Combine visits to the old neighborhoods and handicraft workshops on this tour. With our pick-up service from your accommodation, you do not need to have difficulty finding backstreet neighborhoods of Isfahan. Your tour of handicrafts includes visiting the production process of the handicrafts in the workshops of Isfahan. We will take you to the Sheikh-Al-Islam house where you can see the workshop of Golabatoun Bafi, also known as Zaribafi (Brocade weaving) recognized as one of the age-old Persian handicrafts.

The Persian brocade fabrics are woven by silk threads covered with gold or silver. The Master of Zari Bafi (Golabatoun Bafi), named Mehdi Shamsali is the last master of Isfahan who is practicing brocade in its original and traditional way.

After visiting this unique workshop, we will take you to one of the main neighborhoods of Isfahan known as Dardasht.

Dardasht neighborhood is one of the oldest districts of Isfahan, dating back to the Seljuk era (11 century). In this era and exactly in the same neighborhood, the first urban developments of the city of Isfahan started and consequently the Jame Mosque, known also as AtighMosque, a bathhouse, caravanserai and bazar were built. 

After giving an introduction about the history of this district, we enter a historical house dating back to the 19^th century. The house is a square-shaped courtyard encircled by the rooms.  The most spectacular part of the house is the southern part comprising a higher porch (ayvan) and a central hall overlooking the courtyard. The hall is graced with five-door stained windows and frescos adorning the wall and ceiling. A pool room (howz-khaneh), with an octagonal pool in the middle, lies on the space between the western and southern part of the house. It connects the southern hall to the western spaces of the house through a wooden door. Unlike the typical handicraft shops you may visit in Isfahan, this house includes a number of handicraft workshops in which you can observe the process of making while you buy the crafts.

First, we go to see the glassworks whose master won the national award for his abstract work of art. He will show us the way he has given a Persian identity to his glasswork.

In the next step, you will be familiar with the rug workshop (Kilim) in which the master will show you how to weave a rug and you can get involved in the weaving process.

If you are a woman, you will love the next workshop and if you are a man, you can get a nice gift for the woman you love. You ask why? I will tell you now.

This room embraces a delicate work of art of filigree trophies, bowls and buttons. The master is making filigree jewelries all by his skillful hands and adorn them by precious metals such as gold and silver. This ancient filigree jewelry was discovered and unearthed in the ancient Mesopotamian lands about 5000 years ago and found its way to the other parts of the world especially throughout the Roman Empire.

Are you interested in music? How about musical instruments? In the next workshop, you will see how the master of woodwork breathes a new life into the pieces of wood and makes the famous Iranian musical instruments such as Setar and Tar.

This is not the end of the story, lots of other workshops such as the Persian marquetry known as Khatam Kari is still waiting for you. Khatam consists of sticks of wood, brass, camel bones and twisted wires. Ivory, gold and silver are also used for exclusive products. The beams are cut in triangular shape and put together to form a cylinder. Then, these cylinders are cut shorter, compressed, plated and glued to decorate the object.

The next room introduces the master of locksmithing, Hassan Kiani, who has made more than 200 different vintage locks. The animal motifs inspired the artists in making this delicate artwork. These unique locks have found their ways to the Louvre Museum. Don’t miss to ask them to show you the tiny locks. 

We continue our handicraft workshop tour by going next door to see the beautiful art on the cotton textiles. Mr. Ebadi is an artist in Kalamkari or block printing. The Persian word Kalamkari (also Qalam Kari) consists of kalam or qalam (pen) and kari (craftsmanship) meaning drawing with a pen. This freehand drawing used to be practiced since Sassanid era which is replaced by block printing nowadays. Miniature, metalwork, lacquer work and enamel are also practiced in this house.

Finally, after spending enough time on shopping and gaining knowledge about handicrafts, it’s cool to take Biryani for lunch in Haj Mahmud restaurant which is recommended by the Lonely Planet. Remember, if you want to have lunch, you should inform us earlier to book a table for you. 

