Wikipedia: "Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque (Persian: مسجد شیخ لطف الله) is one of the architectural masterpieces of Safavid Iranian architecture, standing on the eastern side of Naghsh i Jahan Square, Isfahan, Iran.Construction of the mosque started in 1603 and was finished in 1619. It was built by the chief architect Shaykh Bahai, during the reigh of Shah Abbas I of the Safavid dynasty.It is registered, along with the Naghsh i Jahan Square, as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Of the four monuments that dominated the perimeter of the Naqsh e Jahan Square, this one was the first to be built.The purpose of this mosque was for it to be a private mosque of the royal court, unlike the Masjed e Shah, which was meant for the public.[3] For this reason, the mosque does not have any minarets and is of a smaller size. Indeed, few Westerners at the time of the Safavids even paid any attention to this mosque, and they certainly did not have access to it. It wasn't until centuries later, when the doors were opened to the public, that ordinary people could admire the effort that Shah Abbas had put into making this a sacred place for the ladies of his harem, and the exquisite tile work, which is far superior to those covering the Shah Mosque."
