Eram Garden is the only cultural heritage property of Shiraz, the capital of the southwestern Iranian province of Fars, which has been registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, said the head of the city’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department.

Rasoul Moshtaqian told Iran Daily that 18 cultural heritage properties of the province have been registered on UNESCO’s list, which is the highest among the provinces of the country.

He said Shiraz is known as the city of Persian gardens, pointing out that Eram is one of the most beautiful gardens of the city, which has been given a unique beauty by vegetation and different plant species.

He observed that the garden is a beautiful combination of architecture and plant diversity, noting that it is covered with a large number of trees especially Persian cypresses, which are world famous.

“The tallest Persian cypress in Shiraz, with a height of 40 meters, is in Eram Garden,” he said.

The official noted that the garden, extending in an area of 15,000 square meters, is currently the most visited historical monument in Shiraz, after Hafezieh (the tomb of Persian poet Hafez) and Sa’dieh (the tomb of Persian poet S’adi).

Moshtaqian added that the large mansion, located in the middle of Eram Garden, is one of the masterpieces of Iranian architecture.

“Built during the Seljuk Era, the garden has been restored and renovated in different periods. The architectural style of the mansion was taken from that of the Zandyieh Period, but its construction was finished in the Qajar Era,” he said.

The head of Shiraz’ Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Department continued that the plant diversity of Eram Garden has given it a unique feature, saying that currently, the garden, owned by Shiraz University, is used as a botanical garden.

He said 601 historical monuments in Shiraz have been registered on Iran’s National Heritage List.

He referred to the Shapouri, Afifabad and Jahan Nama gardens, as well as Delgosha and Narenjestan museum gardens, as other well-known Persian gardens of Shiraz.

He noted that 12 historical monuments of Shiraz were registered nationally in the past Iranian year (which ended on March 21).

“Abu Nasr Palace is the oldest historical monument of Shiraz, dating back to the Sassanid Period. It was registered on Iran’s National Heritage List in 1931,” said Moshtaqian.

He said the remains of several brick walls and buildings and a stone fence are in the ancient palace, located on a hill in eastern Shiraz.

“A number of pottery objects and stone vessels, dating back to the Achaemenid Period, as well as coins and artifacts, dating back to the Seleucid, Ashkanid and Sassanid Eras were discovered during excavations carried out in the palace,” he said, adding that 15 intangible cultural heritages of Shiraz have been registered nationally, including ta’zieh (a narrative, musical, epic and religious performance which revolves around 'Ashura', the tenth day of the lunar month of Muharram when Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam and his 72 companions were martyred), monabatkari (Iranian wood carving), and davatgari (the craft of making utensils and tools from metals such as copper, silver and gold).

He said that carpet weaving is the only intangible cultural heritage of Shiraz which has been registered globally.

“Efforts are presently underway for the registration of the Shirazi dialect on Iran’s National Heritage List by mid-March 2022.”

Shiraz is Iran’s fifth largest and most populous city.

Source: Iran Daily