80 sites in Ardestan in line for excavation

TEHRAN – A total of 80 ancient sites, scattered across Ardestan county in central Iran, need to undergo archaeological excavation, the Ardestan tourism chief said on Sunday.

Iran wants collective UNESCO recognition for 56 of its old caravansaries

TEHRAN – Iran has put forward a selection of 56 caravansaries as a candidate for a collective inclusion in UNESCO’S cultural heritage list, a senior advisor to the tourism minister has said.

Landscaping project on Sassanid fortress reaches its end

 TEHRAN – A landscaping project has refurbished the surroundings of the imposing Falak-ol-Aflak Fortress that dominates the skyline of Khorramabad, the capital of Lorestan province in western Iran.

Historical bridge, madrasa, fortress added to Iran national heritage list

TEHRAN – Seven historical structures including a bridge, madrasa, and a fortress, situated in Iran’s Semnan province, have recently been added to the national list for cultural heritage.

Kashan: a living piece of history on the edge of harsh desert

Kashan is home to many historical places, photogenic bazaars, mosques, madrasas, caravansaries, and centuries-old houses some of which transformed into cozy boutique hotels where you could experience the traditional life. 

Kakh-e Chehel Sotoun: do not let the illusion of columns deceive you!

TEHRAN – The beautifully proportioned Kakh-e Chehel Sotoun is a prime example of a royal garden left from the Safavid era (1501-1736). The meaning of its name is a palace with 40 columns.

Heydariyyeh Mosque: secrets of one of ancient places of worship

TEHRAN – Masjid-e (the mosque of) Heydariyyeh is a magnificent monument from the Seljuk period, presumably from the late 12th or early 13th century. There is a wonderful air of calm that surrounds the place of worship, which is located in the Bolaghi district of Qazvin, north-central Iran.

Golestan Palace: one of the top things to do in Tehran

TEHRAN - One of the top things to do in the Iranian capital is visiting the most magnificent historical monument downtown; the UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace.

Imam Mosque: elegant, iconic, and visually stunning

TEHRAN – Imam Mosque, with its iconic blue-tiled mosaics and its perfect proportions, forms an elegant, visually stunning monument at the southern end of a UNESCO-registered square of the same name in the touristic city of Isfahan, central Iran.

Artists make replicas of tiles covering UNESCO-designated palace  

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian artists and artisans has created exact replicas of “Haft-Rang” tiles which cover parts of the UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran.

Jameh Mosque of Kerman lures sightseers, historians for its location, design, and ornamentation

TEHRAN - Jameh Mosque of Kerman has long been a source of charm for history buffs, architects, and travelers to the ancient Iranian city.

Explore Na’in old mosque as remarkable feat of architecture

TEHRAN - The oasis town’s Friday Mosque is the highlight of a visit to Na’in. Constructed between the 10th and 11th centuries, it was one of the first mosques built in Iran and is unusual in that it does not conform to the usual four-iwan plan of its time.

10 Iran travel destinations you must see

Seljuk-era mosque in southeast Iran undergoes tilework restoration

TEHRAN – A team of cultural heritage experts and restorers has commenced work on arrays of tilework on the façade and interior of the Malek Mosque, which stands tall in the city of Kerman, southeast Iran.

Blue Mosque of Tabriz: a forgotten masterpiece of Iranian architecture  

TEHRAN – Completed in the mid-15th century, the Blue Mosque of Tabriz (better known as Masjed-e Kabud) was among the most glorious buildings of the time. Once built, artists took a further 25 years to cover every surface with the blue majolica tiles and intricate calligraphy for which it’s nicknamed.

Remnants of an ancient past: discover troglodyte architecture near capital Tehran

Photo depicts an example of troglodyte architecture, which includes vertical shafts, rooms, and other interiors, dug by man into the southern face of Alborz mountain range in Eshtehard county, near Tehran, May 18, 2021.

Friday mosque of Damghan undergoes restoration

TEHRAN – A new restoration work has been commenced on the centuries-old Friday mosque of Damghan, which stands tall in the north-central Iranian city.

Isfahan's Imam Mosque restoration reaches final stage

TEHRAN – The project to restore the dome of Isfahan’s iconic Imam Mosque has entered its final phase, according to Fereydoun Allahyari, head of the provincial department for the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry.

Landscaping project conducted at mausoleum of Sufi scholar

TEHRAN – A landscaping project has been completed on the premises of the mausoleum of Sufi Shaykh Zayn al-Din Abu Bakr Taybadi (d.1389 CE), who was an Iranian mystic and Sufi.

Sassanid-era arch bridge restoration work completed

TEHRAN – A project to restore and reinforce Pol-e Shapuri, a Sassanid-era arch bridge in western Iran, has been completed.

A peek into core elements of traditional Iranian architecture

TEHRAN – The history of Iranian architecture is very complex and time-stretched. The Elamite, Achaemenian, Hellenistic, and other pre-Islamic dynasties left striking stone testaments to their greatness, such as Chogha Zanbil and Persepolis—both designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1979.

Soleimanieh Palace wins permit to host sightseers, travelers

TEHRAN – Soleimanieh Palace, a Qajar-era (1789–1925) royal complex in Karaj, west of Tehran, has been granted activity permission to host sightseers and travelers as a palace museum.

Italian embassy hosts review session of book on Tehran architecture

TEHRAN – Iranian architect and author Amir-Reza Farahbod on Monday gave a presentation on his new book “My Tehran” during a ceremony held at the Italian ambassador’s residence in the Iranian capital.

Magnificent Taq Kasra to be restored by Iranian budget, expertise

TEHRAN – Iran is set to conduct an urgent restoration project on Taq Kasra, a Sassanid-era Persian masterpiece of architecture, which was collapsed partly in modern Iraq earlier this month.

Iranian artists, heritage enthusiasts sign petition demanding salvage of masterpiece in Iraq

TEHRAN – Hundreds of Iranian artists, architects, and cultural heritage enthusiasts have signed a petition demanding an urgent restoration of Taq Kasra, a Sassanid masterpiece of architecture, which was collapsed partly in modern Iraq earlier this month.

Hamidinava, architect of Sari’s clock tower, dies aged 90

TEHRAN -  Mohammad-Ali Hamidinava, a traditional Iranian architect who constructed a landmark clock tower in Sari, has died. He was 90.

Taq Kasra, Sassanid masterpiece of architecture, partly collapses in modern Iraq

TEHRAN – Segments of Taq Kasra, which is an architecturally-important Sasanian-era Persian monument in modern Iraq, has recently been collapsed, Mehr reported based on Iraqi sources.