Online exhibition to display photos on Uraman rural landscape

TEHRAN- The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO will hold an online exhibition on its official Instagram page on Friday, displaying photos on Uraman rural landscape in western Kordestan province which is a candidate for becoming a World Heritage site in 2021.

Afshin Majlesi

Asbads, the windy pride of Nashtifan

In the tiny village of Nashtifan in northeastern Iran, one may feel an ancient magic inherited from preceding generations, a traditional technique to harness the wind power.

800 historical water structures identified in Khuzestan province

TEHRAN – Some 800 water-related structures have so far been identified across Khuzestan province in southwest Iran.

Qanat, an ancient invention for water management

For thousands of years, qanat (ancient subterranean aqueduct) systems have supplied water to agricultural and permanent settlements in arid regions of Iran.

Iran wants UNESCO tag for Achaemenid archaeological landscape near Persian Gulf

TEHRAN - Two years ago, Iran was successful in registering “Sassanid Archaeological Landscape of Fars Region” on the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Today, the country is seeking the possible inscription of another archaeological landscapes near the Persian Gulf, dating back to the Achaemenid era (c. 550-330).

Coronavirus cancels Qalishuyan religious ritual

TEHRAN - Qalishuyan, a religious ritual which was held annually in the central city of Kashan, has been called off this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Uraman where roof of a house is yard of another

Photo taken on September 29th shows the bizarre architecture of Uraman rural landscape; each house is built on another’s rooftop, most of which having porch-balconies and earthen roofs.

'Uraman: Fringing the Skies' photo exhibit recalls splendors of rural landscape

TEHRAN – Today, a photo exhibit opens in Tehran, aiming to resonance the audience with the splendors, architecture, ancient rituals, and everyday life in Uraman rural landscape in western Kordestan province, which is a candidate for becoming a World Heritage site in 2021.

Beauties of Iranian desert in limelight at photography exhibit

TEHRAN – Scenes of the magnificent Lut Desert, a UNESCO World Heritage in the Iranian heartland, are on show at a specialized photography exhibition in Zahedan, the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province.

View gigantic ziggurat of Tchogha Zanbil in 360 virtual tour

TEHRAN – Cultural heritage enthusiasts and ordinary people can virtually walk through the amazing ziggurat of Tchogha Zanbil, a UNESCO-registered prehistorical capital in southwest Iran, using a cutting-edge 3D technology.

Restorers launch project at Tehran’s UNESCO-tagged palace

TEHRAN – A team of restorers and cultural heritage experts have commenced working on some tile work that covers the exterior walls of Golestan Palace located in downtown Tehran, adjacent to the Grand Bazaar of the Iranian capital.

By Afshin Majlesi

World Tourism Day: COVID-19 makes a big difference

September 27th is a special day for potential travelers and all tourism insiders: It’s World Tourism Day! However, for the first time in the 40-year history of the occasion, it will be held this year with a big difference amid the deep global economic recession, job losses, halted flights, as well as lockdowns and closures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Persian Gulf ‘aquatic kindergarten’ seeking UNESCO inclusion

TEHRAN – Khorkhoran Wetland, one of the largest and most important marine environments in Iran that is regarded as an aquatic kindergarten in the Persian Gulf has been waiting to be included in the UNESCO list for three years.

Persepolis engraved stones, fragments being documented

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists, cultural heritage experts, and restorers have commenced a project to reorganize, study, and document engraved stones, related fragments, and bas-relief carvings that are being kept across the UNESCO-registered Persepolis in southern Iran.

New museums added to UNESCO-tagged shrine ensemble in Ardebil

TEHRAN – Five new museums have been added to the UNESCO-registered Sheikh Safi al-Din Khanegah and Shrine Ensemble, which is located in Ardebil province, northwest Iran.

Iran seeks to expand handicrafts market in southern China

TEHRAN – Iran seeks to expand handicrafts exports to southern China, including Guangzhou province, mainly through holding exhibitions and selling products online.

Yazd’s outer ramparts, towers to be restored to former glory

TEHRAN – A restoration project has been commenced on ancient mudbrick ramparts and towers, which were once parts of defensive fortifications around the city of Yazd, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage.

‘Irresponsible’ activities banned in Qeshm Geopark to save UNESCO tag

TEHRAN – Any form of ‘irresponsible’ activities across Iran’s Qeshm Geopark has been ruled to be terminated across Qeshm Geopark, which is on the verge of losing its UNESCO status due to years of misconduct.

By Afshin Majlesi

The future of travel in Iran

Ubiquitous face masks, partitions, social distances, customer-service protocols, not-yet-fulfilled refunds, and self-quarantined at home on a mass scale, as well as closed borders, canceled events, and changing policies challenge tourism industry insiders to forecast what the lingering impact of the novel coronavirus could be on the way we travel.

Iran ranks tenth on UNESCO World Heritage list

TEHRAN - Iran ranks 10th in the world in terms of the number of historical monuments and sites registered on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

UNESCO assessor to visit Uraman landscape in western Iran

TEHRAN – A senior expert affiliated with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization will arrive in Iran in September to visit and review the current status of the Uraman rural landscape in western Iran, which is a candidate for becoming a World Heritage site in 2021.

A brief history of locks, locksmiths in Iran

TEHRAN – Available evidence suggests that locks have been made in Iran since at least the second millennium BC.

Children’s tourism company makes debut in Iran

TEHRAN – The first company in Iran specialized in children’s cultural tourism has been registered in the UNESCO-tagged city of Yazd aiming to pay more attention to children and make them happier.

Committee formed to safeguard ancient cisterns, watermills in Meybod

TEHRAN – A cultural heritage committee has been set up tasked to lay the ground for safeguarding ancient cisterns, watermills, public bathhouses, and qanats (subterranean aqueducts), which are scattered in and around the oasis city of Meybod, central Yazd province.

People’s health is our first priority: tourism minister

TEHRAN – Iranian tourism minister has said that his ministry is in full coordination with the Ministry of Health for strictly implementing health protocols in travel destinations, hospitably centers, and museums, amongst others, underlining that “people’s health is our first priority.”

Advanced digital mapping starts at UNESCO-tagged Tchogha Zanbil, Haft-Tappeh

TEHRAN – A new digital mapping has been commenced at the UNESCO-registered Tchogha Zanbil and its nearby archaeological site, Haft-Tappeh, using an advanced low altitude unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

'Newly-found skeletons may address bloody conflict during Alexander the Great’s invasion of Persia'

TEHRAN – A number of human skeletons, recently unearthed from ancient water ducts in Persepolis, maybe related to a bloody conflict between Persians (Iranians) and invaders led by Alexander the Great in c. 330 BC, an Iranian cultural heritage expert said on Sunday.

50 Iranian properties on tentative list of UNESCO

TEHRAN – A total of 50 Iranian properties have already been placed on the tentative list for [possible] inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in the years to come.

Ancient skeletons unearthed in Persepolis

TEHRAN- The remains of 13 ancient skeletons have been discovered during an exploration project which is underway at the UNESCO-registered site of Persepolis, southern Fars province.

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.