TEHRAN -- Italy’s Minister for Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism, Dario Franceschini visited Persian ancient sites near Shiraz on Tuesday morning.

Accompanied with Iran’s cultural heritage chief Mohammad-Hassan Talebian, Franceschini paid visit to Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rustam and Pasargadae.

On Sunday, Franceschini took part at the Iran-Italy joint exhibition of “A Statue for Peace: The Penelope Sculptures, From Persepolis to Rome” at Tehran’s National Museum of Iran.

In Persepolis, he paid visit to the find-spot of statue of Penelope, which is currently on display at National Museum of Iran.

The statue, a diplomatic gift from Greece to the Achaemenid Court, on display is made of Greek marble and representing a seated woman was discovered during archaeological excavations at Persepolis in 1936 by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago.

The two sides discussed joint projects about preservation, education and study on archeology and sustainable development of tourism industry.

---------- Discover ancient Persia in Shiraz!

Pasargadae, capital of the Achaemenid Empire under Cyrus the Great who had issued its construction (559–530 BC) and also the location of his tomb, was a city in ancient Persia, located near the city of Shiraz (in Pasargad County) and is today an archaeological site and one of Iran's UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Naqsh-e Rustam is one of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring ancient sites of the Achaemenid Empire, consisting of the colossal tombs of Persian kings dating back to the first millennium BC. It stands as a lasting memory of a once powerful empire that ruled over a significant portion of the ancient world.

Persepolis, literally meaning “city of Persians”, was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (ca. 550–330 BC). Persepolis is situated 60 km northeast of city of Shiraz in Fars Province. The earliest remains of Persepolis date back to 515 BC.

It exemplifies the Achaemenid style of architecture. UNESCO declared the ruins of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979.

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