Which Isfahan bridge is named for its 33 arches?

The Isfahan bridge named for its 33 arches is Si-o-se-pol. Its formal name is Allahverdi Khan Bridge, but Si-o-se-pol is the name most directly associated with its distinctive arch count.

Built between 1599 and 1602 during the reign of Safavid shah Abbas the Great, the bridge crosses the Zayanderud River in Isfahan, Iran. It was supervised by Allahverdi Khan, a Georgian-born commander in the Safavid army, and served as both a crossing and a dam.

The Persian name Si-o-se-pol means “33 bridges.” The structure is actually a double-level vaulted bridge with two superimposed rows of 33 arches, rather than simply a single row of 33 openings. It is about 297.76 meters long and 14.75 meters wide.

A common mix-up is Khaju Bridge, another famous Isfahan bridge on the same river. Khaju is celebrated for its decorative tilework, pavilions, and royal associations; the number 33 points specifically to Si-o-se-pol. The Zayanderud has periodically run dry because of drought and upstream water management, changing the bridge’s setting dramatically.