"Naqsh-e Jahaan Square" - Isfahan, Iran
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One of the world's largest squares, and some claim that it actually is the largest in the world. It's supposed to be twice the size of Moscow's Red Square. It used to be called The Shah Square ("Meydaan-e Shah") prior to the revolution of 1979. "Meydaan-e Naqsh Jahaan", which means "Image of the World", was built during the reign of the Safavid Dynasty in the 1500's when Isfahan was the capital of Persia (Iran), and was such a splendid city that it was called in the fashion of a rhyme "Isfahan - Nesf-e Jahaan", meaning "Isfahan - half of the world". The picture was taken before the revolution, during the reign of the last Shah of Iran. One can tell from the existence of the big and lush trees on the square. For some reason the trees were all cut down after the revolution and the green grass was replaced with stone. I certainly preferred the old version.
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North Africa/Middle East
