About Isfahan, Iran

Although it rarely ranks highly on many travel lists in America, Iran has a rich historic and cultural legacy to offer its visitors. Few places in the country embody this as much as Isfahan, a beautiful city that was once the center of bygone Persia. Although perhaps better known today for its controversial nuclear facility, Isfahan's architectural beauty has captured the imaginations of visitors for centuries, and the city continues to stand as one of the true travel gems of modern Iran.

Isfahan is the country's third largest city, with a population of over 1.5 million. Located in central Iran, Isfahan is roughly 210 miles south of the capital of Tehran. An old and historic city, Isfahan was the capital of Persia under the Safavid Dynasty, from 1598 until its sacking at the hands of Afghan raiders in 1722. Lonely Planet described it as "Iran's masterpiece, the jewel of ancient Persia and one of the finest cities in the Islamic world."

Getting There

Iran does not maintain formal relations with the United States, but there is an Iranian Interests Section within the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, DC, and this office handles visa applications. The main issue for Americans traveling to Iran is the necessity of having a sponsor, which can either be a friend or business contact in Iran or a tour agency in Europe or the United States. Once the sponsor has contacted the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the traveler can go ahead with submitting their passport, one passport photo, an application form and the relevant fees to the Iranian Interests Section.

Isfahan International Airport handles mostly domestic flights, although it does receive some international flights from within the Persian Gulf region. The railway that runs to Isfahan stops at a station on the eastern outskirts of the city, with the train trip from Tehran taking 7 1/2 hours. Frequent bus departures also connect Isfahan to Tehran and other cities in central Iran.

Attractions

As a former capital, Isfahan is city richly endowed with ornate mosques, palaces and gardens. Sights like the brilliant blue tilework of the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, the ornate arches of the Khaju Bridge, and imposing gateway of the Ali Qapu serve as excellent examples of 17th century Persian architecture. Even non-Muslim buildings, like Vank Cathedral, contribute to the city's Safavid architectural heritage. Preceding the Safavid era are even older sights, such as the ruins of the Zoroastrian temple at Atashgah.

Shopping

Isfahan was once a major trading center in Persia, and the expansive bazaar is worth a visit just to soak up the ambiance. For travelers who are in the market for a Persian carpet, Isfahan is a gold mine, as it has been famous for producing some of the finest carpets in the world for centuries. There is little discount on the price tag just for being closer to where the carpet is being made and cutting out a few middlemen, however, so be prepared to pay a premium for one, even after considerable haggling.

Climate

Isfahan sits at about 5,250 feet above sea level, endowing it with the kind of dry, thin air of other high-altitude cities, such as Denver, Colorado. Isfahan is hot in the summer, with temperatures in the between the mid-80s and mid-90s Fahrenheit through June, July and August. Winters are relatively mild for such a high-altitude environment, with highs in the upper 40s.
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Sources:

lonelyplanet.com/iran/central-iran/esfahan
world66.com/asia/middleeast/iran/isfahan/lib/climate
key2persia.com/highlights_isfahan.htm
daftar.org/forms/visas/101.pdf
travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1142.html