Tourism

Seven fortresses, one strategy: How the Alamut defensive network worked

TEHRAN - When the name Alamut is mentioned, many people picture a castle standing atop a towering cliff. However, what has now been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as “Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications” is far more than a single fortress. It is a complex network of seven mountain strongholds that, between the 11th and 13th centuries CE, formed one of the most advanced defensive systems of medieval Iran through the combined use of geography, architecture, water management and spatial organization.
'Shiraz historical district restoration should rely on AI, future studies'

TEHRAN – The director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Fars province has called for the use of artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and future-oriented approaches in the preservation and revitalization of Shiraz’s historic urban fabric.
Iran plans fifth gastronomy festival in Armenia to promote cultural ties

TEHRAN – Iran is planning to hold the fifth edition of a gastronomy festival in Armenia, with a focus on promoting the country’s culinary heritage, national tourism brand, and handicrafts, the deputy tourism minister said.

Seven fortresses, one strategy: How the Alamut defensive network worked

TEHRAN - When the name Alamut is mentioned, many people picture a castle standing atop a towering cliff. However, what has now been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as “Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications” is far more than a single fortress. It is a complex network of seven mountain strongholds that, between the 11th and 13th centuries CE, formed one of the most advanced defensive systems of medieval Iran through the combined use of geography, architecture, water management and spatial organization.
'Shiraz historical district restoration should rely on AI, future studies'

TEHRAN – The director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Fars province has called for the use of artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and future-oriented approaches in the preservation and revitalization of Shiraz’s historic urban fabric.
Iran plans fifth gastronomy festival in Armenia to promote cultural ties

TEHRAN – Iran is planning to hold the fifth edition of a gastronomy festival in Armenia, with a focus on promoting the country’s culinary heritage, national tourism brand, and handicrafts, the deputy tourism minister said.
Mahalat: Discover 'the Netherlands of Iran'

Nestled in Iran’s Markazi province, Mahalat is a charming city celebrated for its mild climate, natural beauty, and rich historical heritage. Known nationwide as the City of Flowers and Plants and often referred to as the “Netherlands of Iran,” Mahalat has become one of the country’s most distinctive travel destinations, attracting visitors with its colorful landscapes, ancient monuments, therapeutic hot springs, and thriving horticultural industry.
Iran, Italy to cooperate on restoring ancient gateway near Persepolis for site museum

TEHRAN - Cultural heritage authorities are moving ahead with plans to convert the ancient Tall-e Ajori archaeological site near Persepolis into a site museum, following the completion of archaeological excavations and the launch of a restoration project in cooperation with Italian experts.
Blue Shield markers being installed on ancient bridges in Lorestan

TEHRAN - Blue Shield emblems are being installed on historic bridges in the western province of Lorestan as part of efforts to protect cultural heritage sites during armed conflict, the provincial cultural heritage chief said.
By Sahar Dadjoo

Destruction of Iran's cultural sites by Israel, US tantamount to destroying a civilization

Historian Touraj Daryaee says international law is nearly powerless against superpowers, but UNESCO status could deter future attacks

TEHRAN – Since US and Israeli strikes began in February, over 130 registered monuments and museums across Iran have sustained damage, from the Golestan Palace to historic quarters in Isfahan, Kordestan, and Lorestan. In an exclusive interview with Tehran Times, Touraj Daryaee, historian of ancient Iran and editor of Encyclopaedia Iranica, discusses the emotional and scholarly weight of watching millennia-old heritage damaged within weeks, the limits of international legal accountability, and what the destruction means for how Iran's history will be told and remembered.
VP calls cultural heritage key to national unity, soft power

TEHRAN – Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Thursday described the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts as the country's "ministry of defending civilization and soft victories," saying Iran's cultural heritage remains one of the country's strongest sources of national unity and international influence.
Iran preparing three new UNESCO World Heritage nominations after Alamut listing

TEHRAN — Iran will pursue three new nominations for UNESCO World Heritage inscription next year following the successful listing of Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said.
Lut Desert offers untapped potential for science, geotourism, experts say

TEHRAN – Iran’s Lut Desert, one of the hottest places on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds significant potential for scientific research, education and nature-based tourism, researchers said at a conference marking the 10th anniversary of the desert’s inscription on the World Heritage list.