Abyaneh is one of Iran's most atmospheric historic villages. Nestled on the slopes of the Karkas mountains in Isfahan Province, it rises above the countryside with a reddish-brown glow that comes from the ferruginous clay used to build its houses. The town feels like a living museum, where time seems to have pressed pause and the old ways quietly linger in every alley and stair.

The buildings are Abyaneh's most striking feature. Narrow lanes wind between tall adobe houses. The walls are red and warm. Wooden balconies and lattice windows peek into daily life inside. The houses cling to the hillside and connect with stone steps and courtyards. You can imagine caravans and farmers using these paths long ago.

Local life in Abyaneh remains deeply connected to custom and craft. The people preserve a distinctive style of dress, especially the women, who are known for wearing long, dark robes accented with bright scarves in reds and oranges. The village's craftsmen keep alive traditional handicrafts such as carpet weaving, pottery, and small textiles, which you can often watch in the shade of a doorway or in a family workshop.  The local language has its own color inside Persian, giving a timeless feeling to conversations in the streets.

A visit to Abyaneh invites you to slow down and observe a way of life that has survived modern changes. The air feels intimate, and residents may greet visitors or offer a small cup of tea. The best times to walk the lanes are in spring and autumn, when the light makes the red walls glow and the air carries the scent of pomegranates and wood smoke. If you go, be polite, ask before taking photos, and move gently so the village can unfold at its own pace.

Photo by  Sergey Semenov

31 October 2025