Architectural Masterpieces

Expression of Art and Spirituality

Tilework, arabesque motifs, and turquoise domes: a tangible expression of Iranian beauty and wisdom.

Today's Highlight May 15
Ferdowsi

Ferdowsi Commemoration Day

Creator of the Shahnameh and guardian of Persian language and identity.

View Special Programs
Literature and Global Luminaries

Home of Poetry, Wisdom, and Thought

The timeless legacy of Ferdowsi, Saadi, Hafez, and Rumi lives through public diplomacy and international engagement.

Gallery of Luminaries

Iran's Enduring Voice

Live Archive
F
Ferdowsi

Iranian Epic and Identity

H
Hafez

Language of Mysticism and Beauty

I suffered greatly in these thirty years...
Discover
The Iron Age Museum of Tabriz; A Journey through Human History

Category

Museums

Laleh International Hotel

Category

Accommodation

Kebab Torsh: A Special Recommendation for Travelers to Northern Iran

Category

Food

Tourism Learn More About Iran's Tourist Destinations

The Iron Age Museum of Tabriz; A Journey through Human History

During an archeological excavation, 38 graves were found in Tabriz, which are now referred to as the “Iron Age Museum of Tabriz’.

Vazvan Qanat and Its Remarkable Subterranean Dam

The subterranean dam and artificial underground reservoir of the Vazvan Qanat are ingenious creations, showcasing the creativity and engineering innovation of Iranian architects from over two thousand years ago.

Laleh International Hotel

Laleh International Hotel is one of the most luxurious and well-established five-star hotels in Tehran

Kebab Torsh: A Special Recommendation for Travelers to Northern Iran

Iranian kebabs are famous worldwide, but among them, Kebab Torsh stands out with its unique and distinctive flavor.

Related Content

The Iron Age Museum of Tabriz; A Journey through Human History
+
Vazvan Qanat and Its Remarkable Subterranean Dam
+
Laleh International Hotel
+
Kebab Torsh: A Special Recommendation for Travelers to Northern Iran
+

Art

Learn More About Iranian Art

Handicrafts

More
pic

Tabas Metal Engraving and Its Unparalleled Delicacy

While Qalam-zani is well-known through the names of cities like Isfahan, Shiraz, and Tabriz, Tabas metalwork holds its own unique identity and exquisite finesse.

pic

Pottery, Earthen Arts and Craft

Pottery is the craft or art of making dishes from clay by hand or wheels and the dishes made in this way are called earthenware. The earthenware pots which are made from different raw materials, mainly reddish brown clays or a mixture of Pottery and different materials with a lighter color, have different colors and, depending on taste of the potter or the clients, sometimes are finally painted with glazes.

pic

Batik Printing

One of the old professions that is still prevalent in the East Azarbaijan Province of Iran is batik printing, (called Kalaqei in Iran): a craft that produces very beautiful products.

pic

Qalamkari Painting

Qalamkari Painting is an ancient technique of painting on fabrics for producing exquisite pieces.

pic

Ehrami weaving: an art form intertwined with religious beliefs and rituals

Once used as Hajj clothing, Ehrami weaving is now mainly used for making prayer rugs

pic

Gelij

The use of wool and cotton in weaving Gelij is the main cause of this fabric being very delicate and soft.

Cinema

More
pic

No Prior Appointment

“No Prior Appointment’’ is the story of a lady by the name of Yasmin, who has, after the death of her father, returned to Iran from Germany after many years. Her son is autistic and this has made the trip difficult for her. Yasmin who does not know her father very well is surprised to find out about the hertigar he has left for her. Her acquaintance with other people on this trip, her short stay in her father’s hometown, and meeting with those who know him make Yasmin have a new understanding about being human and the concept of death.

pic

A Hut in the Fog

During the course of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, a young girl named Mijan and her stepmother, living in a small village in the Gilan Province of Iran, decide to take in a politically active revolutionary who has been injured and hide him from security forces (SAVAK). The danger mounts when they find out that the SAVAK are desperately looking for the injured person and these two ladies are determined to keep him hidden.

pic

Khatoon (Once Upon a Time in Iran)

