By Afshin Majlesi

10 wonderful cultural sites in Iran you must see

Iran, one of the friendliest countries on Earth, was once the heart of the mighty Persian Empire which almost stretched from Greece all the way to China. And now, what we know as modern Iran is the inheritor of a land full of sites of high cultural values from corner to corner.

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

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.

Discover top ten travel destinations of western Iran

TEHRAN – Although potential travelers to Iran are mostly fascinated by tourism delights of Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz, they are unaware that almost every corner of the ancient land is home to astonishing attractions such as dusty labyrinthine bazaars, centuries-old monuments, colorful landscapes, scorching deserts, snow-capped mountains, eroded volcanic plateaus, long-abandoned castles, ancient river valleys, enigmatic places of worship, and above all, hospitable and welcoming people.

Motocross race in Isfahan

TEHRAN - On the occasion of Physical Education Week, motocross race was held in Isfahan, central Iran.

Deformed skull of ancient human unearthed in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologists have recently unearthed a deformed skull of an ancient human in a prehistorical mount in the central city of Isfahan.

Decoration pieces of UNESCO-tagged Ali Qapu being documented, restored

TEHRAN- A documentation and restoration project has been commenced on over 40 pieces of decoration used in the 16th-century Ali Qapu Palace, an element of the UNESCO-registered Imam Square in Isfahan, central Iran.

 Third Parthian skeleton unearthed in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologists have discovered the remains of an ancient human in a prehistorical mount in Isfahan, central Iran, saying that is “the third Parthian skeleton” being unearthed there over the past couple of weeks.

Isfahan ‘a pearl in the Middle East’: Swiss FM 

TEHRAN – Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis called the ancient Iranian city of Isfahan ‘a pearl in the Middle East’ on his official Twitter account after his one-day trip to the city on Saturday.   

Newly-unearthed ‘Parthian lady’ to be transferred to Isfahan museum

TEHRAN – A human skeleton which has recently been discovered during excavations at Tepe Ashraf in Isfahan and is believed to belong to a Parthian-era (247 BC – 224 CE) lady, will be transferred to the city’s Museum of Decorative Arts.

Foreign arrivals in Isfahan rise sevenfold in 7 years

TEHRAN – Some 450,000 foreign nationals visited the central Iranian province of Isfahan during the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 20), a sevenfold rise compared to around 64,000 visits during the Iranian calendar year 1391 (March 2012-March 2013).

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A glimpse of Muharram mourning rituals across Iran: Tazieh

Tazieh, Iranian passion play on religious events especially on the day of Ashura, is another ritual which is held in Isfahan province during Muharram mourning and is registered on Iran’s national heritage list. Tazieh is held in several cities in Iran. However, in Isfahan province, it is one of the traditions of Muharram.

Tens of projects to promote tourism, handicrafts in central Iran 

TEHRAN- A total of 95 tourism-related projects are scheduled to be inaugurated across central Iranian provinces of Yazd and Isfahan on the occasion of the Government Week (August 24-30).

Turkish Airlines to resume flights to five Iranian cities, including Tehran

TEHRAN – Turkey's flag carrier Turkish Airlines has announced that it is scheduled to resume its flights to Tehran and four other major Iranian cities in September.

400-year-old cistern restored in Isfahan

TEHRAN - The historical Tudeshk cistern, a vast subterranean reservoir for storing water in Isfahan province, has been fully restored and is ready to be toured by visitors, researchers, and architecture enthusiasts.

‘Half the world’ Isfahan to embrace another tourism hub

TEHRAN – Tepe Ashraf, the sole archaeological hill in Isfahan, which has recently yielded significant evidence of ancient life in the central Iranian city, will be turning into a new tourism destination particularly for researchers, history buffs and people interested in archaeology.

Coronavirus: Isfahan historical sites to keep hosting online concerts if health rules observed

TEHRAN – Isfahan tourism department backs online concerts being held at historical sites of the central Iranian province if regulations both for the health of musicians and maintenance of the centuries-old sites are taken into account.

By Afshin Majlesi

20 wonderful, must-see cultural sites in Iran

If you ask foreign visitors to Iran about the most characteristic future they discovered during excursions in the ancient land, the most possible answers may be somewhat like these: “It is the friendliest country on Earth with loads of warm-hearted welcome!”; “It is the jewel in Islam’s crown in terms of architecture”; “Being home to fascinating cultural heritage sites”; or “a land where echoes of ancient civilizations still resonate down through the ages!”

Skeleton of another ‘Parthian lady’ discovered in Isfahan

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has found what they say is the skeleton of the second Parthian-era (247 BC – 224 CE) lady at the ancient Tepe Ashraf in Isfahan, hoping new range of discoveries offer novel clues about the history of the central Iranian city.

By Afshin Majlesi

Pigeon towers significant but strange buildings of ancient times

Pigeons are many times deemed as mere nuisances especially by city dwellers. However, they were quite valuable in ancient Iran, mostly for their droppings!

Badrud historical houses to help generate jobs, reverse migration

TEHRAN – A number of historical houses scattering across Badrud, an ancient town in Natanz county, central Isfahan province, are set to be restored in a bid to help the cultural heritage and tourism sector generate jobs and spur reverse migration in the region.

UNESCO-tagged Imam Square in Isfahan being restored

TEHRAN – A restoration project has been commenced on the walls of the east side of the UNESCO-registered Imam Square in Isfahan, central Iran, CHTN reported.

Safavid-era mosque in central Iran back to former glory

TEHRAN – The Safavid-era (1501–1736) Khosro Mosque in the ancient oasis town of Ardestan, central Isfahan province will undergo some rehabilitation works, a provincial tourism chief has said.

Czech globetrotters visit South Khorasan province

TEHRAN – A group of globetrotters from the Czech Republic arrived on Friday in Ayask, an ancient town in Sarayan county, eastern South Khorasan province.

Ancient human skeleton unearthed in Isfahan

TEHRAN – The remains of an ancient person, believed to date back to the Parthian era (247 BC – 224 CE), has been discovered during an archaeological season which is underway at Tepe Ashraf, the sole archaeological hill in Isfahan, central Iran.

Islamic-era relics found in historical mansion in Isfahan

TEHRAN – Some pieces of pottery and porcelain dating back to the Islamic era have recently been found during the restoration of Bekhradi Mansion in the central Isfahan province, a senior police official in charge of protecting cultural heritage has said.

Newly unearthed workshops may push back history of Isfahan by millennia

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have unearthed the ruins of two workshops, estimated to date from the Parthian era (247 BC – 224 CE), in Isfahan in a significant discovery that may push back the history of the central Iranian city in time by millennia.

Visit Jameh Mosque of Ardestan one of earliest Islamic structures in central Iran 

TEHRAN - The Jameh Mosque of Ardestan, which is named after an ancient oasis town of the same name in central Iran, is of high historical importance as it incorporates successive architectural styles of the Sassanids, Buyids, Seljuks, and Safavids.

New properties in Isfahan inscribed on National Heritage list

TEHRAN – A total of 20 aging structures and sites, which are scattered across the central Isfahan province, have recently been inscribed on the National Heritage list, CHTN reported.

Visit 17th-century museum-like factory in Isfahan

TEHRAN – “Assarkhane” is a Persian word equivalent to a traditional oil-extracting factory where special mills are/were used to grind stuff such as stones, turmeric, and pepper. There were many Assarkhanes operational in every corner of Iran in the time of yore.