Another beautiful city - Isfahan was our next stop.
Highways in Iran are beautiful and we zipped onwards. We were also bidding adieu to a group of our friends who were heading on a different route to Yazd. We wanted to get to Isfahan by 5PM as we wanted to see the beautiful sights in Isfahan.
We reached Isfahan on time and first stop was the famous Naqsh-e Jahan Square. It is in the center of Isfahan and was constructed between 1589 and 1629. It is an important historical site and is a UNESCO world heritage site. The Shah Mosque was our next stop and is an important masterpiece of Persian architecture. The mosque is also depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 20,000 rials banknote. The Ali Qapu palace was closed but definitely warrants a visit. How can one visit Isfahan and not visit the famous markets. That was our last stop before heading back to the hotel.
Post dinner, a walk to the Si-O-Se-Pol is a must. The iconic stone bridge with 33 arches is one of 11 bridges in Isfahan. It was also constructed around 1600s and used to support tea houses, which is abandoned nowadays. When I last came here 2 decades ago, the river was flowing...now, sadly, the river is completely dry. Still worth a visit.