Isfahan

Isfahan
اصفهان (Persian)
Sepahan, Aspadana, Espandana
Nickname: 
Half of the World
(نصف جهان, Nesfe Jahân)
Map of the Isfahan administrative area
Isfahan
Location in Iran
Isfahan
Isfahan (West and Central Asia)
Coordinates: 32°39′55″N 51°40′13″E / 32.66528°N 51.67028°E / 32.66528; 51.67028
CountryIran
Province Isfahan
CountyIsfahan
DistrictCentral
Government
 • MayorAli Ghasemzadeh
 • City CouncilMohammad Nour Salehi (Chairman)
Area
 • Urban
551 km2 (213 sq mi)
Elevation
1,574 m (5,164 ft)
Population
 (2025)
 • City
2,238,000
 • Density4,000/km2 (10,400/sq mi)
 • Urban
2,219,343
 • Metro
3,989,070
 • Metro rank
2nd
Time zoneUTC+3:30 (IRST)
Area code031
ClimateBWk
Websiteisfahan.ir

Isfahan (Persian: اصفهان [esfæˈhɒːn] ) is a city in the Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located 440 kilometres (270 miles) south of Tehran. The city has a population of approximately 2,238,000, making it the third-most populous city in Iran, after Tehran and Mashhad, and the second-largest metropolitan area.

Isfahan is located at the intersection of the two principal routes that traverse Iran, north–south and east–west. Isfahan flourished between the 9th and 18th centuries. Under the Safavid Empire, Isfahan became the capital of Iran, for the second time in its history, under Abbas the Great. It is known for its PersianMuslim architecture, grand boulevards, covered bridges, palaces, tiled mosques, and minarets. Isfahan also has many historical buildings, monuments, paintings, and artifacts. The fame of Isfahan led to the Persian proverb Esfahān nesf-e-jahān ast ('Isfahan is half the world'). Naqsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan is one of the largest city squares in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Isfahan was the second Iranian city to experience the highest volume and number of Israeli airstrikes during the Twelve-Day War.