 Combine visits to the old neighborhoods and handicraft workshops on this tour. With our pick-up service from your accommodation, you do not need to have difficulty finding backstreet neighborhoods of Isfahan. Your tour of handicrafts includes visiting the production process of the handicrafts in the workshops of Isfahan. We will take you to the Sheikh-Al-Islam house where you can see the workshop of Golabatoun Bafi, also known as Zaribafi (Brocade weaving) recognized as one of the age-old Persian handicrafts.

The Persian brocade fabrics are woven by silk threads covered with gold or silver. The Master of Zari Bafi (Golabatoun Bafi), named Mehdi Shamsali is the last master of Isfahan who is practicing brocade in its original and traditional way.

After visiting this unique workshop, we will take you to one of the main neighborhoods of Isfahan known as Dardasht.

Dardasht neighborhood is one of the oldest districts of Isfahan, dating back to the Seljuk era (11 century). In this era and exactly in the same neighborhood, the first urban developments of the city of Isfahan started and consequently the Jame Mosque, known also as Atigh Mosque, a bathhouse, caravanserai and bazar were built. 

After giving an introduction about the history of this district, we enter a historical house dating back to the 19^th century. The house is a square-shaped courtyard encircled by the rooms.  The most spectacular part of the house is the southern part comprising a higher porch (ayvan) and a central hall overlooking the courtyard. The hall is graced with five-door stained windows and frescos adorning the wall and ceiling. A pool room (howz-khaneh), with an octagonal pool in the middle, lies on the space between the western and southern part of the house. It connects the southern hall to the western spaces of the house through a wooden door. Unlike the typical handicraft shops you may visit in Isfahan, this house includes a number of handicraft workshops in which you can observe the process of making while you buy the crafts.

First, we go to see the glassworks whose master won the national award for his abstract work of art. He will show us the way he has given a Persian identity to his glasswork.

In the next step, you will be familiar with the rug workshop (Kilim) in which the master will show you how to weave a rug and you can get involved in the weaving process.

If you are a woman, you will love the next workshop and if you are a man, you can get a nice gift for the woman you love. You ask why? I will tell you now.

This room embraces a delicate work of art of filigree trophies, bowls and buttons. The master is making filigree jewelries all by his skillful hands and adorn them by precious metals such as gold and silver. This ancient filigree jewelry was discovered and unearthed in the ancient Mesopotamian lands about 5000 years ago and found its way to the other parts of the world especially throughout the Roman Empire.

Are you interested in music? How about musical instruments? In the next workshop, you will see how the master of woodwork breathes a new life into the pieces of wood and makes the famous Iranian musical instruments such as Setar and Tar.

This is not the end of the story, lots of other workshops such as the Persian marquetry known as Khatam Kari is still waiting for you. Khatam consists of sticks of wood, brass, camel bones and twisted wires. Ivory, gold and silver are also used for exclusive products. The beams are cut in triangular shape and put together to form a cylinder. Then, these cylinders are cut shorter, compressed, plated and glued to decorate the object.

The next room introduces the master of locksmithing, Hassan Kiani, who has made more than 200 different vintage locks. The animal motifs inspired the artists in making this delicate artwork. These unique locks have found their ways to the Louvre Museum. Don’t miss to ask them to show you the tiny locks. 

We continue our handicraft workshop tour by going next door to see the beautiful art on the cotton textiles. Mr. Ebadi is an artist in Kalamkari or block printing. The Persian word Kalamkari (also Qalam Kari) consists of kalam or qalam (pen) and kari (craftsmanship) meaning drawing with a pen. This freehand drawing used to be practiced since Sassanid era which is replaced by block printing nowadays. Miniature, metalwork, lacquer work and enamel are also practiced in this house.

Finally, after spending enough time on shopping and gaining knowledge about handicrafts, it’s cool to take Biryani for lunch in Haj Mahmud restaurant which is recommended by the Lonely Planet. Remember, if you want to have lunch, you should inform us earlier to book a table for you.