Isfahan's Ali-Qapu in Last Phase of Restoration

For the first time in a decade, tourists can visit the historical Ali-Qapu Palace in Isfahan Province with no scaffoldings, as of the beginning of the next Iranian year (March 21), a senior official at Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization said.

“The beautiful palace is currently undergoing the last phase of restoration and it will soon welcome visitors without any metal bracing,” Fereidoun Allahyari, the head of the provincial ICHHTO, said.

According to the official, the Ali-Qapu project has been the biggest restoration of the historical structure conducted in several phases, including the repair of the balcony’s columns and its floor, CHTN reported.

“The most complicated and noticeable part of the restorations was repairing the 30-meter-high adorned ceiling and 400-year-old columns,” he said.

A hidden layer of decorated wall dating back to the early Safavid era (907-1135) was also discovered when archeologists were renovating the walls linking the balcony to the main hall of the palace.

The official claimed that restorations have been carried out so extensively that the gorgeous structure will not require any repair for 50 years.

Ali-Qapu is a grand palace in Isfahan Province located on the western side of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square and boasts naturalistic wall paintings featuring floral, animal and bird motifs.