Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque

Isfahan, Iran

An intimate royal mosque on the eastern side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, built without a minaret or courtyard because it was intended for the exclusive use of the royal court. Its dome tilework changes color throughout the day.

Historical Context

Named after Sheikh Lotfollah Maisi al-Amili, a renowned Lebanese Shia scholar who was Shah Abbas's father-in-law, the mosque was a private royal chapel accessible via a covered passage from the Ali Qapu Palace across the square.