UNESCO-tagged hydraulic ensemble to be dredged

TEHRAN – A dredging project has started at parts of Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, a UNESCO-registered ensemble in southwest Iran, which is known globally as a ‘masterpiece of creative genius’.

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.

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.

By Afshin Majlesi

The absolutely magnificent ‘Gold Bowl of Hasanlu’: Sixty-three years later

TEHRAN – Sixty-three years ago, an Iranian man, named Emamqoli Mohammadi Hasanluei, unearthed a millennia-old gold bowl in the debris of a burned building, part of the major architectural complex at Teppe Hasanlu near the city of Naghadeh in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, a short distance south of Lake Urmia.

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

Pigeon towers significant but strange buildings of ancient times

Pigeons are many times deemed as mere nuisances especially by city dwellers. However, they were quite valuable in ancient Iran, mostly for their droppings!

Restoration work of historical Narin castle restarts

TEHRAN – A fresh season of restoration work has been commenced on the ruins of Narin castle, which is a gigantic ancient mud-brick fortress in the town of Meybod, central Yazd province.

Visit Jameh Mosque of Ardestan one of earliest Islamic structures in central Iran 

TEHRAN - The Jameh Mosque of Ardestan, which is named after an ancient oasis town of the same name in central Iran, is of high historical importance as it incorporates successive architectural styles of the Sassanids, Buyids, Seljuks, and Safavids.

Potter makes miniature models of genuine elements of Iranian architecture

TEHRAN – An Iranian potter has crafted miniature models of the genuine elements which are prevalent in the traditional Iranian architecture during a project that exercises an aesthetic approach rather than a technical and engineering one.

17th-century masterpiece of Persian architecture undergoes urgent restoration

TEHRAN – Segments of Si-o-Se-Pol, the 17th-century bridge widely known as a masterpiece of Persian architecture, has undergone urgent restoration in Isfahan, central Iran.

Shafei Jameh Mosque: a place of worship notable for atmospheric interior design

TEHRAN – Photos show the lavishly-decorated prayer hall of Shafei Jameh Mosque, which stands tall in the ancient city of Kermanshah in western Iran.

Khoy, an ancient town of sunflowers, snowcapped mountains

TEHRAN – Khoy may not be on every traveler’s radar, but it is a natural fit for eco-tourists as it offers loads of scenic hikes, panoramic views besides colorful geological features. Khoy has long been a melting pot of cultural exchange.

Archaeological survey to offer new glimpses of troglodytic architecture in northern Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has started work on troglodyte shelters in a northern Iranian region, believing that they are still giving up long-buried secrets.

Tarikhaneh: the oldest existing mosque in Iran

Photos depict scenes from Tarikhaneh Mosque, which was once a Sassanid-era (224–651) temple, located near the modern city of Damghan, central Iran, June 2, 2020.

Discover how pinnacle of art, genius of ancient architects turned natural arch into full-fledged stronghold

TEHRAN – A good amalgam of natural landscape and human genius has created what modern visitors witness at Sepahbod Khorshid Cave, which was once a unique defensive architecture during the Sassanid era (224–651 CE).

40 historical monuments restored in Zanjan

TEHRAN – Some 40 historical buildings and structures in northwestern Zanjan province were restored during the previous Iranian calendar year 1398 (ended March 19).

Labyrinthine Bazaar of Isfahan may equal an endless charm for you!

TEHRAN - One of Iran’s most historic and fascinating traditional marketplaces, the sprawling covered Bazaar of Isfahan (locally known as Bazaar-e Bozorg) is situated in a city of the same name.

Sadi National Day: constantly hectic mausoleum records unprecedented lockdown

TEHRAN – Photos depict mausoleum of Sheikh Muslih od-Din Sadi Shirazi, known by his pen name Sadi, being deserted amid COVID-19 pandemic on April 20, which marks the national day of the 13th-century Iranian poet.

By Afshin Majlesi

Why Iran expects tourism boom after coronavirus

TEHRAN – The novel coronavirus pandemic has brought travel to a standstill nearly all over the globe, including Iran, causing huge job and revenue losses.

Qasr-e Khorshid: once temporary home to the ‘Napoleon of Iran’

TEHRAN – Qasr-e Khorshid (literally ‘the Sun Palace’), an 18th-century iconic monument in northeast Iran, was once a royal resident for Nader Shah of Persia (1688–1747), often called the “Napoleon of Iran,” who created an empire that stretched from northern India to the Caucasus Mountains.

By Anna Karsten

Is it safe to travel to Iran as a solo female traveler?

Before I started reading more into Iran, all I heard about this country were stories about its politics. In the media, Iran seemed like a place where no one would ever want to visit. Can you imagine solo female travel in Iran?

By Afshin Majlesi

Northwest Iran: A verdant realm of ancient churches & monasteries

TEHRAN - To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian and Muslim.

Religious tourism: Prophet Habakkuk and his tomb tower in Iran

TEHRAN – As you know religious tourism, which marks one of the oldest forms of traveling, is exclusively or strongly-motivated by spiritual reasons. It can also be referred to as faith tourism or spiritual tourism.

Discover Istakhr, ancient royal residence near legendary Persepolis

TEHRAN – The ancient city of Istakhr, which was once a royal residence for Sassanid kings of Persia, is located in the vicinity of the UNESCO-registered Persepolis.

Ganjali Khan complex reminiscent of everyday life in 17th-century Iran

TEHRAN - The historical Ganjali Khan complex, which is composed of a madrasa, a mosque, a caravanserai, a hammam (public bathhouse), a water reservoir and a labyrinth bazaar, all centered on a large public square, is a typical Iranian tourist spot to wander around!

Tricky waterproof repairs cast doubt over fate of Iranian architecture masterpiece

TEHRAN – Many visitors to the 17th-centyry Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, a top masterpiece of Iranian architecture that stands tall in Isfahan, witnessed last month that its picturesque creamy dome was emerged split-face from a snowfall.

A glance at a lavishly decorated house in central Iran

TEHRAN – Photos depict scenes of the extravagantly decorated Mollabashi (Motamedi) house in Isfahan, central Iran, on January 20, 2020.

Porticos, arches, domes and gardens, key elements of Persian architecture

TEHRAN – Iran has inherited numerous architectural traditions over the course of history. The Elamite, Achaemenian, Hellenistic, and other pre-Islamic and Islamic-era dynasties have left striking stone testaments to their greatness, such as Chogha Zanbil and Persepolis—both of which were designated UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1979.

UNESCO-tagged monastery’s main dome restored

TEHRAN – Main dome of the Monastery of Saint Thaddeus, a UNESCO-registered property in northwest Iran, has recently been restored successfully, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

Ancient Iran: a glimpse of Persian art and architecture under Sassanids

TEHRAN – The Sassanid era (224 CE–651) is of very high importance in the history of Iran. Under Sassanids, Persian art and architecture experienced a general renaissance.