Cyrus Cylinder: the story of 2,600-year-old icon of freedom

TEHRAN - The 2,600-year-old Cyrus Cylinder is a small barrel-shaped clay cylinder, almost the size of an American football, which was inscribed in enigmatic-looking cuneiform on the order of the Persian King Cyrus after he captured Babylon in 539 BC.

Water tourism, an untapped potential in Lorestan

TEHRAN - The western province of Lorestan is a land of natural resources, waterfalls, and ever-flowing rivers, which holds great potential for boosting water tourism in the region.

Cultural heritage, tourism in critical situation if coronavirus crises continue: minister

TEHRAN-Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism will be in a critical situation if the crises caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus continue, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan said on Wednesday.

Persian handicrafts: 13th-century panel of three tiles from frieze

TEHRAN - These tiles, being kept and displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, were once part of a magnificent frieze in a very important religious shrine in Mashhad, northeast Iran.

Brazil seeks enhanced cultural, museology ties with Iran

TEHRAN – Brazilian Ambassador to Tehran Rodrigo de Azeredo Santos on Monday paid a visit to the National Museum of Iran, discussing ways with the museum’s director Jebrael Nokandeh to expand cooperation in cultural and museology arenas.

By Samaneh Aboutalebi

Hasht Behesht Palace, a gateway to the paradise of color and art

Hasht Behesht Palace, meaning “Eight Paradises”, is literally a gateway to the paradise of color, art, light, and surprising beautifulness.

Treasury of National Jewels: simply jaw-dropping!

TEHRAN - For one who is not a fan of museums, their perceptions would be turned upside by this incredible place! Here is a selected comment made by a foreign visitor to the treasury: “Woooow! This place is just a wow! We were amazed! Speechless! I can’t put any comments… it’s something that if you visit Tehran it must be in the first place to visit.”

Corona stops archeological work in Burnt City

TEHRAN – Archeological excavations in the UNESCO-registered Burnt City, southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province, have been stopped over the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

Turkish Airlines resumes flights to Tabriz after seven months halt

TEHRAN – Turkey’s flag carrier Turkish Airlines resumed its flights to Tabriz on Monday after seven months of suspension over the COVID-19 pandemic.

Relics dating from 6,000 years ago to Islamic eras on National Heritage list

TEHRAN – Nine historical moveable properties dating from 6,000 years ago to early Islamic eras in Isfahan province have recently been inscribed on the National Heritage list.

Persian carpet: a crossroads of intricate designs, lavish colors, and peerless artistry

For millennia, Iran’s eminent carpets, which are adored for their intricate designs, lavish colors, and matchless craftsmanship, have been produced by hand along the nomad trail across the foothills and high plains of the ancient land.

UNWTO conference in Iran postponed over coronavirus

TEHRAN – The International Conference on Ecotourism and Rural Tourism, which was scheduled to be held in Iran in November, has been postponed over the outbreak of the coronavirus.

Louvre, University of Tehran to conduct survey in ancient Faruj

TEHRAN – Experts from the Louvre and the University of Tehran have been granted a license to conduct a new round of excavation in the historical town of Faruj, northeastern North Khorasan province.

Tourism ministry to help empower inmates

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Prisons, Security, and Corrective Measures Organization with the aim of creating jobs and making income for prisoners. 

Sasanians promoted Persian arts through trade, conquest, and diplomacy: experts

TEHRAN - Under Sassanid rule (224 CE–651) Persian arts and architecture experienced a general renaissance. However, it made its way well beyond the vast borders of the longest-lived Persian dynasty, which at its greatest extent encompassed all of present-day Iran and Iraq and stretched from the eastern Mediterranean (including Anatolia and Egypt) to Pakistan, and from parts of southern Arabia to the Caucasus and Central Asia.

Hotels allowed to raise prices up to 30%

TEHRAN - The Iranian Hoteliers Association has announced that hotels in the country have been allowed to increase prices up to 30 percent as of September 22.

Online exhibition to display photos on Uraman rural landscape

TEHRAN- The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO will hold an online exhibition on its official Instagram page on Friday, displaying photos on Uraman rural landscape in western Kordestan province which is a candidate for becoming a World Heritage site in 2021.

Martyr Hojaji’s tomb can help promote war tourism 

TEHRAN-The tomb of Mohsen Hojaji, an Iranian soldier who was brutally martyred by Daesh (ISIS) forces in Syria in 2017, is a privilege for the city of Najafabad and can promote war tourism in the region, the deputy tourism minister, Vali Teymouri, has said.

Qajar-era Jameh Mosque of Namin demarcated

TEHRAN – The Qajar-era (1789–1925) Jameh Mosque of Namin in the northwestern Ardebil province has been demarcated in a bid to preserve the historical monument.

Govt. supports corona-affected tourism, handicraft sectors in Khorasan Razavi

TEHRAN – The Iranian government has paid 570 billion rials (about $13.5 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) in loans to support people and businesses active in tourism and handicrafts sectors affected by the coronavirus outbreak in Khorasan Razavi province.

Bandar Lengeh-Dubai shipping line resumes operation after COVID-19 halt

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL) has announced that a shipping line between Bandar Lengeh and Dubai has resumed operation after a halt over the coronavirus pandemic. 

A glimpse of Persian handicrafts: Termeh

Termeh is a fine and precious handmade cloth with traditional patterns or textures made of wool and high-quality natural or synthetic silk with tall fibers.

By Afshin Majlesi

Tea tourism: experience the taste of a serene holiday

If you are the type of person who is looking for new travel destinations that are peaceful, pristine, and perfect for a picnic with loads of indigenous culture, you may consider a tea tour for your next excursion.

Tehran museums extend closures for third consecutive week over COVID-19

TEHRAN – Museums and historical sites in Tehran province will remain closed for the third consecutive week as the province is in the high-risk “red” zone due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Tourism, sport ministers ink MOU to deepen cooperation

TEHRAN- Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Sport and Youth Minister Masoud Soltanifar on Sunday to expand bilateral ties.

Centuries-old Saint George Church still open in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN-The Saint George Church in the northwestern West Azarbaijan province is one of the oldest churches of the country which are still in use centuries after being built.

Russia says visa-free regime with Iran hinges on pandemic

TEHRAN – Russia hopes to finalize work on a bilateral visa-free regime for certain tourist groups with Iran in the near future, but says the time for its implementation depends on the situation of coronavirus pandemic in the two countries. 

Afshin Majlesi

Asbads, the windy pride of Nashtifan

In the tiny village of Nashtifan in northeastern Iran, one may feel an ancient magic inherited from preceding generations, a traditional technique to harness the wind power.

By Afshin Majlesi

Ten gorgeous mosques to visit in Iran

TEHRAN – Cascades of photogenic domes and minarets can be seen in every corner of Iran as inseparable elements of mosques some of which widely known as timeless benchmarks of the Islamic architecture.

Exhibition to display unseen relics of Sialk

TEHRAN – The National Museum of Kashan is scheduled to hold an exhibition of the relics discovered in Tapeh Sialk (“Sialk hills”), which are not displayed previously, in an exhibition by the end of the current Iranian year 1399 (ends on March 20, 2021).