Esfahan · Jolfa (Armenian Quarter) · Iran

Vank Cathedral

churchArmenianhistoricgoogle verified

easy

9/10

best: morning, afternoon

intimate, surprising, layered

A local would say...

An Armenian church built by a Muslim king, decorated with Persian tilework and Orthodox frescoes — Iran in a single room.

The historic focal point of the Armenian Christian community in Iran, Vank Cathedral was built in the 17th century in the lively Jolfa quarter established by Shah Abbas I. The exterior is simple but the interior is extravagantly decorated with a fascinatingly hybrid Islamic–Christian style featuring a painted dome and detailed biblical frescoes.