The story of a Bakhtiari woman living in the 1940s, whose life is affected by the Second World War, and in order to prevent the occupation and looting of her country, she fights against the army of the invading countries.

pic

The Masters

The story of three young men by the names of Habib, Maziar, and Masoud, who, in spite of having a bachelor’s degree, have not been able to find a suitable job or get married and, therefore, decide to continue their education and get a master’s degree. After achieving this goal, they still face problems. Habib falls in love again, but due to his weakness in establishing social relations, he cannot manage this issue. Maziar and Masoud, who still cannot meet their living expenses, regularly borrow money from their rich friend, Habib.

pic

Benjamin

The story of a boy who has to take on a dangerous journey to save his mother’s life from Pharaoh’s soldiers and certain things happen during this trip, that change his views about society and his life.

pic

The Passenger from Ganora

A disabled boy is looking for the lost Queen of Ganora Planet with aliens to bring back the PEACE to the planet. But another group of aliens comes to Earth to prevent them.

Architecture

More
pic

Schools of Iran (madrasa)

Iran s madrasas tell the story of knowledge, but not knowledge alone. They tell us how people learned, debated, lived together, and respected one another. The architecture of the madrasa was an architecture of community. A student might be alone in his chamber, but he could still hear the discussions of others. When he stepped into the courtyard, everyone could see him. There were no walls or curtains to separate people. Perhaps, in its simplicity, the madrasa was one of the finest forms of urban space in Iran: open yet protected, public yet private, orderly yet not so rigid that it left no room for spontaneity.

pic

Salam Terminal at Imam Khomeini Airport Iran s Gateway Blending Traditional Grandeur with Modern Architecture

What distinguishes Salam Terminal from other airport terminals in Iran and the wider region is its creative interpretation of traditional Iranian architectural concepts through a modern, abstract, and striking design. The building’s overall form pays homage to two fundamental elements of Iranian architecture: the dome and the iwan.

pic

Sa d al Saltaneh Caravanserai Qazvin , Iran s Largest Urban Caravanserai A Marketplace for the World

At the heart of Qazvin s historic urban fabric, once the first capital of the Safavid dynasty, stands a remarkable complex that rightfully bears the title of Iran s largest urban caravanserai. Built in the late Qajar period on the orders of Mohammad-Baqer Khan Sa’d al-Saltaneh, the governor of Qazvin at the time, Sa d al Saltaneh Caravanserai is a vast commercial and accommodation complex covering nearly 26,000 square meters. Far more than a caravanserai, it functioned as a complete commercial city, with covered bazaar passages, timchehs, courtyards, a bathhouse, a mosque, and magnificent chahar-suqs. Still vibrant and active today, the complex is a remarkable example of Qajar era commercial architecture and the thoughtful integration of multiple functions within a single architectural ensemble.

pic

Sheikh Ahmad-e Jam Mausoleum Complex

The name of Torbat-e-Jam has been derived from the name of the tomb of renowned Gnostic, Sheikh Ahmad Jam (441-536 AH/1049-1141 AD) who was also known as Sheikh-e-Jam or Pir-e-Jam. He lived in the Ma’dabad village of Khorasan and was buried in the same region after his demise. Later on, the village was named after him and came to be known as “Torbat-e Jam.

pic

The Architecture of Tabriz: Iran at the Crossroads of East and West

With its resilient, inward-looking architecture and its outward-looking spirit, Tabriz offers an invitation to discover another layer of Iran’s identity. It reminds us that the character of a nation is not forged in isolation, but strengthened through its encounters with the wider world—and through its ability to endure even the greatest upheavals. To walk through Tabriz is to follow the echoes of the Silk Road. Here, every brick seems to tell the story of a Venetian merchant, a Persian poet, and a world that, centuries ago, found its own path toward exchange, coexistence, and connection. That legacy still endures today, inviting us to reflect on what it truly means to build, to endure, and to remain connected across cultures and civilizations.

pic

Jameh Mosque of Yazd, The Sky High Minarets

At the heart of Iran’s central desert, where the sky stretches endlessly and the earth offers architects an abundance of local and readily available building materials, a remarkable structure rises above the city, crowned by some of Iran’s tallest mosque minarets.

