Over 170 MOUs signed to develop Ali Sadr Cave tourism

TEHRAN – Some 174 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been inked since the beginning of the current Iranian year 1399 (started on March 20) to develop tourism and increase visitors to Ali Sadr Cave.

Coronavirus cuts arrivals in Mazandaran by 71 percent

TEHRAN – The number of travelers visiting Mazandaran province has decreased by 71 percent during the first half of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) in comparison with the same period last year over the lockdowns and travel limitations amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Tehran-Semnan rally to promote ecotourism, camping

TEHRAN – The newly-established Camping and Caravanning Club of Iran is scheduled to hold a car rally with an itinerary studded with a variety of tourist spots across Tehran and Semnan provinces.

Photo exhibit puts spotlight on Muharram rituals in Qajar-era Iran

TEHRAN – A public exhibition, featuring photographs and postcards printed during the Qajar era (1789–1925) in Iran, opened its doors to the public in downtown Tehran on Wednesday.

Uraman ‘well prepared’ for UNESCO World Heritage tag: ICOMOS

TEHRAN – Hessam Mahdi, the representative of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), has said that the case for the inscription of the Uraman cultural landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage list has been well prepared and he has been impressed by the status of Uraman rural landscape.

By Seyed Hossein Hosseiniseddiq

Khorshid palace: an amalgam of Iranian, Indian arts, cultures

Khorshid palace is a magnificent historical monument, which is a relic from the time of Nader Shah Afshar, is the most important tourist attraction of Kalat city in Khorasan Razavi province. This palace is a manifestation of the combination of Iranian art with the art of India, which was registered in 1318 SH /1939 in the list of national monuments of Iran.

Persepolis engraved stones, fragments being documented

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists, cultural heritage experts, and restorers have commenced a project to reorganize, study, and document engraved stones, related fragments, and bas-relief carvings that are being kept across the UNESCO-registered Persepolis in southern Iran.

Iranian artist shortlisted for 2020 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize

TEHRAN – Iranian artist Afsaneh Modiramani has been announced as one of the finalists for Loewe Foundation’s 2020 Craft Prize.

Iranian desert to play host to environment-friendly car rally

TEHRAN – The barren, scorching Maranjab Desert, situated in central Iran, will be hosting tens of 4WD cars for a rally scheduled to be held on October 1 and 2.

Camping and Caravanning Club to hold open-air exhibit in Tehran

TEHRAN – Iran’s Camping and Caravanning Club is to hold an open-air exhibit at the Niavaran Cultural-Historical Complex in Tehran, showcasing over 50 camper vans and other related objects.

Sacred Defense properties eligible for cultural heritage status 

TEHRAN – Some 25 immovable properties related to the 1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war, known as the Sacred Defense, have been identified to be eligible for designation as national cultural heritage.

Amusement park in Khuzestan aims to attract Iraqi tourists

TEHRAN – Construction of a large roofed amusement park and recreational center has officially begun in southwestern Khuzestan province aiming to attract Iraqi tourists and travelers.

Millennia-old gold bowl to go on display in Meshkinshahr

TEHRAN – A 3000-year-old gold bowl, which was discovered from illegal diggers almost seven years ago in a village near Meshkinshahr, the northwestern province of Ardebil, will go on display during the next Iranian calendar year 1400 (starts on March 20, 2021).

Studies begin for restoring Iran’s first modern university

TEHRAN – Technical and engineering studies have been commenced on restoring Dar ul-Funun, the first scholastic center of Iran which was established in Tehran in 1851.

Some $24m allocated to tourism projects in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad

TEHRAN – Over one trillion rials (some $24 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been allocated to nine tourism projects across southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Three natural properties added to National Heritage list

TEHRAN – Three natural spots and properties in southwestern Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province have recently been inscribed on the National Heritage list, IRNA reported on Monday.

Iran to become member of UNWTO ‘influential’ committees

TEHRAN - Iran’s deputy tourism minister has said the Islamic Republic will be a member of two “influential” committees at the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), IRNA reported.

Masterpieces of Persian art at National Museum of Iran: Kelardasht Golden Cup

The lion makes repeated appearances in Iranian prehistoric and historic artworks. Here is a nice example from Kalar Dasht, Mazandaran. It is a golden cup, which is named after the place it was excavated, dates back to the late 2nd millennium BC and now is being kept at the National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran. 

Ancient salt mine to become more tourist-friendly

TEHRAN – A historically-rich salt mine in Iran’s northwestern Zanjan province, where several salt men and their personal belongings have been discovered so far, will be equipped with tourist-friendly, safety, and electronic systems such as closed-circuit television cameras.

Academic research starts on restoring Gonbad-e Qabus

TEHRAN – An academic research has been commenced on protecting and restoring the UNESCO-registered Gonbad-e Qabus in the northern province of Golestan.

Italian travel marketers, tour operators visit Gorgan

TEHRAN – A delegation of top travel marketers and tour operators from Italy have visited the historical structure of Gorgan, the capital of Golestan Province in northern Iran.

Ancient stone ram discovered in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – An ancient stone ram was discovered during a seemingly unauthorized excavation in an old cemetery in Anbardaran village, Bostanabad county, northwestern East Azarbaijan province.

Sacred Defense Cinema Town holds potential to boost Rey’s tourism

TEHRAN – The Sacred Defense Cinema Town near the ancient city of Rey holds the potential to boost war tourism in the region, Rey’s cultural heritage department director Amir Mosayeb Rahimzadeh said on Sunday.

Historical structure of Semnan being restored

TEHRAN – The historical structure of the north-central city of Semnan, which includes monuments from the Ilkhanid period (1256–1353) to the Qajar era (1789–1925) is being restored, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Some $27,000 allocated to set up museum on Tepe Rivi

TEHRAN – A budget of 1.1 billion rials ($27,000 at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been allocated to set up an open-air museum on Tepe Rivi, an ancient hill in northeastern North Khorasan province, which has so far yielded magnificent remains of the Bronze Age up to the Sassanid period.

Iran seeks to expand handicrafts market in southern China

TEHRAN – Iran seeks to expand handicrafts exports to southern China, including Guangzhou province, mainly through holding exhibitions and selling products online.

Restoration of 16th-century Portuguese fort in Iran continues

TEHRAN – A fresh restoration work, which entails mapping survey, documentation, and masonry, has been commenced on the 16th-century Portuguese fort in the Persian Gulf island of Hormuz, southern Iran.

Handmade knifemaking to be revived in Ardebil

TEHRAN – The forgotten art of making handmade knives, which was once flourished in northwestern Ardebil province, is planned to be revived in the near future.

WCC holds online training course for Iranian artisans

TEHRAN – The World Crafts Council held an online webinar on Friday for Iranian artisans aiming to develop traditional methods of learning into formal education.

Uraman landscape to boost tourism infrastructure

TEHRAN – A budget of 20 billion rials (about $476,000 at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been allocated to boost tourism infrastructure in the Uraman rural landscape in western Iran.