Nisa consists of two distinct areas:
• Old Nisa: The royal citadel and ceremonial hub.
• New Nisa: The urban and economic center.
In Old Nisa, remnants of massive mud-brick walls (8–9 meters thick and 12–15 meters high) and circular watchtowers remain from the early formation period of the Parthian state (3rd century BC).
Archaeological excavations since 1947, notably by international missions led by the Italian team under Antonio Invernizzi, have unearthed invaluable finds:
• The "Square House" (a palace with a pillared hall and central courtyard).
• Religious complexes (believed by some to be fire temples).
• The Royal Treasury, containing thousands of artifacts made of pottery, metal, stone, and ivory.
• Ritual Rhyta: Drinking vessels featuring a blend of Greek and Persian motifs.
A crown jewel of these finds is the Nisa Ivory Rhyton, decorated with Greek mythological scenes (such as Dionysus and Ariadne), currently housed in the National Museum of Turkmenistan. This piece is a premier example of Parthian court art and a symbol of the cultural fusion between East and West.
The architecture of Nisa combines two main traditions: Hellenistic elements (Corinthian and Ionic columns, peristyle spaces, mythological decorations) and Persian elements (extensive use of raw mud-brick, pointed arches, courtyard-centered palace plans, and complex defensive structures). The pillared hall, with approximately 12 columns and an area of 400 square meters, was likely used for ceremonial and diplomatic purposes.
In 2007, Nisa was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as an "outstanding example of Parthian cultural creativity."