Population: 2 million
One of the most important historical cities in Iran, the country’s third-largest city, at the foot of the Zagros Mountains in central Iran, dates back over 2700 years to Jewish settlement.
It was sacked by the Muslim armies in 640, again by the Mongols in 1241, and then by Timur.
Isfahan’s glory came when it was reconstructed by the Safavid monarch Shah Abbas I, who moved his capital here in 1591. The monuments from this period include palaces, grand mosques, caravanserais, and bridges, many of which are considered masterpieces of Islamic art.
After the overthrow of the Safavids, the city fell into decadence as the Qajars moved the capital to Tehran.
Isfahan has long been noted for its fine carpets and silver filigree. Its stunning architecture, tree-lined boulevards, and relaxed pace make it the undisputed highlight of Iran’s cities.

Iranians still use the 16th-century saying that it is “half the world”.