Isfahan

Wrestlers of the 7th century AH: When sport became eternal in an Ilkhanid luster tile

Hidden among the treasures of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore is a remarkable fragment of medieval Iranian art: a six-pointed, star-shaped lusterware tile produced in Kashan during the Ilkhanid period (late 13th–early 14th century CE). Against a deep cobalt-blue ground, shimmering white and golden-brown luster decoration frames a dynamic wrestling match. At the center, two men are locked in combat. One has been forced to the ground while his opponent bends over him, controlling his arm in a grappling hold rendered with striking realism.

2026-07-08 17:50

Restoration begins at UNESCO-listed Chehel Sotoun after blast damage

TEHRAN - Restoration work has begun on damaged sections of the UNESCO-listed Chehel Sotoun World Heritage site in Isfahan following blast damage sustained during the recent war with the US-Israeli regime, the site’s director said on Wednesday.

2026-07-08 17:50

Centuries-old caravanserai to become astrotourism hub in central Iran

TEHRAN – The centuries-old Moshajari Caravanserai in eastern Isfahan province will be developed into an astrotourism hub, a provincial tourism official said on Wednesday, as authorities seek to expand nature- and science-based tourism in the region.

Historic plaza opposite Isfahan’s Abbasi Hotel to undergo restoration

2026-07-07 17:29

Historic plaza in Isfahan to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – Authorities in Isfahan have approved a restoration and revitalization project for the historic urban plaza facing the renowned Abbasi Hotel, a landmark that forms part of the city's rich architectural and cultural heritage.

2026-07-03 18:28

Researcher highlights Isfahan's enduring role in Ta’zieh heritage

TEHRAN - Iran's ritual dramatic art of Ta’zieh continues to thrive across the country, with central Isfahan province widely regarded as the nation's leading center for the centuries-old tradition, according to Iranian researcher and Ta’zieh scholar Esmaeil Mojallali.

Dr. Jebrael Nokandeh, Director-General of the National Museum of Iran (L), speaks during an exclusive interview with the Tehran Times in Tehran, June 23, 2026.

2026-07-01 20:10

By Afshin Majlesi

War, memory and the race to save a civilization

An interview with Dr. Jebrael Nokandeh, Director of the National Museum of Iran

TEHRAN – What happens when one of the world's oldest civilizations is confronted with the realities of modern warfare? How do museums prepare for conflict, protect irreplaceable artifacts, and respond when cultural institutions come under threat? And what lessons have museum professionals learned from navigating these extraordinary challenges?

2026-06-29 17:53

Isfahan unveils tourism roadmap, plans heritage restoration after recent damage

TEHRAN – Isfahan province has prepared a new tourism development roadmap, launched plans to revive historical corridors and begun restoring heritage sites damaged during recent US-Israeli airstrikes, Governor-general Mehdi Jamalinejad said on Monday.

2026-06-29 17:52

Few Iranian heritage sites located in high-risk land subsidence zones, official says

TEHRAN – Only a limited number of Iran’s historical monuments are located in areas facing a high risk of land subsidence, and concerns about damage to heritage sites are often overstated due to confusion with ordinary structural settlement and moisture-related deterioration, a senior cultural heritage official said.

2026-06-17 17:49

Isfahan to host world tourism film festival meeting

TEHRAN - The historic Iranian city of Isfahan will host the next meeting of the World Tourism Film Festival (CINETOUR) after member countries approved Iran's proposal during the organization's latest gathering in Istanbul, a provincial tourism official said on Wednesday.

2026-06-15 18:24

Iran plans handicrafts export push, names Isfahan key hub for tourism growth

TEHRAN – Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, said on Monday that the government would pursue a program to expand domestic and international markets for handicrafts, increase exports, support artisans and develop a complete value chain for the sector, identifying Isfahan as a central hub for future growth.

2026-06-10 23:47

Traditional Nain Aba weaving receives global geographical indication registration

TEHRAN – The traditional Aba weaving craft of Nain in central Iran has been internationally registered as a geographical indication by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), marking the country's 13th global registration in the field, a senior handicrafts official said.

