Easing lockdown, Iran reopens UNESCO-registered Persepolis,  other tourist destinations

TEHRAN – Iran has recently reopened the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, which was once the ceremonial capital of the mighty Achaemenid Empire, as well as many other tourist destinations to sightseers and history buffs, marking another phase in the easing of one of the world’s restrictions over the coronavirus outbreak.  

Coronavirus: a pilgrimage to Shah-e Cheragh after two-month closure

TEHRAN – Photos depict people visiting Shah-e Cheragh (“King of Light”), a major mausoleum and pilgrimage site in the tourist city of Shiraz, southern Iran, on May 26, 2020.

AHF announces update to Asian Junior Handball C’ship

TEHRAN – Asian Handball Federation (AHF) announced updates to its 2020 Asian men’s Junior Handball Championship calendar.

Dresden mayor congratulates Shiraz Day

TEHRAN – Germany’s Dresden Mayor Dirk Hilbert in a message to his counterpart in the Iranian city of Shiraz congratulated National Day of Shiraz.

Travel magazine lists Iran’s ‘Pink Mosque’ among top destinations for 2020 

TEHRAN – Condé Nast Traveler, a New York-based lifestyle and travel magazine, has listed Iran’s Nasir al-Molk Mosque, commonly known as “The Pink Mosque” among its top travel destinations for the year 2020.

National Shiraz Day: an emblem of Persian history, culture, and literature

TEHRAN – Yesterday, many lovers of Persian culture, history and literature marked the National Shiraz Day mainly through online programs and visits to Hafezieh where Hafez, an illustrious 14th-century Persian poet, is laid to rest in the southern Iranian city.

By Morteza Rahmani

Iran marks National Day of Saadi Shirazi, the Master of Speech

TEHRAN – Today is the National Commemoration Day of the renowned Persian poet Saadi Shirazi, born in Shiraz around 1200 and died around 1292.

25 new eco-lodges to be completed in Fars by yearend

TEHRAN – A total of 25 eco-lodge units will come on stream in Fars province by the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2021), provincial tourism chief has said.

12 ancient sites to go in western Iran

TEHRAN – From the coasts of the Persian Gulf to the lush mountainous forests of the northwest, and from snow-tipped northern cliffs to scorching southern deserts, here is a pick of ancient sites to inspire, delight and motivate if willing to visit wild western Iran.

Bagh-e Narenjestan: One of the smallest yet most visited gardens of Shiraz 

TEHRAN - Named after the bitter oranges that line the central courtyard, Bagh-e Narenjestan is one of the brilliantly manicured gardens of Shiraz. Bitter oranges are “Narenj” in Persian.

Travels banned to Iran’s “golden triangle” over virus fears

TEHRAN – Like many other destinations across Iran, its famed “golden triangle” of tourism, which is referred to the cities of Isfahan, Shiraz, and Yazd, has announced it will host no visiting tourists until further notice in a bid to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

Shiraz workshop to explore legal issues concerning World Heritage sites

TEHRAN - University of Shiraz will tomorrow play host to an international workshop, which spotlights various legal issues dealing with UNESCO World Heritage sites across the globe.

Shiraz, hometown of Sadi, Hafez, named Iran’s 2020 Book Capital

TEHRAN – Shiraz, the hometown of Hafez and Sadi that also houses the tombs of the great Persian classical poets, has been named as Iran’s 2020 Book Capital.

Iran leads the world in handicraft hubs

TEHRAN – Iran ranks first globally in the number cities and villages registered by the World Crafts Council (WCC), deputy tourism minister Pouya Mahmoudian said on Monday.

Three Iranian cities, one village registered by World Crafts Council

TEHRAN – Three Iranian cities and one village have recently been named as world craft hubs by the World Crafts Council - Asia Pacific Region (WCC-APR), tourism minister announced this morning.

Komjan wetland brought back to life

Komjan wetland with an estimated area of 4,000 hectares is located 120 kilometers northeast of Shiraz, southern Fars province.

Porticos, arches, domes and gardens, key elements of Persian architecture

TEHRAN – Iran has inherited numerous architectural traditions over the course of history. The Elamite, Achaemenian, Hellenistic, and other pre-Islamic and Islamic-era dynasties have left striking stone testaments to their greatness, such as Chogha Zanbil and Persepolis—both of which were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1979.

Zanjan assessed for becoming a ‘world city of filigree’

TEHRAN – World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region Director Ghada Hijavi along a fellow expert arrived in Zanjan on Friday to follow up on their assessment to name the Iranian city a “world city of filigree”.

Crafts, regionals arts, souvenirs on show in Shiraz

TEHRAN – Dozens of exhibitors, craftspeople and folk artists from various parts of Iran came together under one roof in the 11th Pars tourism exhibition, which came to an end on Friday.

Malayer one step closer to 'a world city of woodcarving'

TEHRAN - World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region Director Ghada Hijavi and some of her fellow experts are to visit the city of Malayer on Monday to follow up on their assessment to name the city “a world city of woodcarving”, a title granted to Abyaneh in 2018, IRNA reported.

WCC experts assessing Shiraz as ‘a world city of handicrafts’

TEHRAN - World Crafts Council-Asia Pacific Region Director Ghada Hijavi along with a fellow expert arrived in Shiraz on Tuesday to follow up on their assessment to name the southern Iranian city “a world city of handicrafts”.

Omani airliner announces more flights to Iran

TEHRAN – Oman budget carrier SalamAir will add more flights to Iranian cities of Tehran and Shiraz in the near future thanks to high demands from customers.

French nationals top list of foreign tourist arrivals in Fars

TEHRAN - French nationals composed the largest source of foreign arrivals in the southern Iranian Fars province during the first two months of autumn, provincial tourism chief has said.

By M.A. Saki

Air pollution and the war of wills 

TEHRAN - With the arrival of cold season air pollution spreads its shadow over cities, especially big ones.

Shiraz to be assessed for being a world city of handicrafts

TEHRAN – A delegation of experts and assessors from the World Crafts Council is slated to visit Shiraz for investigating the possibility of naming it a world city of handicrafts.

Get the most out of a visit to Iran

TEHRAN - It’s nice to visit must-see attractions, as much as you can, while traversing a country. When people start planning their travels to Iran, they mostly think of big cities such as Tehran, Isfahan, Yazd, and Shiraz or ancient sights such as Persepolis or Jame Mosque of Isfahan.

Indian journalists on fam tour across Iran 

TEHRAN - A delegation of Indian journalists and media personnel has commenced a familiarization tour across Iran with the aim of getting acquainted with its medical tourism potentials, tourist destinations, natural landscapes, local people and their traditions.

Apadana Staircase leads you to mythical arts of Persia

TEHRAN – Apadana Staircase is one of the most striking sections of the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, southern Iran.

Influencers reflect firsthand experience of Iran journey

TEHRAN – A group of Instagram and Twitter influencers from Turkey, Russia, Italy, Ukraine, India and China have been visiting Iran for the past couple of days.