TEHRAN – The UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace in Tehran has launched online visits and virtual tours of some of its precious manuscripts during the holy month of Ramadan, Afarin Emami, the director of Golestan Palace announced on Monday, CHTN reported. 

While all museums and historical sites across Iran are on lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic, the museum decided to exhibit some of its centuries-old manuscripts of the holy Quran as well as religious manuscripts related to Ramadan, she explained. 

Earlier this month, the museum announced that a series of videos have been produced to introduce the palace to online visitors during the quarantine time. 

Entitled “59 Seconds of Golestan”, the series are presenting museums, buildings and galleries inside the palace as well as several interviews with different Iranian historians, researchers and scholars.

A destination for domestic and international travelers, Golestan Palace is located in the heart and historic core of Tehran. The palace complex is one of the oldest in the Iranian capital, originally built during the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736) in the historic walled city. 

Following extensions and additions, it received its most characteristic features in the 19th century, when the palace complex was selected as the royal residence and seat of power by the Qajar ruling family (1789-1925). At present, Golestan Palace complex consists of eight key palace structures mostly used as museums and the eponymous gardens, a green shared center of the complex, surrounded by an outer wall with gates.

UNESCO has it that the complex exemplifies architectural and artistic achievements of the Qajar era including the introduction of European motifs and styles into Persian arts.

ABU/MG