2026-06-01 17:18

Mesr village nears global recognition as model of sustainable desert tourism

TEHRAN – The desert village of Mesr, located in Khur and Biabanak county in Iran’s central Isfahan province, has successfully passed the preliminary stages of international evaluation and is now on the verge of being included in the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) program recognizing the Best Tourism Villages worldwide.

2026-05-23 20:55

Isfahan says restoration of war-damaged historic buildings 80% complete

TEHRAN - Restoration work on Isfahan’s historic buildings damaged during the recent war with the US and Israeli regime has reached 80% completion, with most structural repairs expected to be finalized within two weeks, a municipal official said on Saturday.

2026-05-23 07:45

Isfahan positioned as regional medical tourism hub as Iran plans integrated health system

ISFAHAN - Iran is seeking to strengthen its position as a regional hub for medical tourism by leveraging its specialist physicians, advanced treatment centers and competitive costs, tourism minister said during a visit to Isfahan’s Healthcare City.

2026-05-16 18:17

Clues of Parthian-Sasanian tomb complex discovered in central Iran

TEHRAN - Iranian cultural heritage officials said they have identified traces of a tomb complex dating back to the Parthian-Sasanian period in Tiran-Karvan county of Isfahan province, central Iran, marking what authorities described as the first known burial complex of its kind discovered in the area.

2026-05-07 06:26

17th Gol Ghaltan festival underway with new community-focused approach

TEHRAN - The city of Amirieh in Semnan province has launched its 17th edition of its nationally recognized Gol Ghaltan ritual, introducing a more traditional, community-based approach to the centuries-old ceremony, local officials said.

2026-05-04 22:01

Agha Bozorg Mosque: The soul of Kashan’s architectural heritage

TEHRAN - Rising from the historic fabric of Kashan, the Agha Bozorg Mosque stands as one of the most remarkable architectural ensembles of late Persian design. It is a place where spirituality, scholarship, and artistry converge.

2026-05-01 19:31

Crash site of US aircraft in Dasht-e Mahyar registered as national heritage

TEHRAN – The Ministry of Cultural Heritage announced that the site where US aircraft were shot down in the Dasht-e Mahyar area has been officially registered on Iran’s National Heritage List of Sacred Defense sites.

2026-04-24 20:27

Isfahan launches university partnership to restore Chehel Sotoun Palace after airstrike damage

TEHRAN – Iranian cultural heritage authorities have begun a joint initiative with Art University of Isfahan to advance research and restoration work at Chehel Sotoun Palace, officials said, as damage to the historic monument continues to worsen following nearby airstrikes.

2026-04-22 19:14

Isfahan official calls for combined tourism tours centered on ‘resistance tourism’

TEHRAN – A tourism official in Isfahan on Wednesday called for the design of combined tourism packages centered on “resistance tourism,” aiming to link cultural and historical attractions with sites tied to the war with US and the Zionist regime of Israel.

2026-04-21 21:22

Emergency restoration begins at damaged historic sites in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Emergency restoration work has begun on damaged historical monuments in Isfahan province, a provincial official said on Monday, following the US-Israeli attacks that affected dozens of heritage sites.

2026-04-20 00:21

By Batool Subeiti

Iran: The rising global power

LONDON - The escalating and reckless threat to annihilate a civilization as historic as Persia’s openly acknowledges that Donald Trump has utterly failed to achieve his objectives, despite employing every means at his disposal.

Funeral ceremony of an Armenian-Iranian soldier martyred in the recent US-Israeli war on Iran, Saint Mary Church in Isfahan.

2026-04-09 01:00

Isfahan calls on Christian leaders to speak out against war crimes

ISFAHAN - In a move that blends diplomacy, symbolism, and public appeal, the governor-general of Isfahan has released two open letters to senior Christian leaders, calling on them to “raise [their] voice against this oppression and injustice” and express solidarity with the people living in Iran amid rising tensions involving the United States and Israel.