Ali Qapu shares the so-called private axis with the Mosque of Shaykh Lutfallah.  This building project began modestly:  it was to be an atrium for the royal gardens. Begun in 1597, this building continued to be modified until 1660. All that remains today is this small part of the palace with its verandah that looks out across the great maidan.  One can easily imagine Shah Abbas seated here looking out across the maidan, a picture of both authority and involvement to his people.

It is unclear how the many rooms of the palace were used.  But we do know that they were richly decorated with niches and  painted walls.  The picture on the right is often called the music room.  It is located directly behind the verandah and was the room in which the drums were sounded to announce the presence of the shah.  The niches in this room are in the shapes of ceramic vessels.  Some scholars think these niches actually displayed such vases, while others think that there was a more symbolic meaning intended.

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