Isfahan, “half of the world,” the “city of turquoise domes,” the “pearl of Persia” has a new sister city and that is the glamorous city of Kazan in Russia.
The number of Isfahan’s sister cities reached 16, as the mayors of Kazan and Isfahan signed the sisterhood agreement between the cities on the 9th of April 2025 during a ceremony held in Chehel Sotoun Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the historic city of Isfahan.
Kazan, famously known as the “third capital of Russia,” is a significant cultural, economic, and sporting centre of the country.
The “millennium city of Kazan” also enjoys a rich history and is home to the Kazan Kremlin, a World Heritage site of the city. Isfahan similarly boasts three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Jame Mosque of Isfahan, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, and Chehel Sotoun (under the title “Persian Garden”).
Kazan, which is the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia, is also known for its unique religious harmony, as large populations of Muslims and Christians live peacefully together in this enchanting city. Interfaith harmony and coexistence is a significant characteristic of Isfahan as well, where followers of Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all live in peace and tranquillity in this captivating city.
The city of Kazan is moreover home to one of Russia’s oldest and most successful universities, Kazan Federal University, having Leo Tolstoy and Vladimir Lenin among its alumni, and is famous for its significant advancements in the fields of technology and innovation. Isfahan, with more than 140 university premises and fifty science and technology parks, is also considered a leading province in Iran in offering scientific and educational services and hosts over 900 knowledge-based companies, almost 10% of the companies of this type in the country.
The vibrant city of Kazan, a multicultural melting pot of Tatar and Russian populations, where East meets West, a sports hub of the country with most special culinary delights, is now set to forge a stronger and more fruitful bond with the dazzling city of Isfahan, the third-largest metropolis of Iran with a population of over two million.
