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<A HREF = "aliqapu.gif"><IMG SRC="aliqap16.gif" WIDTH=219 HEIGHT=200 ALT="Ali Qapu" ALIGN="LEFT"></A>
<H1 ALIGN="Right">'Ali Qapu<BR>The Royal Palace</H1>
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The royal palace of 'Ali Qapu dominates the south eastern side of the central square in Isfahan, formerly
called the <A HREF = "../meidshah/meidshah.html">Meidan-e-Shah</A>. Its name means "The High
Gate" and its impressive <A HREF = "../glossary/dar/dar.html">entranceway</A> was no doubt
intended to symbolize the strength and authority of the <A HREF =
"../glossary/history.html#safavid">Safavid</A> monarchs who ruled the country, and, as the posters on
the verandah show, this significance is retained even in present times when the square has been
renamed Meidan-e-Imam.<BR>
The <A HREF = "../glossary/eivan/talar.html">talar</A> or <A HREF = "aliqapu_8.gif">verandah</A>
formed an ideal place from which to watch the games of polo which took place in the square and is
richly decorated with <A HREF = "aliqapu_9.gif">designs painted on the external plaster at the rear
</A> and elaborate tracery in the ceiling. The columns, like those of <A HREF =
"../40sotoon/40sotoon.html">Chehel Sotoon</A>, were originally encased in mirrored glass to give the
impression of a roof floating in the air, and like them are cut from single chenar trees (<I>Platanus
orientalis</I>). The lower floors are uninteresting and were clearly used as quarters for guards, and the
security of the upper apartments was further enhanced by the uncomfortably steep and narrow
stairways which lead up and down within the building.<BR>
The interior of the building is compulsively decorated with <A HREF = "aliqapu_5.gif">naturalistic
scenes </A>, charmingly painted <A HREF = "aliqapu_6.gif">birds</A> and some figures, many of
which have sadly been defaced or damaged over time. These are now being repaired. The famous "<A
HREF = "aliqapu_2.gif">Musicians Room</A>" contains elaborate cut-out plaster work depicting all
manner and shapes of vases, although it is doubtful whether any could ever actually have been stored
there.<BR>
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<A HREF = "../bazaar/bazaar.html"> <IMG ALT="Right Arrow"SRC ="../right16.gif"></A> North to
the Bazaar<BR>
<A HREF = "../meidshah/meidshah.html"> <IMG ALT="Down Arrow"SRC ="../down16.gif"></A>
East to the Meidan-e-Shah.<BR>
<A HREF = "../masimam/masimam.html"> <IMG ALT="Left Arrow"SRC ="../left16.gif"></A>
South to the Royal Mosque<BR>
<A HREF = "../ashraf/ashraf.html"> <IMG ALT="Up Arrow"SRC ="../up16.gif"></A> West to the
Talar of Ashraf<BR>
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<A HREF = "../khakopol.html"> <IMG ALT="Palace Icon"SRC ="../polbtn16.gif"></A> Other
Palaces and Bridges<BR>
<A HREF = "../taxi.html"> <IMG ALT="Taxi"SRC ="../taxbtn16.gif"></A> Take a Taxi.<BR>
<A HREF = "../isfahan.html"> <IMG ALT="Home Icon"SRC ="../home16.gif"></A> Isfahan Home
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13-January-95
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