Arabesque architecture, poor services and low tourism characterize Asfahan

"Asfahan is half the world," according to a 16th century song at the time the city was at the peak of its splendor.

Even today, Asfahan remains an oasis in the Iranian arid social and geographic environments.

What makes the difference here is nature. The Zayandeh River is the town's main artery. Its bridges and the green spaces on its borders are the main meeting places for the population.

The streets, some of which fully covered with trees, also add to the tranquility of the area. Unlike those of polluted and hot Tehran, the people of Asfahan are more outgoing and sociable.

But the flavor of the southern Iranian city is not only about natural beauty. Asfahan has two of the most beautiful mosques in the Islamic world.

The Imam Mosque, or the Friday mosque, and the Sheikh Lutfallah Mosque. Both were built in the 17th century. Their architecture and internal decoration are fascinating.

Mosaics of blue azury, topaz green and yellow form Islamic patterns and design so complicated that one wonders how they were combined.

Leafs, arabesques and verses from the Quran were inscripted all over the Minarets, the domes and the several gates to the buildings. Each corner, each window and each door is sophisticated, sort of a masterpiece.

Gateways into the building have each two minarets surrounding it as if those were guarding the edifice.

The two mosques were constructed under the reign of Shah Abbas, the first of the Sefevides dynasty that ruled between the 16th and the 18th centuries. The Shah's residence, the Ali Qapu Palace, is also impressive despite the fact that it is in dire need of maintenance.

Previously decorated with frescos of Persian dancing women and scenes from the royals' daily routines, the walls of the palace are today bare. During the revolution, some were offended by the drawings of dancing women. Today only two of those women remain to remind people of the way of life in the city.

The above three attractions are concentrated around the Imam square. The square is in fact a huge inner garden of an old caravanserai. The place has been converted into a bazaar of antiques and souvenirs. Hand-made wooden artifacts and copper plates can be found inside the bazaar.

Asfahan is also a place of religious and cultural diversity.

The Armenian quarter in the city, New Jolfa, has a beautiful richly decorated cathedral, Vank.

Similar to a mosque from the outside with its dome and tall campanile, the cathedral's inside is decorated with sceneries from the bible.

Next to it is a museum showing manuscripts, drawings and other relics depicting the life of the community since the 17th century.

Despite its various tourist attractions, tourists are rare in Asfahan. While Iran's cumulative "ambiance" might have a hand behind the small number of tourists, the lack of investments in the industry also seem to have negatively affected tourism here.

Only if someday somethings change, Asfahan could become the world's number one tourist destination and could even compete with Istanbul and Cairo.