Yazd on way to become first “City of Tourists” in Iran

TEHRAN – The UNESCO-listed historical city of Yazd has launched a pilot project that could eventually turn it to the first “City of Tourists” in Iran, becoming a role model for other most-visited cities across the country.

82,000 historical objects on show at Golestan Palace

TEHRAN – The UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran features some 82,000 historical objects inside its museums that add up to its own charm, director of the historical site says.

Naqsh-e Rostam: A must-see tourist hotspot in southern Iran

TEHRAN – A variety of spectacular massive rock–hewn tombs and bas-relief carvings at Naqsh-e Rostam has turned the ancient site to a must-see for holidaymakers traversing Iran. The Achaemenid necropolis is situated near Persepolis, itself a bustling UNESCO World Heritage site near the southern city of Shiraz.

UNESCO experts in Iran weighing historical Sasanian ensemble

TEHRAN – Experts from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) accompanied by archaeologists from Germany and Italy visited parts of the historical Sasanian ancient cities and ruins on Wednesday as part of the process for inscribing the ensemble on UNESCO World Heritage List, IRNA reported on Wednesday.

Iran becomes member of UNESCO geoparks committee

TEHRAN -- Iran became one of the 14 members of the UNESCO’s Asia Pacific Geoparks Network (APGN) Advisory Committee.

Polo to become Iran’s UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity: Official

Polo that originated in ancient Iran, will be part of UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by the end of the current Iranian year, an official said.

International Day of Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All

On September 20, 2017, UNESCO in cooperation with the Roudaki Foundation, the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, and Day Sun Cultural Institute will celebrate the International Peace Day with a public event at Azadi Tower.

Boroujerdi-ha House lures travelers with plenty of traditional charm

A photo collection depicts parts of the interior and façade of Boroujerdi-ha House, a 19th-century merchant mansion in Kashan, central Iran.

Iran offers ‘best use of communication technologies’ to spur tourism growth

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief on Wednesday urged global representatives at a UNWTO General Assembly to make the best use of digital technologies particularly in communication arena as a means for developing worldwide tourism and hospitality sectors.

World Heritage Volunteers help raise awareness of Persian qanats

TEHRAN – A cluster of World Heritage Volunteers has spotlighted essentials to conserve and promote Persian qanats, a UNESCO registered heritage that provides exceptional testimony to cultural traditions in desert areas with an arid climate.

Masouleh dossier at final stage for UNESCO tag

TEHRAN - The process of compiling an all-inclusive dossier for possible inscription of Masouleh, a historical village in northern Iran, has entered its delicate final phase, a cultural heritage official says.

Over 4.9m foreign travelers visited Iran in 2016: UNWTO

TEHRAN –The number of international tourist arrivals to Iran stood at 4.9 million in 2016, falling 5.6 percent from a year earlier and showing the first decline since 2013, according to the latest UNWTO Tourism Highlights report released on August 15.

Rehabilitation work restarts at Takht-e Soleyman

TEHRAN – A new round of restoration works on the UNESCO-registered Takht-e Soleyman (“Solomon’s Throne”) in northwest Iran has recently been commenced by a team of Iranian and German experts.

Eyeing UNESCO status, Iran’s Great Wall of Gorgan to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – The ancient Great Wall of Gorgan, northern Iran, is projected to be restored with an eye to get UNESCO World Heritage status

Iran makes leap forward in UNESCO inscription of Kandovan village

TEHRAN – Iran’s heritage body seeks to remove obstacles for possible inscription of Kandovan village, northwest of the country, on the UNESCO World Heritage list, so as to comply with the UN organization’s requirements and criteria for assuming the privilege.

Milad Tower hosting Yazd’s cultural days

TEHRAN – Yazd Cultural Days opened at the foot of Milad Tower in Tehran on Monday to put the spotlight on rich traditions and attractions of the ancient Iranian city which has recently been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

By Afshin Majlesi

See Iran’s World Heritage sites in landscaped miniature park

TEHRAN – For ones who are always short of time but fascinated with rich Iranian cultural heritage - no matter what age they are - visiting Tehran’s Miniature Garden Museum, featuring replicas of the country’s most important historical landmarks and landscapes, is a must.

Yazd on traveler’s radar after getting UNESCO status

TEHRAN – Tour operators working in Iran and even abroad have lauded the inclusion of Yazd on UNESCO World Heritage list, as a privilege that helps to put the historic city on traveler’s radar worldwide.

Bam citadel’s giant gateway regaining former glory

TEHRAN – Restoration work on the giant gateway of Arg-e Bam, a quake-stricken UNESCO-registered citadel in south-eastern Iran, will be completed in October, said the Bam and its Cultural Landscape project manager.

Shiraz to host UNESCO meeting on intangible heritage

TEHRAN – The Iranian city of Shiraz will host the coordination meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage-related Category 2 Institutes and Centers from September 10 to 12, IRNA reported.

Northern cities gear up for intl. tribal culture festival

TEHRAN – The cities of Gorgan and Gonbad-e Kavus in northern Golestan province will successively host the 11th International Festival of Tribes Culture in early September, ISNA reported on Monday.

Open-air museum to be set up near Persepolis

TEHRAN – Iran’s heritage body aims to build an open-air museum on the ruins of a lately-unearthed archeological site adjacent to the legendary Achaemenid city of Persepolis, south of the country.

Iranian artisans promote skills at Budapest festival

TEHRAN – A number of Iranian craftspeople are showcasing their skills at the 31st Festival of Folk Arts, which started on August 17 on open air courts of the Buda Palace, Budapest.

Intl. officials surprised to see Golestan Palace

TEHRAN – Senior officials from sixteen countries visited the UNESCO-inscribed Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran, expressing surprise at the architectural and artistic masterpieces of the historic complex.

Iranian police seize pieces of prehistoric relics

TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have confiscated six pieces of prehistoric objects from a smuggler’s house in Gonbad-e Kavus, northern Golestan province.

By Mohsen Mohammadi

Iran, UNESCO to celebrate 700th anniversary of “The Secret Rose Garden”

TEHRAN – Iran and UNESCO will jointly celebrate the 700th anniversary of the composing of “The Secret Rose Garden” (Gulshan-i Raz), a collection of poems by Iranian mystic and poet Sa’d-ud-Din Mahmud Shabistari (1288–1340), Iran’s Organization of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) announced on Sunday.

Iran to restore its UNESCO-inscribed churches

In line with the goal of jumpstarting the tourism industry, Iran has allotted some $370,000 to the restoration of the UNESCO-inscribed churches that are located in northwest of the country.

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, cozy and symmetrical

TEHRAN – The 17th century Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan, central Iran, is one of the architectural masterpieces of Iranian architecture.

Urmia gears up for major handicrafts exhibit

TEHRAN – Urmia, the capital of northwestern West Ararzbaijan Province, will host a major handicrafts exhibit from July 31 to August 4.