Kermanshah exports of handicrafts surge 40 percent, hit $15 million

TEHRAN – Handicrafts exports from western Kermanshah province reached some $15 million in the first nine months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019), showing 40 percent growth year on year.

3,000-year-old silk spinning still practiced in Iran

TEHRAN – There are silk makers in different parts of Iran, mainly in northern Gilan and northeastern Khorasan Razavi provinces, that still practice the trade their ancestors did some 3,000 years ago.

17 tourism projects worth $35m to get off the ground in Ardebil

TEHRAN – Seventeen tourism projects, worth 1,500 billion rials (some $35 million at the official rate of 42,000 rials) will be inaugurated in northwestern Ardebil province in the near future.

Iran’s civilization, history deserve to be seen, Italian tourism expert says

TEHRAN – A senior Italian tourism expert who has recently embarked on some tours across Iran believes that a gap exists between reality in Iran and the media image of the country worldwide, emphasizing that the country’s civilization and history deserve to be seen.

Five people arrested for illegal excavation at historical site

TEHRAN – Iranian police have arrested five people suspected of illegal excavation at the ruins of a historical fortress in Robat Karim county, Tehran province.

Some 2,500 historical monuments in need of restoration in Iran

TEHRAN – Of the numerous historical buildings and structures that are scattered across Iran, some 2,500 ones are in need of restoration, an official with the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has said. 

Vandalized prehistorical bas-relief restored in western Iran

TEHRAN – A 3rd-millennium-BC bas-relief, vandalized on a rock surface in western Iran earlier in September, has been restored without damaging its other undestroyed sections.

New archaeological season begins in Burnt City

TEHRAN – A group of Iranian archaeologists and fellow international experts have recently commenced a fresh round of exploration in the Burnt City, a UNESCO-registered site in southeastern Iran.

Hamedan hosting national crafts exhibit

TEHRAN – Iran’s ancient city of Hamedan is playing host to a national handicrafts exhibit.

Foreign visits to millennia-old Hasanlu on the rise

TEHRAN – Foreign visits to Hasanlu, a millennia-old archaeological site in northwest Iran, has been on the rise over the past couple of months, director of the historical site has said.

By Faranak Bakhtiari

Choked by air pollution, Shahr-e Rey struggling to survive

TEHRAN – As several cities in Tehran province are experiencing severe air pollution, high concentration of industrial and residential units as well as large amounts of emissions produced by vehicles and landfill sites are among the major sources of pollutants choking the ancient city of Shahr-e Rey, southern Tehran.

A walk in Iran’s first modern university

TEHRAN - Photos depict Dar ul-Funun, a mid-19th century scholastic center in downtown Tehran, which marks the start of modern education in Iran.

By Afshin Majlesi

It’s time to rid Iran’s millennium-old brick tower of weeds

TEHRAN – It’s quite natural that weeds spread almost everywhere in a mild and humid climate; they grow, whether we like it or not!

Karim Khan Citadel, a top-rated tourist attraction in Shiraz

TEHRAN – Photos depict people visiting the centuries-old Karim Khan Citadel (locally known as Arg-e Karim Khan), a top-rated tourist attraction in downtown Shiraz, on August 10, 2019.

Meet designer who brings contemporary architecture to ancient Iran

TEHRAN – There have been many innovative ways to introduce cultural heritage sites to avid sightseers and potential travelers, one may be creating photomontages in order to make them even more inspiring!

Kordasht Bathhouse; a tourist destination famed for intricate interior design

TEHRAN – Photos depict exterior and interior views of the historical Kordasht Bathhouse, a tourist destination famed for intricate geometrical arrangements and spectacular wall paintings, July 27, 2019.

Flood-hit ancient bridge being restored

TEHRAN – A new round of restoration work has been commenced on the historical Kashkan Bridge, which suffered damage from a heavy flooding in March.

Fire damages 1,000 Sq. m of historical texture in Tehran

TEHRAN – Recent assessment shows that fire has destroyed some 1,000 square meters of historical buildings encircling Hassanabad Square in downtown Tehran.  

From labyrinthine bazaars to nomadic landscapes: Feel Iran on walking tours

To offer tourists with new experiences and fresh points of view, a number of tour operators have developed a range of creative “off-the-beaten-track” tours and activities in Iran, in order to explore new tastes of the ancient land, ISNA reported in a recent article.

15% rise in visits to historical sites in Rey

TEHRAN – Visits to historical sites in Rey surged 15 percent during the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) compared to the same period a year earlier.

No major harm to Khuzestan historical sites by quake

TEHRAN – No serious damage has been reported to museums and cultural heritage sites across Iran’s Khuzestan province hit by a medium-sized quake on Monday, according to the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.

Remains of a Neanderthal-era horse found in Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeologists have discovered remains of a horse, which they believe to be hunted by Neanderthals in a cave that is now situated in Qazvin province.

Abyaneh: Stunning red adobe village

TEHRAN – Picturesquely situated at the foot of Mt Karkas (3899m), the ancient village of Abyaneh is one of top tourism destinations in central Iran. It features crumbling red mud-brick houses with lattice windows and fragile wooden balconies, twisting lanes and hospitable people that still dress in the traditional outfits.

32 historical sites temporarily ceded to private investors

TEHRAN – A total of 32 Iranian historical places and monuments have been temporarily ceded to the private sector as of October-November 2017, Mehr reported.

Historical objects, sites found in Neyriz

TEHRAN - Remnants of some 100 historical sites, structures and objects have been found during a recent archaeological survey conducted across Neyriz county, Fars province, southern Iran.

220 historical sites, objects found in Larestan

TEHRAN – Remnants of some 220 historical sites and relics have been found during a recent archaeological survey conducted in Larestan and its surroundings across the southern Fars province.

Over 8.5 million visited Iran’s heritage museums during Noruz

TEHRAN – More than 8.5 million people paid visit to heritage museums and historical sites across Iran during the New Year (Noruz) holidays, which ended on April 2.

Iran estimating flood damage to its historical sites, monuments

TEHRAN – A number of Iran’s age-old cultural heritage sites and monuments have been affected by heavy rainfall, flash floods and extreme weather in various parts of the country in the past weeks.

Shiraz Municipality plans to restore Saray-e Moshir to its former glory

TEHRAN - Shiraz Municipality has commenced a restoration project on Saray-e Moshir in a bid to make the centuries-old bazaar and caravanserai as beautiful as it used to be.

Shiraz historical gate getting back to its former glory

TEHRAN – Restoration work of Darvazeh Quran, a historical gate which leads to the city of Shiraz, has been completed.