Ali Qapu Palace
عالیقاپو
A six-story Safavid royal palace on the west side of the square; from the wooden-columned balcony you can overlook the entire square, and the top-floor music room has distinctive openwork plaster decoration in the shape of musical instruments.
Ali Qapu Palace is where Shah Abbas I received envoys and watched polo matches and military parades in the square below. It stands about 48 meters tall. The wide wooden-columned balcony on the second floor faces Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque and is the best spot for panoramic photos of the square. The walls of the music room on the top floor are covered in openwork plaster in the shapes of musical instruments, vases and jars, said to serve both decorative and acoustic purposes. The staircases are narrow and steep. Admission is charged, and opening hours vary, so check on site.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00 (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Naqsh-e Jahan Square
- Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque
- Shah Mosque (Imam Mosque)
- Chehel Sotoun
- Grand Bazaar of Isfahan
- Hakim Mosque
- Hasht Behesht Palace
- Isfahan Music Museum