The most beautiful decorative ceilings

These ceilings with breathtaking decoration will fascinate you
Religious sites, charities, and especially mosques have a special position among Muslims. These places have various religious, cultural, social, and economic applications from the past. Thus, they have a special position in Iranian and Islamic culture. Although Islamic thought is based on the simple life, due to the importance of these places, the most beautiful architectural decorations have been applied to them.
These places are decorated with the most beautiful decorative arts such as painting and tiling. The artists have presented their best effort in the decoration of mosques and religious buildings and they have tried to establish a special and sacred connection between worldly and heavenly beliefs. Pleasant colors and beautiful tiles used in decorating have doubled the sanctity and spirituality of these buildings.
In this section, we will introduce you to the most beautiful ceilings which are decorated by Iranian artists.

These ceilings fascinate the eye of all visitors.

- Agha Bozorgh Mosque - Kashan

The only mosque in Iran which has two courtyards(Summerall and winter yard). It belongs to the 18th century and has a religious and scientific application like all religious buildings in Iran. This mosque is not only a place of worship but also a place for religious studies. One of the most important features of this building is the beautiful arrangement of colorful tiles which are tactfully placed all over this building. The pool in the middle of the courtyard displays one of the specifications of the Iranian desert architects. This pool reduces the ambient air temperature on hot days. The most prominent part of this beautiful building is the roof below the main dome, which has the most beautiful Iranian traditional architectural decorations.
NEVER forget the Persian monuments' ceilings.

Sheikh Lotfolah Mosque - Isfahan

The Pinnacle Jewel of Iranian Architectural Masterpieces
An unusual mosque in front of Safavid's king palace in the middle of Naghsh e Jahan square. This mosque has neither a minaret nor a courtyard and was never intended for public use, but rather was made between 1602 and 1619 during the reign of Shah Abbas I, as the worship place for the women of the shah’s harem. The dome which is the only sign of this Royal mosque makes extensive use of delicate cream-colored tiles that change color throughout the day from cream to pink (sunset is usually the best time to witness this).  The most beautiful part of this mosque is its unique dome. In general, the circular designs on the dome (inside) exceed 250 figures, a sector of which is similar to the tail of a peacock. Furthermore, the whole pattern below the dome is called; Shamseh (solar shape), suggestive of many mystical ideas.
The net size of the dome chamber is 18.8 meters by 18.9 meters and the walls around this are 1.6 meters thick. The outer diameter of the dome is 22 meters and its height, from the floor level of the Naghshe-Jahan' Square, is 32 meters. More

-Seyed Mosque - Isfahan

This 19th-century mosque is the fourth historical Jam-e-Mosque (congregational) of Esfahan.
The mosque is decorated with the best Iranian decorative elements consisting of inlaid work, tilework, and calligraphy in the styles of Bannaie (masonry) and Nastaligh.
This is the biggest mosque from the Qajar era which is notable for its architectural features and ornamental elements, especially the tiles and several inscriptions. The important parts of the building are the portal, the courtyard, the portico, the dome, a prayer room with columns, a porch, a place, of course, rooms around the courtyard on two floors, and rooms for the residential students. More

- Abbassi Jame Mosque or Shah Mosque

A Vast Origin of the Islamic Architecture Clad by a Turquoise Glaze.
One of the most beautiful mosques in Isfahan and a gem at Naghsh e Jahan square which is a huge structure said to contain 18 million bricks and 475,000 tiles and with a high cost for the Safavid Shah. Each part of this structure is an artistic work that all have created a unique mosque called the "Shah Mosque".
The most important part of this mosque is its main dome, which has a voice reflection.
One of the most fantastic phenomena of this mosque is the breathtaking echo in the dome chamber, below the main dome. For each impact made it echoes back 18 times the reaction initially. As one approaches the center of the dome, the number of reactions decreases but the range of amplification increases. Perhaps the designer wanted to remind us of this Farsi saying:
The claims times the real owning of each person becomes equal to a constant measurement (the fewer claims, the more contents). More

