Domestic, intl. tours visit saffron farms in northeast Iran

TEHRAN - Fifteen domestic and international tourism tours have visited saffron farms and specialized saffron facilities in Torbat-e Heydarieh and Zaveh in northeastern Iran as part of agricultural tourism programs during the harvest season, a local tourism official said on Monday.

Restoration of Vank Cathedral underway ahead of UNESCO World Heritage bid

TEHRAN - Restoration work on the southern and eastern sections of Vank Cathedral in Isfahan is underway as part of efforts to prepare the historic Armenian church for a potential nomination to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, a provincial heritage official has said.

Dafineh museum group to offer free admission to students on Student Day

TEHRAN - Students at all educational levels across Iran will be admitted free of charge to museums affiliated with the Dafineh museum group on Nov. 4, marking Student Day.

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Practical conservation workshop held at ruined Sassanid palaces

TEHRAN - A practical training workshop on emergency conservation and restoration at the Palace of Ardashir and Qal'eh Dokhtar (“Maiden Castle”) near Firuzabad, southern Iran, has brought together heritage conservation specialists and university students to provide hands-on experience in protecting historic structures.

Qeshm launches multimedia documentation project to preserve island’s intangible heritage

TEHRAN - Qeshm Island has launched a multimedia documentation project to record and preserve its indigenous knowledge, oral history and intangible cultural heritage, with the aim of passing the island’s traditional knowledge and cultural practices on to future generations.

Sasanian-era rock carvings of human hands discovered in Marvdasht

TEHRAN - Archaeologists have identified previously undocumented Sasanian-era rock carvings depicting human hands without accompanying figures in the historic Marvdasht Plain in Fars province, southern Iran.

South Khorasan’s traditional oil-fried bread added to intangible heritage list

TEHRAN - The traditional skill of making Nan-e Roghan-Jushi, an oil-fried bread deeply rooted in the cultural and religious traditions of South Khorasan province, has been inscribed on Iran’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage List.

ICOMOS continues evaluation of Masuleh’s UNESCO World Heritage nomination

TEHRAN - The evaluation of Masuleh and its cultural landscape for inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage List is continuing, with an international expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) conducting field assessments and attending specialist meetings on the Iranian town’s architectural, archaeological, ecological and socio-economic heritage.

Sassanid-era ossuary inscription discovered near Naqsh-e Rostam

TEHRAN - A newly identified Sassanid-era inscription has been discovered during recent archaeological surveys around Naqsh-e Rostam in Fars province, southern Iran, marking the “fifth ossuary-related inscription” documented in the latest investigations of the area.

170-million-year-old fossil in northern Iran presented for scientific study

TEHRAN - A fossilized tree trunk estimated to be 170 million years old and discovered in Iran’s northeastern Golestan province has been presented as a valuable resource for scientific research, natural heritage conservation and the development of science tourism.

Saffron festival added to Iran’s intl. tourism events calendar

TEHRAN - The National Saffron Day festival in Iran’s northeastern Khorasan Razavi province has been registered as an international event on the country’s tourism calendar, with a permanent secretariat established at the province’s Chamber of Commerce to promote Iranian saffron and strengthen its value chain from production to export.

Permanent handicrafts exhibition planned at Shams Tabrizi shrine in northwest Iran

TEHRAN - A permanent handicrafts exhibition themed around the spiritual and literary traditions of Shams Tabrizi and Jalal al-Din Rumi is planned at the shrine of Shams Tabrizi in Khoy, West Azarbaijan province, as part of efforts to promote local artisans and strengthen cultural tourism.

National Museum of Iran highlights public role of archaeology on Intl. Archaeology Day

TEHRAN – The National Museum of Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to making the country’s archaeological heritage accessible to the public, highlighting the role of museums in communicating scientific discoveries and fostering a broader appreciation of the past on International Archaeology Day.

Iran proposes joint tourism packages, measurable targets to boost Chinese arrivals

TEHRAN – Iran has proposed five practical measures to increase Chinese tourist arrivals, including joint travel packages, familiarization tours and direct cooperation between travel agencies, as it seeks to turn longstanding cultural ties with China into tangible tourism business.

Iran issues post-war tourism recovery and competitiveness strategy

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism ministry has issued a strategic and operational plan to revive the country’s tourism industry during the transition and post-war periods, with a focus on rebuilding its international tourism brand, improving competitiveness and coordinating recovery measures nationwide.