As one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid

Iranian architecture, Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

is standing on the eastern side of Naghsh-e Jahan

Square. The construction of the mosque started in

1603 and completed in 1619. It was built by the chief

architect Shaykh Bahai, during the reign of Shah Abbas

I of the Safavid dynasty.

The mosque was built to be private for the royal

court, unlike the Masjed-e Shah, which was meant

for the public. For this reason, the mosque does not

have any minarets and is of a smaller size.

It wasn’t until centuries later, when the doors were

opened to the public, that ordinary people could admire

the effort that Shah Abbas had put into making

this a sacred place for the ladies of his harem, and

the exquisite tile works, which is far superior to those

covering the Shah Mosque. To avoid having to walk

across the square to the mosque, Shah Abbas had

the architect build a tunnel spanning across the piazza,

from the Ali Qapu palace, to the