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.

Ground broken for vast recreational center in UNESCO-nominated Uraman

TEHRAN -- Construction of a vast recreational and hospitality center was officially began on Tuesday with a ground-breaking ceremony in the Uraman region, a cradle of Kurdish art and culture from the days of yore in western Iran.

Corona is a reality but it cannot stop traveling, tourism minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister on Tuesday said that it is true that the coronavirus pandemic is a [bitter] reality but it cannot bring traveling to a complete standstill.

Sistan-Baluchestan is a collection of tourist attractions: governor general

TEHRAN – The governor general of Sistan-Baluchestan province has said that the southeastern province is a collection of unique historical, natural, and tourist attractions, however, its tourism industry has not been developed due to “neglects and historical backwardness”.

Tehran, Athens discuss ways to cooperate in cultural heritage repatriation

TEHRAN – Iranian and Greek officials have discussed ways to share experience in cultural heritage repatriation as the two cradles of ancient civilizations are subjected to smuggling of historical relics.

In-depth study starts on Iran’s UNESCO-tagged ‘village of troglodytes’

TEHRAN – A comprehensive study has been commenced on the UNESCO-registered Maymand in a bid to expand protective measures on this ancient manmade-cave dwelling where the then residents made a living about five or six millennia ago in what is now a village in the southeastern Kerman province.

Ancient aqueduct identified in western Iran

TEHRAN – An ancient hand-dug qanat, an old type of underground water-supply system developed and still used in arid regions, has recently been identified adjacent to an archeological hill in Lorestan province, western Iran.

UNESCO provides financial support to restore ancient caravansary in Iran

TEHRAN - The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has provided financial support to restore an ancient caravansary, which is located in Savojbolagh county, Alborz province, northern Iran.

Stone vessels, utensils found at Persepolis World Heritage being documented

TEHRAN – Fragments of stone vessels and utensils, unearthed during archeological excavations at the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site of Persepolis in the southern Fars province, are being documented and re-arranged by a team of experts.

Study sheds new light on vestiges of burnt fabrics found in Persepolis

TEHRAN- The remains of burnt fabrics, which were found in the initial excavations of UNESCO-registered Persepolis in the southern province of Fars, were examined and studied during a 10-day project.

“Hand of Achaemenid soldier” attached to bas-relief in Persepolis

TEHRAN – The left hand of a huge Achaemenid-era (c. 550 - 330 BC) bas-relief carving, depicting a soldier grabbing a spear, has recently been attached to the rock-carved art after decades in the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, southern Iran.

Gonbad-e Qabus to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – The dome of UNESCO-registered Gonbad-e Qabus in the northern province of Golestan is to be restored, CHTN reported on Wednesday.

Magnificent Hasanlu undergoing restoration project

TEHRAN – A rehabilitation and restoration project has been commenced on millennia-old Hasanlu, a magnificent archaeological site in northwestern Iran, which is highly hopped to be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list in the near future.

Roofing covers of ‘winged human’, palaces replaced at Pasargadae

TEHRAN – The four-year-old roofing covers of the magnificent “winged human” bas-relief and several other ruined palaces at the UNESCO-registered Pasargadae in southern Iran have recently been replaced.

Crumbling but still fabulous: UNESCO-registered Takht-e Soleyman

TEHRAN - Photos depict scenes from the UNESCO-registered Takht-e Soleyman (“Solomon’s Throne”), a ruined sanctuary in northwest Iran, which is still a source of charm for avid holidaymakers, history buffs and archaeologists.

Scottish archaeologist David Stronach, famed for intensive Iranian studies, dies at 89

TEHRAN – Scottish archaeologist David Stronach, who was director of the British Institute of Persian Studies in Iran in the 1960s and 1970s, has died aged 89.

UNESCO-registered Yazd to develop children’s tourism

TEHRAN – The historical oasis city of Yazd, which is a UNESCO World Heritage in central Iran, is aimed to develop needed infrastructure and prerequisites for becoming a top destination for children’s tourism as well.

COVID-19 inflicts $1.4 billion in losses on Iran’s hotels

TEHRAN – The outbreak of the new coronavirus has inflicted a loss of 60,000 billion rials (about $1.4 billion at the official dollar rate of 42,000 rials) on Iranian hospitality industry during the past four months, the president of Iranian Hoteliers Association said on Friday.

Tabas Geopark moves closer to possible UNESCO registration

TEHRAN – An extensive dossier, which is an essential prerequisite for possible UNESCO inscription of a site, has almost been completed for the gigantic Tabas Geopark, which is situated in east-central Iran.

Historic bazaar of Tabriz to be equipped with advanced smoke detectors

TEHRAN – The UNESCO-registered bazaar of Tabriz will be equipped with advanced smoke detectors to ensure the safety of the centuries-old marketplace situated in Iran’s East Azarbaijan province, IRNA quoted Tabriz Fire Department official Alireza Zebardast as saying on Tuesday. 

Skiing without snow: forest ski resort to open in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Forest skiing will be added to charms of touristic Ardebil province in northwest Iran this year.

Aerial survey sheds new light on vast ancient city in southern Iran

TEHRAN – An in-depth aerial survey combined by series of field research has shed new light on remnants of a vast ancient city in southern Iran, which was once in the heart of the mighty Sassanid Empire in its heyday. The discovery has opened up a new window towards the urban engineering and Persian garden arrangements of the time.

355 historical relics to be restored in Ilam

TEHRAN – A total of 355 historical relics are up for restoration by teams of cultural heritage experts and restorers in the western province of Ilam, CHTN reported. 

Visit Imam Jomeh House solely or on tour of ‘Old Tehran’

Imam Jomeh House is a magnificent structure and one of the magnificent buildings that stand tall in the historical core of Tehran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Iran’s trump cards to kick-start tourism in post-COVID-19 world

TEHRAN – As you are well aware, the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus has plunged the travel and tourism industry in the global scene, disrupting life in ways that were unimaginable just a few months ago.

Qeshm Geopark could lose UNESCO tag

TEHRAN – Iran’s southern Qeshm Geopark could lose its UNESCO status due to years of large-scale shrimp hatchery operations that could be referred to as an example of environmental mismanagement in the country.

EU designates Naghsh-e Jahan Sq. as World Heritage asset

TEHRAN – The Horizon 2020, which is a massive EU research and innovation program, has recently registered the 17th-century Naghsh-e Jahan Square in the city of Isfahan as a World Heritage asset with the goal of making world-firsts more known and lucrative, IRNA reported on Friday.

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.  

Centuries-old Iranian windmills being rehabilitated

TEHRAN – Several centuries-old windmills, locally called Asbads, are being rehabilitated in the oasis city of Tabas-e Masina, eastern Iran. 

Centuries-old polo field discovered in western Iran

TEHRAN – A centuries-old Chogan (polo) filed with stone gates, one of which bearing a dedicatory inscription, has recently been found near a village in Iran’s western Lorestan province, provincial tourism chief has announced.