Townships

Ardestan
This township is within the limits of the Province of Semnan in the north, to its south is Esfahan, whereas, in the east and west are Naein, Natanz and Kashan respectively. The erection of this township is associated to Saam the father of the athletic hero Rostam. The word Ardestan is a distorted version of the word 'Argdastan'. The native structural facet of this township and its famous and historical Jame' mosque, a remnant of the Saljuqi era can be said to be a place of interest.


Esfahan

This township which is in a north-south position, segregates the townships of the province into two eastern and western portions. To its north is the Markazi (Central) Province and to the south is in the neighborhood of the Province of Fars. In its eastern direction, are the townships of Naein, Ardestan, Natanz and Kashan, and to the west are the townships of Golpayegan, Najaf Abad, Khomeini Shahr, Falavarjan and Shahreza. Its center is the city of Esfahan.

This city was the capital in the Parthian era, and in the Sassanid period came under the influence of the seven large influential families of Iran or the Espoharan.On the advent of Islam, till the early 4th century A.H., it was under the jurisdiction of the Arabs, and was favored by Mansur one of the Abbasside Caliphs during his rule. In the year 319 A.H., Mardavij Ziyari selected Esfahan as the capital and so too in the year 327 A.H. when Rokneddin Deylami chose the same as the capital city during his rule. But in the year 443 A.H. Togrol Saljuqi proved victorious here, and this was the cause of various erections such as mosques, buildings and palatial mansions in Esfahan. However, in the year 639 A.H., Esfahan was invaded by the Mongols, and after their drawback the city flourished again. Only to witness severe damages during the assault of Teimoor the lame. Shah Abbas Safavid was responsible for returning Esfahan to its former glory in the year 1000 A.H. when this city was appointed as his capital. His successors were liable for the construction of palaces, and gardens of Sa'dat Abad and Farah Abad. After the decline of the Safavid dynasty and the fall of Esfahan by Mahmood Afqan, the city turned into shambles, thriving once more during the Afshar period. But during the Zandiyeh and Qajar reign, when the cities of Shiraz and Tehran were selected as capitals respectively, progress in the city of Esfahan came to a halt. This city saw further decline during the reign of Zilul Soltan, the offspring of Nasereddin Shah Qajar in the year 1276 A.H. However, during the Pahlavi reign, the territory and city of Esfahan witnessed industrial development, and in the last two decades the city of Esfahan has thrived to a great extent. In that, focal renovations and changes have taken place. Today, Esfahan is one of the vital cities in respect to tourism not only in Iran, but also in the world.


Falavarjan
The township of Falavarjan is a small township to the west of the city of Esfahan. The ancient name of this city was 'Barze' which means the branch of a tree or cultivation. This name gradually changed to 'Varjan'. During the Safavid period due to the construction of a bridge on the Zayandeh Rood River, Varjan was renamed Polavarjan and thence to Falavarjan. The most important historical structures of this township are in the Peykaran Mausoleum and the historical mosque of the village of Oshtorjan.


Faridan (Daran)
The township of Faridan is situated in the west of the province. To its north, are the townships of Khansar and Golpayegan. In its western direction is the Province of Lurestan, to the south stands the province of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiyari and to its east it is limited to the township of Najaf Abad. Daran was called 'Partikan' in the Achaemenian period and was one of the largest provinces of Aran. After the conquest of Alexander and the Grecian assault it gradually declined. During the Safavid era, a group of Armenians and Georgians were decamped to this region from the Caucasus, and thus resided here.


Fereidune Shahr
The above mentioned township is in the western most extent of Esfahan Province. To the west, it has common borders with the Province of Lurestan, to its south are the provinces of Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Booyer Ahmad. This city dates back to thousands of years historically and was part of the ancient region of 'Partikan'. Large groups of Georgians were decamped to this area under the orders of Shah Abbas from the Caucasus. This township experiences an extremely pleasant climate and forms the summer-quarters for the Chahar Lang Bakhtiyari tribes. Needless to say, the countryside offers natural and picturesque beauty.

Golpayegan
This township is located in the northwest of the province. In the north is the Markazi (Central) Province, whereas in the west lies the Province of Lurestan. To the south are the townships of Khansar, Faridan and Najaf Abad. In the eastern direction it lies within the limits of Najaf Abad and Esfahan. Golpayegan can be said to be yet another ancient city of the country, and was known as Golbadegan, Jorbadegan or Golabadegan. The Jame' Mosque of this city is one of the vital and historical structures here, related to the 6th century A.H., a remnant of Mohammad Ebne Malek Shah Saljuqi. The same displays various epigraphs.

