The Sar-dar of Qeysarieh Bazaar

پThe Sar-dar of Qeysarieh Bazaar is a historical structure dating back to the Safavid period, situated at the main entrance of Isfahan’s bazaar in Naghsh-e Jahan Square. This monument was registered as one of Iran’s national treasures on the 15th of Dey. In the past, the Sar-dar of Qeysarieh had three stories, but now it has two. Its third floor, which has been destroyed, used to house a clock tower that announced the time with music throughout the day. This Sar-dar opens into the Grand Bazaar of Isfahan and used to serve as the main entrance to the Isfahan Bazaar. The Sar-dar of Qeysarieh includes four side doors, a main gate, and a pool, which was initially converted into a flowerbed around the 1960s but has since been restored. On top of the Sar-dar, one can see paintings by Reza Abbasi. The bell from the Portuguese Castle of Hormuz Island (approximately 80 centimeters in diameter) was brought to Isfahan after the conquest of the island and is now installed atop this Sar-dar. This structure marks the entrance to the old bazaar of Isfahan, located in the northern part of Naghsh-e Jahan Square, built during the Safavid era. In addition to the Qeysarieh Bazaar and its associated markets, other bazaars existed in Isfahan, with the most famous being the “Shahi Bazaar” or “Bazar-e Bozorg,” constructed during the reign of Shah Sultan Hossein, the last Safavid ruler, in 1706 AD, along with the “Fathiye School and Caravanserai.”