TEHRAN— An enormous tourism festival in Isfahan has commenced to highlight the endless charms of the province, whose capital of the same name was the seat of power in the 17th century.

Alireza Habibi, a provincial tourism official, told IRNA on Monday that 90 diverse tourism, cultural, and artistic events will be held in various parts of the province during the one-month festival.

He said the festival aims to boost tourism and introduce various capacities of the province. 

Habibi explained that 36 urban festivals, 30 rural festivals, and 34 private sector festivals will be held. He called holding pomegranate, almond, bread and ice cream, adobe structure, Kavir carpet, handicrafts, local garments and souvenirs as some of the programs of the festival.

The festival includes special support programs for tourists, he said, adding that during this period, some hotels and traditional accommodations, ecotourism and tourism centers in the province have provided discounts of up to 30 percent for travelers, and in addition, shopping centers, restaurants and entertainment spaces are also participating in the discount plan.

He clarified that many accommodation centers have tried to attract more tourists by participating in this plan.

According to him, this festival is an appropriate opportunity for introducing natural, historical and cultural attractions of the province. All domestic and foreign tourists are invited to travel to Isfahan during this period and benefit from its diverse programs, he added.

Some 22,000 historical and architectural monuments in Isfahan, along with a range of intangible cultural heritage indicators including foods, rituals, celebrations, traditional skills, and handicraft production, reflect the history and culture of Iran in this region, and this richness has made Isfahan one of the most tourist-friendly provinces in Iran.

Isfahan was once a crossroads of international trade and diplomacy in Iran and now it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations for good reasons. It is filled with many architectural wonders, such as unmatched Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, and tree-lined boulevards. It’s a city for walking, getting lost in its mazing bazaars, dozing in beautiful gardens, and meeting people.

The Persian proverb “Isfahan, Nesf-e-Jahan” (Isfahan is half the world) reflects the city’s cultural and historical prominence.

KD