5/5 Sohrab P. 4 years ago on Google
On
the
eastern
side
of
Chaharbagh
Street
in
Isfahan
is
a
magnificent
monument
that
could
be
considered
the
last
majestic
and
significant
monument
of
the
Safavid
era
in
Isfahan.
Chaharbagh
School,
which
was
also
known
as
Madraseh
Soltani,
Madraseh
Madar-e
Shah
and
Madraseh
Imam
Sadeq
(PBUH),
is
a
17th-18th
century
CE
cultural
complex.
The
compound
was
built
during
the
time
of
Soltan
Hossein,
a
Safavid
king.
In
order
to
finance
the
school,
Soltan
Hossein's
mother
had
a
large
caravansary
built
nearby,
the
income
of
which
went
to
the
foundation.
The
monumental
portal
from
the
main
avenue
of
Shah
Abbas
leads
directly
into
a
domed
octagonal
vestibule.
The
dome
and
a
large
part
of
the
walls
are
made
with
bright
yellow
bricks
that
give
a
feeling
of
lightness.
The
entrance
is
decorated
with
gold
facade
and
silver,
and
the
tilework
inside
are
masterpieces
of
fine
art
and
industry.
The
central
court,
with
its
pool
and
garden,
is
surrounded
by
arcades
on
two
levels,
each
giving
access
to
a
student's
room.
The
Iwan
is
impressive
yet
restful.
The
monumental
nature
of
the
Kufic
inscriptions
on
the
tower
and
base
of
the
dome
are
softened
by
the
garden
across
which
it
is
viewed.
An
iwan
is
a
rectangular
hall
or
space,
usually
vaulted,
walled
on
three
sides,
with
one
end
entirely
open.
Earlier,
its
primary
function
served
as
a
room
but
later
became
a
grand
entranceway
to
a
larger,
more
elegant
space
that
was
usually
domed.
Iwans
are
often
elaborately
decorated
with
inscriptions
and
sculpted
reliefs,
including
scenes
of
hunting,
floral
motifs,
geometric
patterns,
and
animal
scenes.
The
magnificent
monument
served
as
a
theological
school
to
train
those
who
were
interested
in
Islamic
studies.
The
college
is
still
used
as
such
today,
which
is
one
reason
it
is
normally
closed
to
visitors.
This
was
the
last
great
building
to
be
erected
in
Isfahan
and
shows
all
the
vigor
and
imagination
of
the
earlier
architecture
without
incorporating
external
influences.
2 people found this review helpful 👍
