Masjed-e Nasir-ol-Molk

Lonely Planet review

Down the road from the Madraseh-ye Khan, Masjed-e Nasir-ol-Molk is one of the most elegant and photographed mosques in southern Iran. Built at the end of the 19th century, its coloured tiling (an unusually deep shade of blue) is exquisite.

There is some particularly fine stalactite moulding in the smallish outer portal and in the northern iwan, but it is the stunning stained glass, exquisitely carved pillars and polychrome faience of the winter prayer hall that are most eye-catching. Photographers should come as early as possible in the morning for shots of the hall lit up through the glass (you might have to tip the caretaker to open the curtains). A museum in the opposite prayer hall opens into the Gav Cha (Cow Well), in which cows walked downhill to raise water.

The structure has survived numerous earthquakes, due in part to its construction using flexible wood as struts within the walls - look for the wooden bricks in the iwan columns.