30 dams to be turned into tourism destinations

TEHRAN – A total of 30 dams across Iran have been selected to be developed into tourism destinations, Deputy Energy Minister for Water and Wastewater Affairs Ghasem Taqizadeh Khamesi said on Sunday.

Iran to introduce new art destinations, deputy tourism minister says

TEHRAN – World cities and villages of handicrafts, as well as those nationally registered, are planned to be promoted to new art destinations, according to Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.

Tehran tourism fair opens; activists hope for boom when corona vaccine is ever-present

TEHRAN – Tehran’s international tourism and handicrafts fair opened to the public on Tuesday in defiance of a government campaign to improve the hugely-battered travel sector in the face of the novel coronavirus.

Police arrest seven excavators, antique smugglers in northern Iran

TEHRAN – On Sunday evening, Iranian police arrested seven illegal excavators and antique smugglers while digging for historical objects on the outskirts of a tourist village in northern Mazandaran province.

More illegal constructions tore down near glorious Sialk hills

TEHRAN – Other illegally-built structures -- previously constructed within the legal boundaries of Sialk hills, were brought down to earth on Monday.

Sassanid coins cleaned, restored in lab southeast Iran

TEHRAN – A total of 23 historical coins have been cleaned and restored at a museum laboratory in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said.

Ruins of two Sassanid forts to be demarcated in southeast Iran

TEHRAN – The ruins of the Sassanid era (224 CE–651) forts, locally named Qaleh Dokhtar and Qasr-e Ardashir-e Papakan, will be demarcated soon in the southeastern Kerman province.

Crafts marketspace opens in troglodyte cliff dwellings of Kandovan

TEHRAN – A permanent handicrafts exhibit and marketplace has been constructed on the premises of Kandovan’s troglodyte cliff dwellings in northwest Iran.

Ancient rock-hewn monument undergoes urgent restoration

TEHRAN – A team of restorers and cultural heritage experts have commenced urgent works on a post-Achaemenid monument, which is known as Qadamgah. The rock-cut structure is located near the UNESCO-registered Persepolis, southern Iran.

Meet elderly tinsmith who’s a living human treasure

TEHRAN –Seyyed Mohammad Baqer Zarrabian, whose name has been inscribed on the national list of living human treasure, is an old hand Iranian tinsmith.

Iran, Turkey to consider passport-free travels  

TEHRAN – A joint technical committee for tourism cooperation between Iran and Turkey has recently formulated a plan which reportedly could pave the way for bilateral passport-free travels.

Archaeologists start survey at Bronze Age site southeast Iran

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologists have commenced a survey at Konar Sandal, a Bronze Age site, which is situated in Jiroft plain of Kerman province, southeast Iran.

First agritourism permit issued for farm in ancient Kowsar

TEHRAN – A farm in Kowsar has been granted the first-ever agritourism permit issued in the northwestern ancient town, situated in Ardebil province.   

Andabil ski resort to boost tourism infrastructure

TEHRAN – Though Iran is a semi-arid country, it is home to tens of ski resorts, some of which amongst the tops in the globe. Andabil ski resort, situated in the northwest of the country, is one of those planned to be developed in terms of tourism facilities and infrastructure.

Persian handicrafts: Pateh Douzi of Kerman

TEHRAN - Pateh Douzi, which is the art of sewing a kind of embroidery in which all over of the textile is covered by colorful stitches, is one of the most significant handicrafts and souvenirs of Kerman province.

Abyaneh village: a forum of living ancient traditions

TEHRAN – Serenely situated at the foot of Mt Karkas in central Iran, the ancient village of Abyaneh is a warren of steep, twisting lanes and crumbling red mud-brick houses with lattice windows and fragile wooden balconies.

Imam Mosque: a grand, sparkling jewel of Islamic architecture  

TEHRAN – At the southern end of the UNESCO-registered Imam (Naghsh-e Jahan) Square stands the big, grand, and imposing Imam Mosque in the touristic city of Isfahan, central Iran.

First ‘house of handicrafts’ makes debut in Alborz province

TEHRAN – A ‘house of handicrafts’, which according to cultural heritage officials is first of its kind in Alborz province, was officially inaugurated on Sunday in the city of Karaj, the capital of the northcentral Iranian province.

Exhibit features indigenous Iranian handicrafts, cuisines, and textiles

TEHRAN – An exhibition of local Iranian handicrafts, cuisines, and handwoven textiles has opened to the public in the city of Sardasht, West Azarbaijan province.

Work starts on Qaleh-Hatam Bridge restoration and protection project

TEHRAN - A project has been launched to restore and protect one of the centuries-old brick bridges in western Iran: Qaleh-Hatam Bridge.

Top Iranian archaeologist, Firouz Bagherzadeh, dies at 90

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologist Firouz Bagherzadeh, who was former director of the Archaeological Center of Iran and a specialist in Islamic art, has died aged 90.

Museum of anthropology, cultural heritage to open in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – A local history museum dedicated to the anthropology and cultural heritage of the ancient town of Kowsar and its surroundings will soon open its doors to the public in the northwest Iranian town.

Ancient festival of Pir-e Shaliar canceled due to virus

TEHRAN - Pir-e Shaliar, an ancient annual ceremony celebrating abundance and good fortune, has been called off due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

Sistan-Baluchestan loses $34.2 million in tourism earnings as a result of COVID-19

TEHRAN – Iran’s southeastern Sistan-Baluchestan province has lost 1,440  billion rials ($34.2 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) in earnings from tourism as many potential visitors stay away due to the impact of the coronavirus, according to  Alireza Jalalzaei, the provincial tourism chief.

Iran eyes UNESCO status for Siraf, other ancient ports: tourism minister

TEHRAN – Iran seeks to register ancient Siraf port and several other southern seaports on the UNESCO World Heritage list in near future, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan has said.

By Afshin Majlesi

Glimpses of bread making in Iran

Since the olden days, bread has been the staple diet of the folks living in the semi-arid Iranian plateau. Traditional and ethnic Persian breads are famed for their strong flavor, quality, and diversity.