Si-o-se pol or the Allahverdi Khan Bridge is one of the historical bridges of Isfahan province with a length of 295 meters. This bridge was built on Zayandehrood order by Allahverdi Khan’s order.

Si-o-se pol is one of the monuments of Isfahan province that many people know this beautiful city with this historical bridge. This bridge is regarded as one of the symbols of Isfahan. Si-o-se pol were built in the Safavi era by Allahverdi Khan’s order. There are many stories about this bridge that we are going to mention. 

If you are a morning person you can take a walk from Kianpour boutique hotel in Isfahan which is located in 3.6 km away from Si-o-se pol. The way goes through Charbagh. After a quick walk you can see the sunrise on Si-o-se pol. There are public transportations such as metro, bus and so on which gusts at kianpour historical house can take to go to visit Si-o-se pol. 

In this article we are going to look at some of interesting facts about Si-o-se pol. Join us to get to know this beautiful and historic bridge.

1. The original idea of building Si-o-se pol goes back to the safavi era. In the twelfth year of the reign of Shah Abbas I. The bridge was completed in six years of construction under the supervision of Allahverdi khan.

2. The architect of Si-o-se pol was Master Hussein Bana Isfahani, whose son made masterpieces such as the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque. Isfahani came up with the idea for the construction of the broad bridge, which had never been done before.

3. Materials such as stone, brick, mortar and gypsum are used to make thirty cells. According to geological and cultural experts, the foundation of the bridge are designed to increase its strength with moisture, which is why it has not been damaged in the long term.

4. Si-o-se pol, in addition to its enchanting beauty, are known as the longest bridge on the Zayandehrood.

5. Allahverdi Khan was an Abbasi ruler who is believed to have Georgian descent.

6. There are many theories regarding the particular architecture of Si-o-se pol, one of which relates to the Georgian ancestry of the Allahverdi Khan. The Georgian alphabet has 33 letters. It could be a sample.

7. Some have completely rejected this theory, as thirty-three cells had at first forty openings.

8.  Some experts believe that the number of 33 is the symbol of Anahita Water Goddess. Because of that, the bridge was actually a symbol of the Anahita Water Goddess.

9. During the reign of Shah Abbas, the main plan of the city of Isfahan was Chahar Bagh, which was perpendicular to two axes. One of the main axes along the line was to connect the Abbasi Chaharbagh to the Chaharbagh bala, the Hezar Jarib Garden, Abbasabad and the Jolfa neighborhood.

10. As we have mentioned, during the reign of Shah Abbas, there were forty openings on the bridge, and over time, some of the openings were blocked with the cultivation of trees and water diversion. In 1851, Mostafa Khan Mostofi, the mayor of Isfahan, liberated the lands around the bridge and, after opening the waterway, built a stone wall on the north side of the bridge, which it remains still can be seen.

11. Si-o-se pol have been called by various names over the years, including Shahabasi Bridge, Allahverdi Khan Bridge, Jolfa Bridge, Chehel Cheshmeh Bridge and so on.

12. In the past, various ceremonies, such as the celebration of New Year and the Armenian Rabbis, were held on this bridge.

13. The Savior is the name of one of the Christian celebrations held on the occasion of the Baptism of Christ. Followers of the Faith of Christ believe that water in this day goes pure and holy so they go into the water and swim in them.

14. The Armenians of Iran in the Safavi era could held the ceremony on the bridge. At that time Armenians were allowed to come to the Shah square at the beginning of the bridge and exchange goods with the others, but were not allowed to cross the bridge. In celebration of the floodwaters and the sprinkling, Si-o-se pol was the gathering place of the King, the elders, the poets and other people. During the Safavi era, the Armenian celebration of the waterfalls or sprinklers was held next to the bridge. The celebration, which took place on July 9 each year, was attended by people splashing water and roses.

15. In the Safavi era, Nowruz was celebrated day and night alongside Si-o-se pol. During this time, Si-o-se pol were lighted and designed, and at some point Shah Abbas gave some people gifts on this bridge.

16. Many tourists consider Si-o-se pol a masterpiece of Iranian architecture, including Percy Sykes, who calls Si-o-se pol one of the world's magical bridges.

17. Pietro Delavale describes Si-o-se pol as:

On the river there is a bridge made entirely of brick, which exceeds all the bridges of Rome, at least three to four times as long as those bridges. The architecture of this bridge is strangely accomplished and there are arches on either side of it that people pass under and over. What is most appealing to them is the almost flat level corridors of the bridge and the murmuring of the water below the bridge is particularly pleasing in hot summers.

18. On either side of the bridge there are indoor arches overlooking the river on one side and the bridge on the other, creating a narrow passageway on both sides of the bridge. The sidewalk has two niches with paintings.

19. In front of the Si-o-se pol were a statue of Reza Shah that was a 4-meter-high horse-mounted pillar, but today there is no trace of it.

20. Si-o-se pol was listed on the National Iranian Heritage List on January 2, 2009.

21. Digging the subway tunnel in proximity of the Si-o-se pol has made some damages to this monument, and this magnificent heritage is in danger of being destroyed. The drying up of Zayandehrood and other environmental factors has made this monument more and more endangered.