_ Dowlat Abad Garden - Yazd

A mechanical masterpiece called the Wind Catcher is made by the people of the desert area in Iran.
The Dolat Abad Garden in Yazd is built in the 18th century at the time of the Afshari. Like the Iranian houses, it has two internal and external parts. The outdoor area includes gardens and beautiful spaces that can be noticed at the entrance. The existence of interior sections in Iranian houses represents a concept in Iranian architecture that offers privacy to the family as opposed to the outside which is more exposed.
A distinguished building in this complex is a windy one located inside the garden. Windward is a rooftop tower of houses located in desert areas for ventilation and natural air conditioning. The symmetrical moldings applied and the colored glasses of this building are exceptional. The most important part of this garden is wind-building(Wind Catcher). There is a pool in the middle of the building and when the wind blows on its side, the water evaporates and cools the environment.

- Jame Mosque - Yazd

A 900 years old mosque with the tallest Minarets in Iran.
There are different ideas about the structure of this mosque. Some believe that it belongs to the Timurid period (1500 AC) because of its inscriptions and its architectural style. But the main building was built at the beginning of the Islamic era and some think that it is built on a temple of fire.
The dome of the mosque consists of two layers of plaster and its altar is endowed with a fascinating mosaic tile. When you enter the mosque, you will be so impressed by the fantastic artwork in its ceiling. The ceiling is the first thing that will amaze you. The dome of the mosque has astonishing arabesque patterns and four skylights that beautifully illustrate the geometric shapes. The verses of the Quran that are written around the dome add to its glory and beauty.

- Amin ol Dole Carevanseray - Kashan

Kashan's bazaar has been one of the most important markets on the Silk Road route.
This market has many different segments with various shops. Aminoddole Plaza is one of the several plazas and perhaps the most majestic one in the Grand Bazaar of Kashan.  This Caravanserai, where the goods are stored and displayed, has beautiful geometric decorations. The ceiling of the Caravanserai is decorated with brick and tile and Mogharnas and with a special Iranian style.

- Chehel Sotoon Palace

The Most Brilliant Chandelier at the Hall of the Safavid Architecture Era.
Adjacent to the Naghshe Jahan square In the middle of the garden is laid Chehel Sotoon (Forty Column Palace). The palace was built primarily during the reign of Shah Abbas I, with a 'U-shaped plan, comprised of the Throne Hall and flanking rooms in the north and the southern part of its eastern side.
Over time, some changes have been made by other Safavid kings. The palace covers an area of 2125 square meters (57.5 meters by 37 meters). The size of its hypostyle is 37 meters by 19.2 meters which covers 1/3of the built area with 20 high-rise columns, each one 12.8 meters high, and 0.7 meters in diameter, made of one trunk of a plane tree. The palace is decorated with the most beautiful paintings by the most experienced painting masters. More

- Ali Qapu Palace

The Beating Heart of Administration And the Highest Building in the Cardinal Point of the Capital.
In "Naghsh-e-Jahan Square, all around the rectangular lofty wall, it is only Ali Qapu palace with an exceptional recess of 7 meters from its surrounding wall on the west, which dates back to 1597 A.D. According to some references it was built at the site of another Timurid palace (15th century) instead. Etymology. logically, Ali Qapu is a compound word. Ali is an Arabic term that means high and Qapu is a Turkish term that means gate.
In the palace, there are 52 rooms, every one different from the others regarding the architectural or decorative plan. The palace has three separate stairways; two of them are a continuous spiral with 94 steps to the final storey. All of the paintings in the palace cover such a huge volume of initiative patterns that still after four centuries, it carries a cyclopedia of the traditional painters of arabesque designs and miniatures. The decorative elements are so elegant that anyone at first glance, thinks that they are made of wooden pieces, but later finds that they are cast-in-situ plasterwork. More

