Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
brass 'fist' knocker: walk one mini-block into the bazaar beside Mehmanpazir Jahan, then
one block right and the museum is on your left.
MUSEUM
Lotfolla Sheik-al Islam Mansion
(Habibi Lane; admission US$2; 9am-12.30pm & 3-6.30pm) The well-renovated Lot-
folla Sheikh-al-Islam Mansion houses the Regional Museum whose multicoloured win-
dows (orosi) were designed for practicality as well as beauty: supposedly they disoriente
mosquitoes. Exhibits include some extraordinarily old pottery and metalwork treasures
but sadly the acoustically engineered fountain-cellar is generally kept locked.
Asef Mansion
(Asif Diwan; Imam St; admission US$1; 8.30am-12.30pm & 2.30-5pm Tue-Sun) This
is another attractively restored Qajar building that's now a museum of Kurdish life. Man-
nequins are dressed in various distinctive tribal costumes that are still commonly worn in
valleys around Kordestan. One room features Sanandaj's speciality wood-inlay crafts. A
side courtyard just within the mansion's entrance leads through to a vaulted gallery (ad-
mission free) that has sporadic art exhibitions.
MUSEUM
Masjed-e Jameh (Jameh Mosque)عماج دجسم
(Darolesan Mosque; Imam St) In 1813 Amonulla Khan sponsored this fine construction,
with tiled twin minarets and 32 interior domes. He was so pleased with the result that he
reputedly had the architect blinded to prevent its repetition for any other patron. The pun-
ishment would have been more appropriate for whoever built the ugly new mosque direc-
tly behind.
MOSQUE, MUSEUM
Moshir Divan
(Shohoda St) Several other historic buildings in town are only partially repaired. This
trefoil-topped iconic mansion is still in dire need of renovation. It's hidden in a walled
garden off Shohada St: ring the speaker phone and hope.
HISTORIC HOUSE
Khosroabad Mansion
(Khosroabad St; admission free; 10am-dusk) This formerly grand mansion has an im-
pressive central courtyard with reflecting pools and was once the palace of Ardalan emir
Amonulla Khan but is now in a fairly parlous state. It's two blocks up a quiet boulevard of
plane trees from Sahar Kaveh St.
HISTORIC HOUSE
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