Headlining beside one of the world's largest squares, Esfahan's Emam Mosque is a tiled wonder. Completely covered, inside and out, with pale blue and yellow ceramic tiles (which are an Esfahan trademark), it's a stunning 17th-century mosque, with its tiles seeming to change colour depending on the light conditions. The main dome is 54 m high and intricately patterned in a stylized floral mosaic, while the magnificent 30 m-high portal is a supreme example of architectural styles from the Safavid period (1502 - 1772). The mosque sits askew to the square, at about 45 degrees, so that it faces Mecca.
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Text reproduced with permission from Bluelist 2007, copyright 2006 Lonely Planet Publications. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.