- Vank (all saviors') Cathedral The most Spectacular Church in Iran

This cathedral is called; Kelisa (Church) as a congregational church of Esfahan. It was built initially as a small Church called; Amena Pergaige in 1606 A.D., and then expanded to its present size later in 1655 A.D., with a gorgeous nave topped by a 38- meter lofty double-layer dome. The nave is adorned all over by mural paintings, including three genres of Iranian miniature, Armenian, and Byzantine either the lower part of the polychrome tilework, which is mostly similar to the arabesque designs of mosques and some realistic patterns are more similar to the Armenian style designed. More

- Sheikh Safi al Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil

This great building is a Khangah which is a spiritual retreat place in the Sufi order. It is built between the beginning of the 16th century and the end of the 18th century, with several sections and different functions like a mausoleum, library, school,  hospital, kitchens, bakery, and some offices.  In addition to its historical significance, the site is of high value in Iranian architecture. Also, from the Islamic architecture point of view, it’s a landmark of the Safavid era.

- Borujerdi House

The magnificence of desert house architecture
Kashan is a city of beautiful houses with unique desert architecture. This historic city has some of the most beautiful and attractive houses in Iran that attract all visitors. Among all traditional mansions, Boroujerdi's house is the most famous of them. It was built in 1857. The Borujerdi House consists of the best Iranian architectural elements like biruni ("exterior", the public area) and andaruni ("interior", the private quarters) features of Iran's traditional residential architecture, including a courtyard with a fountain pool and a two-story iwan (balcony). The main hall is topped by a khishkhan, which is a type of central dome. Three 40-meter-tall windcatchers, two above the main hall and one over the entrance area, are also erected on the house. The house is decorated with stucco, glass work, and mirror work, and features frescoes by prominent painter Kamal ol Molk.

- Nasir-ol-molk Mosque

One of the most elegant and photographed architectural works in southern Iran.

The Rose Mosque was built in the late 19th century and its colorful tiles (an unusually deep shade of blue) are exquisite. There are particularly fine muqarnas in the small outer portal and in the north of Iwan, but it is the stained glass windows, the carved pillars, and the polychrome faience of the winter prayer hall that dazzle the eyes when the sun comes.
The mosque attracts most visitors early in the morning (9 am to 11 am is the best) when the room and its Persian rugs are illuminated by a kaleidoscope of patterns of light. It's a magical experience - and an irresistible photograph. Nasir-Ol Molk Mosque is located in a region in the southern part of Lotf Ali Khan Zand Street. When in this area, you can visit many attractions whose antiquity dates back to Zand dynasty. They are Vakil Bazaar, Vakil Bath, Karim Khan Citadel, Pars Museum, Atiq Jameh Mosque, Shah Cheragh, and Tomb of Hafez. Do not forget to add them to your long scroll of attractions you are going to visit.

- Kordasht Bath

The Iranian bath has three thousand years old in the history of Iran. Cleanliness has long been a part of Iranian religious beliefs and practices. Baptism in Zoroastrianism was one of the conditions for attending religious ceremonies. The construction of a bath in Iran goes back to the Achaemenid period.
With the arrival of Islam in Iran, baths were regarded as a part of starting religious ceremonies, and numerous baths were generally built next to mosques and public places. This amount of attention encouraged Iranian architects to apply the most beautiful decorations in the construction of these places.
Kordasht bath in the Jolfa area is one of the most beautiful monuments of the Qajar period. The building was constructed at the time of the great Safavid king, Shah Abbas (1588-1629), and was later renovated during the reign of the Qajar kings to be used as the residence of Abbas Mirza, the son of Fath-Ali Shah (1789-1833).

Top reasons to visit Kordasht
- The Kordasht Hammam complex served as an exclusive bathing place for members of the Safavid dynasty royalty;
- The steam room is set in a large garden with stunning views of the surrounding Kordasht Mountains;
- The murals are simply spectacular inside the Kordasht hammam;
- The natural light enters through the channels of the ceiling which illuminate the octagonal room containing the main basin of the hammam; and
- This Kordasht bath is two centuries old and underground.