Atiq Square
Atiq Square was a focal point of the city of Isfahan for centuries. In the eleventh century when Isfahan was the capital of the Seljuk dynasty, it was the main square and the chief centre of the business and social life of the city. It was an important central focus of the city until Naqsh-e Jahan Square was laid out in the 17th centenary. But even at that time, the Kohneh Square preserved its importance as the centre of the city’s minor activities. With the Jameh Mosque on the north, Qeysarieh Bazaar on the west, Harun Velayat Mausoleum and the Ali Mosque on the south, and the Seljuk palaces on the east, the Kohneh Square served as a prototype for majestic Naqsh-e Jahan Square that Shah Abbas I created in its vicinity.
Mardavij Pigeon Tower
Situated among houses of Isfahan, in the middle of a square named Borj, there is a unique pigeon tower. The architecture of the pigeon tower represents the work of experienced architects of ancient Iran. The pigeon tower is regarded as one of the largest ones with a most perfect pattern of this type. The towers were built for the purpose of attracting pigeons to them so that they would nest in the towers.
Pigeons could fly comfortably inside the towers. Their droppings, which contain considerable amounts of elements like nitrogen, were collected in the tower and then used for farmlands that used to be located around the pigeon towers. Nitrogen in pigeon droppings has an efficient role in the growth of plants and vegetables.
Pigeon towers were constructed in an impenetrable way that could shelter the pigeons from predators. The small size of the entrances holes, 7 centimeters by 7 centimeters, on the top of the tower were to prevent large birds such as hawks, owls or crows from entering the tower.
A white and slippery circular band made of plaster gypsum about 80 to 100 centimeters wide covers around the base of tower over mud and straw to prevent the creeping up of a snake on the shaft of the tower to enter through the pigeonholes on the top of the tower.
Do not miss the opportunity of visiting this unique pigeon tower.
Qeysarie Bazaar
The gate(portal) of Qeysarie Bazaar was the second structure to be constructed in the northern end of the square in safavid era. This Bazaar connects the old square (Atigh Square) to the new one which is the Naghsh-e Jahan Square and works as a transition element, built for the development of trading and acceleration of economy growth.
On the top of this great gate, as a symbol of the Battle of good and evil, the splendorous mosaic work represents two hunters with human bodies, tiger legs and each aiming an arrow to their dragon tail as a Sagittarius zodiac sign. Historian declare that this was the month that Isfahan was founded.On the top of the Qeysarie Gate, not so long ago, there used to be structure called ”Nagharehkhaneh”, where music would be played at sunrise and sunset.In the middle of the portal, there is a painting of Shah Abbas at war with the Uzbeks. Other paintings resemble some hunting frescos painted by European artists. Unfortunately, too much direct sun light along with humid condition have caused some colours of the paintings to fade.The famous Persian Moaragh mosaic tilework can be seen on the portal and the sides of the corridors. There is a poem from, Sa’di, the famous Persian poet written on the side walls. Each couplet on each side, facing the other.The grand Bazaar of Isfahan, itself is a complete covered town. Each part of this Bazaar including; cross roads which are called Char-Su (four directions), Caravansaries with rectangular shaped open courtyards and smaller places similar to caravansaries, called Timcheh have certain specifications.