literature

More
pic

Saadi Shirazi Persian Kalam

Prominent Persian poet from Iran, famous for his prose in Gulistan and verse in Bustan.

pic

Endowment Deed of Rab’-e Rashidi

Endowment Deeds of Rab’-e Rashidi is a 700-year-old document (book) consisting of an extensive list of endowments and how the income from them was spent to support scientific activities.

pic

A Collection of Philosophical Essays: A Path to a Better Understanding of Islam

Islam’s response to fundamental philosophical questions can provide a precise path to understanding its essence.

pic

Ethics in Islam seeks the realization of inherent potentials.

Divine religions establish principles for their followers, and Ethics in Islam seeks to explain Islamic moral principles for its own adherents.

pic

Moving Beyond the Conventional Image of Nahj al-Balagha

Nahj al-Balagha stands as one of the greatest works in the Islamic world, and A Journey Through Nahj al-Balagha is intended as a concise guide to its vast landscape

pic

Sages of the Isfahan School and the Issue of the Origin of the World, an examination of the Isfahan School philosophers view

The book Sages of the Isfahan School and a Study of the Creation of the World ex Nihilo is one of Dr. Nazari Tavakkoli’s well known books.

Music

More
pic

Daf

The history of Daf goes back to ancient times when it was played in old Persia, different parts of Asia & North Africa

pic

Sorna in Lak Music

The scope of Lak music is quite unique and Sorna and Dohol are its main musical instruments.

pic

Nay

Ney or Nay is a woodwind Persian musical instrument

pic

The Music of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province

The Bakhtiari community of Iran reflects the difficulties of nomadic life in their music.

pic

Kamanche

Kamanche is an Iranian instrument, similar to violin & bass

pic

Ashiqi Music

The “Ashiqi” or “Ashiki” music of Azarbaijan is one of the richest “maqami” styles of Iranian music, in which various narratives are expressed in the form of songs.

Drawing

More
pic

Persian Calligraphy

Persian calligraphy or Iranian calligraphy is one of the most revered arts of Iran, which has gradually evolved and many calligraphers have contributed to different genres of this art. Nastaliq is an outstanding genre of Persian calligraphy that has come to be known as the most beautiful human calligraphy.

pic

Photography: Lasting Frames that Tell the History of Iran

Photography is one of the various branches of visual arts and is the art of creating lasting images through light or other forms of electromagnetic radiation on light-sensitive materials.

pic

Caricature: A Penetrating and Innovative Art in the History of Iran

Caricature is another branch of the visual arts that involves the exaggeration, distortion, and amplification of human, animal, or object features while maintaining a visually recognizable likeness.

pic

New Art Media in Iran: Progression in Evolution, Impact, and Creativity

New art media are a relatively recent branch of the visual arts, emerging through the use of fresh language and innovative forms of expression.

pic

Kamal-ud-Din Behzad: The Second Mani or the Raphael of the East

Kamal-ud-Din Behzad was a renowned and highly skilled Iranian painter who opened a new path in the realm of Persian miniature painting and left a profound and widespread influence on the work of later artists in Iran, India, Turkey, and Central Asia.

pic

Mir Emad: The Master of Nasta‘liq Calligraphy in Iran

Mir Emad Hassani Seifi Qazvini was one of the most celebrated calligraphers in the history of Iranian art during the Safavid era, whose fame extended far beyond the borders of Iran. Through his exceptional mastery and artistic brilliance, he elevated the Nastaʿlīq script to such perfection that many scholars of Islamic calligraphy came to describe it as the bride of calligraphic scripts.

