TEHRAN – The centuries-old Ali Qapu palace in Isfahan has undergone a restoration project focused on its ancient water supply system.

Speaking to IRNA on Sunday, the director of the World Heritage site of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, stated that the water supply route, which uses clay and copper pipes to transfer water from the lower parts of the palace to the fourth floor, where it then overflowed into a copper basin, had not been restored since the 1970s and was in urgent need of reinforcement.

Fariba Khatabakhsh noted that while the reinforcement and restoration of the Ali Qapu palace’s structure were completed by 2017, the water supply routes and chambers were not restored at that time.

“This year, with funding from the Isfahan Cultural Heritage Department,” she elaborated. “this important task was accomplished.”

The water routes and pipes of the Ali Qapu palace, Khatabakhsh added, were identified with the assistance of professors from the Isfahan University of Art and basins on the third and fourth floors, which were integral to the water system, were restored.

The Ali Qapu palace is one of the most beautiful architectural remnants from the Safavid era in Isfahan.

The palace, with its distinctive six-story structure, is located on the western side of the iconic Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Each floor of Ali Qapu reveals intricate details and artistry, from the elaborate frescoes and miniatures to the stunning plasterwork and wooden ceilings. One of the most notable features is the music room on the upper floors, designed with niches in the walls to enhance acoustics for royal performances.

Its unique blend of function and beauty makes it a significant historical and cultural landmark, drawing visitors from around the world to experience its splendor and the rich history of Isfahan.

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