TEHRAN—Isfahan’s first permanent exhibition of historical inscriptions and stones has opened to the public, the provincial tourism chief has said.

“Hosted by Chehel Sotoun Palace, the special exhibition periodically showcases historical stones to tourists and cultural heritage lovers,” Alireza Izadi said on Monday.

The exhibition, which is the first of its kind in Isfahan, showcases inscriptions and stone decorations that once adorned some historical buildings, mansions and mosques, the official said.

The capital city of Isfahan was once a crossroads of international trade and diplomacy in Iran and now it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations for good reasons. The city has long been nicknamed as Nesf-e-Jahan, which is translated into “half the world”; meaning seeing it is relevant to see half the world.

Situated between Naqsh-e Jahan (Imam) Sq. and Chahar Bagh Abbasi St., the 17th-century royal palace is entered via an elegant terrace that connects a pattern of the Persian garden to an interior of elaborate design and splendor.

Chehel Sotoun boasts eye-catching frescos that depict multitudes of human figures, royal meetings, and battle scenes among them: the reception of an Uzbek King in 1646 and the infamous Battle of Chaldiran against the Ottoman Sultan Selim I.

Based on historical records, the building was initially constructed in the mid-17th century and rebuilt in 1706 following a raging fire. The name of the palace, which literally means “Forty Columns”, derives from the illusion that the twenty columns of the front portico are doubled by the reflecting pool to the south.

Isfahan is filled with many architectural wonders, such as unmatched Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, and tree-lined boulevards. It's a city for walking, getting lost in its centuries-old bazaars, dozing in beautiful gardens, and meeting people. The ancient city is renowned not only for the abundance of great historical bridges but also for its ‘life-giving river’, the Zayandeh-Rood, which has long bestowed the city an original beauty and fertility.

AM