Aali Qapu Palace, a Safavid-era Imperial Mansion

Aali Qapu Palace is an architectural masterpiece belonging to the Safavid era. This palace is located on the western side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, opposite to Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. It was constructed in the 17th century by the order of Shah Abbas the Great.

Aali Qapu is derived from the Arabic word of “Aali”, literally means glorious, and the Azerbaijani word of “Qapu”, literally means gate.

This glorious palace used to be the place in which important royal meetings were carried out and foreign guests were welcomed. The terrace of this palace has a good view to Naqsh-e Jahan Square. So, the king and his companions would watch polo and horse-riding competitions that were held in the square from the terrace.

The Architecture of Aali Qapu Palace

Aali Qapu Palace is the tallest Safavid-era structure of Isfahan from which you have a view to cityscape. This palace is 48 meters high and has 6 floors. The floors are connected to each other with 3 narrow stairways.

The terrace of the third floor, featuring wooden poles and a cooper pool, is the most splendid part of the palace. This terrace overlooks the square and has a reception hall to reside the king and serve special guests. The first floor has two main halls which were dedicated to the official affairs of the Safavid reign.

Aali Qapu Palace is a multi-faceted structure that has different looks from each side. From Naqsh-e Jahan Square you face a two-story building. While it is a 5-story building facing backward, and a 3-story building from west and east.

The sixth floor has a hall, named music hall, that functions like a big music studio. The beautifully decorated walls of this hall have been designated in a way to echo sounds.

The Paintings of Aali Qapu Palace

One of the salient features of this building is the artistic paintings throughout the walls of the palace. These artworks include Arabesque and hunting motifs depicting floral, animal and bird. You can also visit brilliant miniature works painted by Master Reza Abbasi. In addition, the third and sixth floor displays some paintings in European style.

The Stucco Decorations of Aali Qapu Palace

Iranian artists have carved the stucco decorations so delicately in this palace. Some of them are so thin that looks like paintings from distance. Some other stucco decorations are carved in three dimensions. In Music Hall you can find some examples of 3D stucco decorations in the form of vases, pots and similar containers.

The Construction Stages of Aali Qapu Palace at a Glance

As mentioned, the initial structure of Aali Qapu Palace was constructed in the reign of Shah Abbas I. Later, decorations and the construction of other parts were gradually completed in the reign of Shah Abbas II and Sultan Husayn. It is noteworthy that renovation and decoration of this palace took 100 years continuously.

In the reign of Shah Abbas I, this palace served as a communitive way between Naqsh-e Jahan Square and other palaces. So, it was just used by courtiers to do official and ceremonial affairs. However, a place with amenities had been dedicated to the king so that he could rest.

The development of Isfahan doubled the importance of this palace as the Safavid governmental base. As a result, some changes were applied to this building in regards with the number of floors and appearance. Its entrance also became more luxurious. At this period, the Safavid were at the culmination of power and popularity.
In the next step, amenities and accommodational facilities were added to this palace to serve guests. In this regard, music hall was constructed on the sixth floor, and the terrace overlooking Naqsh-e Jahan Square was developed. As a result of this action, courtiers had more space to watch ceremonies and competitions.

In the reign of Sultan Husayn Safavid many actions were taken to renovate and decorate the palace. The most important one was constructing copper pool to supply water to the upper floors. This pool lies in the terrace, and has been constructed with engineering techniques. It is made of copper and stone, and results in cold weather to move in the terrace.

Visiting Aali Qapu Palace on Your Trip to Isfahan

On your trip to Iran, don’t miss Aali Qapu Palace. This splendid Safavid-era monument is almost visited in all Iran classic tours. To view these tours, you should select the itineraries that include Isfahan. All the tours offered by 1001 Night Tours that include Isfahan can be observed here.

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