Celebrities

More
pic

Jabbar Baghtcheban: The Teacher of Iranian Deaf Children

Jabbar Baghtcheban established the first Iranian kindergarten and school for deaf children in Iran.

pic

Baba Taher

Baba Taher of Hamadani, popularly known as “Baba Taher Oryan” was the Iranian mystic, poet, and couplet composer of the 11th century CE.

pic

Hossein Sa’adatmand

Yazd laments are famous in Iran for their elegant lyrics and special style of performance: a style that Hossein Sa’adatmand played an important role in its development.

pic

Agha Bozorg Tehrani: Guardian of Shia Identity

Agha Bozorg Tehrani’s “Shia Bibliographic Encyclopedia” duly responds to an author’s remarks about the role of Shia in the history of Islam.

pic

Khawaja Nasir al-Din al-Tusi

Abu Ja’far Mohammad bin Mohammad bin Hasan Jahrudi Tusi, popularly known as Khawaja Nasir al-Din, was born in the Jahrud district of the Qom City on 18 February 1201 CE.

pic

Abu Rayhan Biruni

Abu Rayhan Mohammad bin Ahmad Biruni, popularly known as Al-Biruni is a renowned Iranian scholar, scientist, mathematician, astronomer, chronologist, anthropologist, Indologist, and natural scientist who was born on 5 September 973 CE in an area near Khwarazm and for this reason, he came to be known as Al-Biruni, meaning someone belonging to outside Khwarazm.

Customs of Iran

More
pic

Local calendar of East Azerbaijan, a lasting legacy

The local calendar of East Azerbaijan can be considered one of the manifestations of the oral culture of the people of this land, which has evolved over the years.

pic

Nowruz Sabzeh: Green Sprouts

As a traditional custom the people of Iran plant grains of wheat and/or lentil in pots as a sign of divine blessing and abundance in the New Year (Nowruz), which turn into green sprouts and are placed on the Nowruz table.

pic

The Story of Asli and Karam

The story of Asli and Karam is considered to be the greatest oral heritage of the Azarbaijani people, which is narrated by Ashiqs/Ashiks in gatherings and in the form of a folklore song.

pic

Traditional Clothing of Iranian Zoroastrians

Zoroastrian men often wear white clothes, while the traditional garments of Zoroastrian women are quite colorful

pic

Iranian coffeehouse, a social institution with specific traditions

Iranian coffeehouses came into existence in the 16th century and, throughout their centuries-long existence, have fostered traditions and arts.

pic

Golabgiri

Golabgiri is a traditional ceremony held annually in 14 provinces of Iran, mainly from early Ordibehesht to late Khordad

University

More
pic

Kousha University of Applied Science and Technology: Bridging Skills-Based, Industrial, and Practical Education with Labor Marke

Kousha University of Applied Science and Technology: A higher education institution dedicated to enhancing students’ scientific and technical knowledge and equipping them with the skills needed to undertake practical and industrial projects.

pic

Karaj Sugar Applied Science and Technology Center: One of the Modern Institutions of Skills-Based and Industrial Higher Educatio

Karaj Sugar Applied Science and Technology Center: Bridging Skills-Based Education, Industry, and Entrepreneurship to Meet the Needs of the Country’s Industries

pic

Isfahan City Center Comprehensive Center for Applied Science and Technology: Integrating Skills-Based Education, Employment-Orie

Isfahan City Center Comprehensive Center for Applied Science and Technology: A Modern Institution for Skills-Based Higher Education, Adopting a Practical Approach Aligned with Labor Market Standards.

pic

Kermanshah University of Technology: Bridging Engineering Education, Research, and Technological Development in Western Iran

Kermanshah University of Technology aims to train specialized professionals, meet the needs of industries in Kermanshah Province and western Iran, and advance the development of modern technologies across various industries.

pic

Qom University of Technology: Bridging Engineering Education, Research, and Industrial Development in the Province

Qom University of Technology: A University Focused on Engineering and Technology Education, Fostering an Innovative Environment for Training Professional Engineers

pic

Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Non-Profit University: Connecting Education, Research, and the Development of Academic Skills

Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani Non-Profit University: Providing Quality Education, Advancing Academic and Research Activities, Enhancing Society’s Cultural Standards, and Educating Competent Graduates

Latest Events

Latest Events of Islamic culture & relations organization of Iran

Latest News

Latest News Of Islamic Culture And Communication Organization

Sharing Iran’s cultural Heritage with the World
A Gateway to Iranian Culture and Global Exchange

Culture, Heritage, Dialogue

Bringing People and cultures Closer Together

57 Cultural Offices
29 Countries
About Us
Global Cultural Relations Network
Iran Center Cultural Offices