We drove by the remains of the walls that once encircled the city towards the beautiful clock Tower on our way to the Masjed-e Jame and if it may be true to say that we had already visited enough Friday Mosques to be astounded by any in particular it is also true that each of them had its specificities that made them special in their own way.
Having been founded by the Seljuk commander in 1119 over a ruined Sassanid fire temple, the Masjed-e Jame of Yazd is said to have been largely rebuilt in the 14th century. Its entrance is decorated by numerous plaques recording local decrees, taxes and endowments but is nevertheless understandably worth looking at because of its ceramic work. The fact that the minarets are said to be disproportionate added some peculiar touch to the whole ensemble, I believe.
Once we walked into the prayer chamber the countless geometrically arranged blues against brick surfaces with cut and moulded plaster infills caught our attention almost immediately. From a certain moment onwards I started looking up and letting myself be taken by the domed ceilings and some of the intricate mosaic details.
The surrounding atmosphere was one of silence and pray and the fact that Massoud asked us to pray led me to take advantage of that time and pray myself.
Considered one of the finest specimens of Azari style in Persia, the Friday Mosque of Yazd is also said to have one of the finest Mihrabs of its kind in Persia. Not being able to accurately define whether it is true or not I somehow felt the turquoises and tinges of blue had a strong impact on me.
A few women in black chadors could be seen crossing the courtyard. Never throughout the trip had we seen so many women wearing black as a predominant colour and covered up as we did in this area but despite the strict rules the Yazd population seemed to follow their kindness and "open" attitude towards foreigners was still there.
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