Isfahan, a city of central Iran, is the focus of global attention these days as the site of that country's uranium conversion facility. It's a major component of Iran's controversial nuclear programme. But Isfahan is also an important centre of Islamic art and home to a magnificent complex of buildings.

Isfahan is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The domes and minarets of its Naqsh-e Jahan square are magnificent.

The complex was built by Shah Abbas the Great, at the beginning of the 17th century.

The most famous buildings are the Royal Mosque, the Mosque of Sheykh Lotfollah, the magnificent Portico of Qaysariyyeh and the 15th-century Timurid palace.

The detailed Islamic decorations of these buildings have inspired craftsmen for generations.

Isfahan has become celebrated for its unique craft - enameling plates and other porcelain items with arabesque patterns.

The intricate patterns are typical of Islamic art - hence the name arabesque.

Human and animal forms are forbidden in Islamic art - and repetition of geometric forms is common throughout the Muslim world.

Blue is the dominant colour when enamel and arabesque are blended.

Various hues from the blue range of the colour spectrum are common in the enameling and drawing of arabesque.