Kashan
Kashan is located in the north of the province and is to the south of Qom. To the west of this township is the Markazi (Central) Province, to the east lies the township of Ardestan and to the south it is within the limits of the townships of Natanz and Esfahan. Kashan can be accounted as one of the archaic cities of Iran. Archeological discoveries in the Siyalk Hillocks which lie 4 km west of Kashan reveal that this region was one of the primary centers of civilization in the pre-historic ages. The said hillock flourished during the Sassanid and Safavid periods, and was the capital during the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid II. Kashan suffered severe damage during the Saljuqi and Mongol eras. This city and its respective villages were ruined due to earthquakes in the years 1192 A.H. and 1260 A.H. The city of Kashan has special features in regards architecture, historical and religious sites.

Khansar
Khansar is a small township with a pleasant climate in the northwest of Esfahan. To its north and east is Golpayegan and to the south and west it is within the limits of Faridan. Its historical past goes beyond a millennium, and from the Safavid era it was one of the largest scholarly and theological centers, such as the reputed and ancient Alavi School. It is famous for its honey and flower filled gardens in the country.

Khomeini Shahr (Sadeh)
The said township is located to the west of the Township of Esfahan and to the east of Falavarjan. The foundation of this city is related to the Sassanid period, and Kohan Dej en route to Esfahan was one of the capitals of their times. The former name of this city was Sadeh.

Naein
The township of Naein with 35,000 sq.m. area, is located at 130 km. distance to the east of Esfahan and 320 km. to the south east of Tehran. It is neighboring the central plateau of Iran. The climate of this township in "Khor" and "Biyabanak" regions is hot and dry, where as in "Anarak" and south west regions, it experiences a moderate warm climate. This township has many famous villages and wells. For example "Khor" village is the birth place of "Yaqmayeh Jandaqi", the reputed poet of 13th century A.H. (Qajar era). This historical city has old antiquity and is a relic of pre-Islamic era. In geography books belonging to the 1st Islamic century, e.g., "Hodudol Alam" (372 A.H.) there are some notes revealing the name with some characteristics and features of this city. The most important historical relic of Na'in is "Narenj" or "Narin" castle. The native architecture as well as the way of living of this desert community is very interesting and astonishing.

Najaf Abad
The said township is situated near Esfahan, to the north of which lies the townships of Golpayegan and Khansar and to the west is Faridan. In the south it is within the limits of Falavarjan and Lanjan. The foundation of this city is related to the 11th century A.H., and it is believed that its construction began under the orders of Shah Abbas Safavid I, in the year 1022 A.H. Its native architecture proves attractive, and moreover, this city is enhanced with verdant areas and archaic trees in comparison to other such areas.

Natanz
The township of Natanz is situated to the northwest of Esfahan. To its north is Kashan, and to the east is Ardestan. This city dates to the pre-Islamic era, and came under the influence of the general conditions prevailing in Esfahan and Kashan from the early Islamic period to the Mongol era. Important relics of this region are the Jame' Mosque, Khanegah (or a kind of monastery) and tomb of Sheikh Abdol Samad.

Semirom
The township of Semirom is situated in the southern most point of the territory of Esfahan. To the east of which is the Province of Fars, in the south stands the Province of Kohkiluyeh va Booyer Ahmad, from the west it is within the limits of the Province of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiyari and to its north, is in the neighborhood of Shahreza. In the past, this city was known as Samiran, which means a cold area. This city engulfs waterfalls and springs and is one of the reputed recreational spots and so to speak, pleasant areas to be taken advantage of in summer.

Shahreza (Qomsheh)
This township is located in the southwest of the province, to the north of which are Esfahan and Lanjan and to the west is within the limits of the Province of Chahar Mahal va Bakhtiyari. To its south is the township of Semirom and in the eastern direction is the township of Esfahan. This ancient city was primarily known as Qomsheh, but due to the presence of the tomb of Imamzadeh Shahreza (AS) it came to be called by the latter. One of the noted and historical sites dating to the Saljuqi era, is the nocturnal area of the Jame' Mosque of this city. Qomsheh means a hunting ground or an area rich in water and with many such subterranean canals.