorations can be seen from geometric designs to floral and plant designs, peacocks, etc., which appear in the form of seven-color tiles in the lower parts and mosaic tiles in the upper parts. Tiling inside and outside the dome is also one of the most exquisite types of mosaic tiling. The color of the dome of this mosque is different from other mosques; in most mosques the predominant color of the dome is blue, but in Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the dome is pea-colored. This low height dome, which was completely restored in 1934-1936, is one of the most beautiful domes of Islamic mosques. One of the characteristic features of this beautiful building in Isfahan province is its 45-degree rotation from the north to the south axis regarding the qibla axis; this rotation has been done so skillfully that it does not attract the visitor's attention. The light inside the mosque is provided through latticed windows that are made in different parts of the dome stem. Another important feature of this mosque is its beautiful moqarnas, which has multiplied the glory of its entrance.

To visit this spectacular mosque, which is considered one of the architectural masterpieces, you can join the tours of Persian Trips.