Chehel Sotoun includes two main parts, palace and garden. You will be amazed by a marvelous palace in the middle of the Chehel Sotoun garden.
Chehel Sotoun is one of the best samples of royal garden in the Safavid dynasty. This garden designed by Shah Abbas II with a palace in the middle. Due to the reflection of twenty wooden pillar in the pool of mansion, this palace is called Chehel Sotoun. Chehel Sotoun is a Satavand (An Iwan with pillar) which remained in Isfahan province.
The walls that surround this garden separate it from the other urban elements. The connection between Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the other public historical buildings indicates the urban structure of Isfahan during the Safavid dynasty. This garden has three entrance gates with the old one located on the east side of the garden. When you enter the Chehelsoton Gardens, you will see a long pool along the main axis of the garden in front of the palace. The axis guides you by trees on both sides to reach the palace. The streams are designed with a low gradient, due to water flows throughout the garden. Currently, the garden vegetation of Chehel Sotoun is as follows: Acer nigrum, Pine, Elm, Plane trees, and Tree of heaven.
The architecture of this palace is a combination of Iranian, Chinese, and Western European architectural styles. It consists of the porch with a length of 38 meters, a width of 17 meters, and a height of 14 meters situated eastwards. This octagonal porch has 18 wooden pillars, which are made of Plane trees and pine. Four of them are in the middle, which are placed on the stone lion pedestals.
The other part of the porch contains two pillars. It is considered the Portal of the Mirror Hall. The Mirror Hall includes marvelous Aina-Kari. The ceiling is made of wooden frames in various geometric shapes. The central hall of the palace, dedicated to the foreign guests. It also contains paintings that describe the historical events of different periods. Moreover, you will see three decorated domes above this hall, which look marvelous. Shah-Neshin is smaller and higher than the portal of the Mirror Hall and situated at the back of it. The ceiling of this part is covered with little mirrors. At the top of the Chehel Sotoun palace, there is a section which is considered the King's bedroom. The roof of the Chehel Sotoun palace is covered with a coating of cob. At the end section of the Chehel Sotoun palace, on the southern side, there is an Iwan with some pillars which decorated with the painting of the late Safavid dynasty.
The palace contains many frescoes, paintings on ceramic, Khatam, Wood carving, and a wooden column with Muqarnas on the capital. Unfortunately, many of these decorated ceramics disappeared during that time.
The Chehel Sotoun is located on the Ostandari Ave., Imam Hossein Sq., Isfahan City, Isfahan Province, Iran. You can reach the Chehel Sotoun via private car or public transportation such as the metro, taxi, and bus.
Metro: You can get off at the Shohada station on the Chahar Bagh Boulevard. After that, you can reach the Chehel Sotoun by taxi or on foot to the south.
Bus: You should use the Imam Hossein Square to Laleh Square line and get off at the Shahrdari station.
Taxi: The Chehel Sotoun is located near the Naqsh-e Jahan Square. You can take a taxi to get there.
“Oh! Squander not this breath that Heaven hath lent thee, Nor make too sure another breath to borrow!’” Khayam