Polo Squares

In Persian Polo, polo was often played on city or town squares.

The oldest royal polo square is the 16th century Naghsh-i Jahan Square in Isfahan, Iran (Post revolutionary name is: Maidan-e Imam).

Shah Abbass (ruled 1587–1629) organized his new capital at Isfahan over a central polo square.

Naghsh-e Jahan Square situated at the centre of Isfahan city, Iran. It is an important historical site and one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. The square is surrounded by buildings from the Safavid era. The Shah Mosque is situated on the south side of this square. On the west side you can find Ali Qapu Palace. Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque is situated on the eastern side of this square and the northern side opens into the Isfahan Grand Bazaar. Today, Namaaz-e Jom'eh (the Muslim Friday prayer) is held in this square in front of the Shah Mosque.

Ali Qapu (pronounced, ah-lee gah-pooh) is in effect but a pavilion that marks the entrance to the vast royal residential quarter of the Safavid Isfahan which stretched from the Maidan Naqsh-i-Jahan to the Chahar Bagh Boulevard.

On the 6th floor, the royal reception and banquets were held. The largest rooms are found on this floor. The stucco decoration of the banquet hall abounds in motif of various vessels and cups. The 6th floor was popularly called the music room as it was here that various ensembles performed music and sang songs. From the upper galleries, the Safavid ruler watched polo games, maneuvers and horse racing below in the Naqsh-i-Jahan square.

The Ali Qapu has multiple connotations, but generally connotes entrance or supreme gate to the complex of palaces and public buildings of the Safavid Government.

Esfahan is located on the main north-south and east-west routes crossing Iran, and was once one of the largest cities in the world. It flourished from 1050 to 1722, particularly in the 16th century under the Safavid dynasty, when it became the capital of Persia for the second time in its history.

Other Polo Squares

Polo Squares Indio, a complex in California. It is located in the Inland Empire. The Inland Empire is a region in Southern California mainly located in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in the United States.

San Polo is the smallest of the six sestieri of Venice, covering just 86 acres (35 hectares) along the Grand Canal. It is one of the oldest parts of the city, having been settled before the ninth century, when it and San Marco formed part of the Realtine Islands. The sestiere is named for the Church of San Polo.

Polo

Polo Polo the Place to go for Polo Worldwide