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.

Center for paleography established in Persepolis

TEHRAN- A center for paleography and studying historical inscriptions has been launched in the UNESCO-registered site of Persepolis, southern Fars province.

By Manijeh Rezapoor

Iran’s Shiraz applies for World Book Capital 2022

TEHRAN – Shiraz, the hometown of Persian poets Hafez and Sadi that is Iran’s 2020 Book Capital, has applied for the title “World Book Capital” in 2022, Shiraz Mayor Heidar Eskandarpur has announced. 

Iranian, Indian travel experts discuss Shiraz history, tourism, and culture

TEHRAN – A number of travelers, tour operators, and marketers exchanged views on Shiraz, its history, culture, and unique travel destinations during a webinar held on Monday evening.

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.

Iran’s first handicraft town to make debut 

TEHRAN – The first handicraft town in Iran is being established in the city of Zarqan, southern Fars province, in a bid to bring more prosperity to the domestic handicraft industry.

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!”

By Afshin Majlesi

Italian embassy responsible for depicting Tehran-Rome ‘so deep and complete’ cultural ties: envoy

Italian ambassador to Tehran Giuseppe Perrone has said that his embassy is highly responsible for depicting the richness of so deep and so complete cultural ties, which have long been developed between the two nations.

Over $78 million invested to renovate Shiraz historical texture

TEHRAN- Some 3,300 billion rials (over $78 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) has been invested to renovate the historical texture of Shiraz, aiming at developing tourism in the city as the capital of Fars province.

Qatar Airways increases Doha-Shiraz flights

TEHRAN – Qatar Airways, the state-owned flag carrier of Qatar, has increased its Doha-Shiraz flights from four times to seven times a week.

160 tourism projects worth $660m underway in Fars province

TEHRAN – A total of 160 tourism projects, worth 28 trillion rials (some $660 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) are being implemented in Fars province, which is a top tourist destination in southern Iran.

Shiraz hosting intl. auto parts exhibit

TEHRAN- The 19th edition of international auto parts exhibition kicked off on Tuesday in Shiraz, the center of Fars Province, IRNA reported.

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.

Iran documenting inscriptions in Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rostam

TEHRAN – A documentation project has been commenced on the inscriptions in Persepolis and Naqsh-e Rostam, near the southern city of Shiraz, ISNA reported.

Another mapping survey starts in archaeologically-rich Marvdasht plain

TEHRAN – The third archaeological season for demarcation, mapping, and documentation of Marvdasht plain has commenced in the archaeologically-rich area, which once the seat of power for the Achaemenid Persian Empire (c. 550 – 330 BC) in southern Iran.

Iran, Oman to launch joint tours for European travelers 

TEHRAN – Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province and Oman are scheduled to operate joint travel tours for European nationals in a bid to boost cooperation between the two neighbors. 

New items added to intangible cultural heritage list

TEHRAN – Eleven new items from the southern Fars province have been registered on the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, CHTN reported on Tuesday.

Historical fortress to receive care nine decades after getting heritage status

Tourism projects worth $1.1m to get off the ground in Fars

TEHRAN – A total of seven tourism-related projects, worth over 50 billion rials (about $1.1m), are scheduled to be completed in the southern province of Fars by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (March 20, 2021), provincial tourism chief has said.

Millennia-old footwear: the art of Giveh-weaving in Shiraz

Photos depict craftspeople making pairs of Giveh -- traditional footwear being produced in the Iranian plateau for millennia – at a workshop in Shiraz, southern Iran, June 9, 2020.

Pretty in pink: Maharloo Lake lures nature lovers 

Maharloo Lake with an area of 600 sq. km is situated on the outskirts of Shiraz, southern Iran, and is a perfect stopover for nature lovers. The lake turns pink all for a good reason. The growth of bacteria and particularly seaweeds come to change the color of the water body which is rich in potassium and salts.

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.