TEHRAN – In a meeting held on Sunday, Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts announced its programs to celebrate the upcoming World Heritage Day.

Along with various meetings and workshops, entry to historical sites and monuments will be free of charge on April 18, said Fatemeh Davari, who presides over the department for preservation and restoration of historical buildings at the tourism ministry.

Referring to the occasion’s motto “Disasters & Conflicts Through the Lens of the Venice Charter,” she said: “Therefore, ICOMOS [the International Council on Monuments and Sites] has asked countries to see the impact of the Charter on conservation and provide their own solutions.”

Davari said: Gathering and collecting information and damages in this field, examining the inputs, entering into understanding, and using traditional knowledge to reduce natural risks, is a message considered for the coming year to assess the resilience of buildings against natural hazards.

“We hope to engage in activities to increase awareness and enter the cycle of new knowledge and resilience to natural disasters at the national and international levels.”

“Moreover, a number of veteran specialists and pioneers in the realm of historical buildings will be honored at a special ceremony to be held at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage,” the official said.

Moreover, On April 16, two “important” specialized meetings will be held. The first meeting is about crises from the perspective of the Venice Charter, the official added.

She noted that a conference on architecture and urban planning will be held in Semnan on April 20th to address the impact of natural disasters on historical buildings with a focus on new technologies.

World Heritage Day,  aka International Monuments and Sites Day, commemorates the efforts of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) in safeguarding cultural treasures worldwide. Its primary focus is to raise awareness about the significance of cultural diversity and the imperative of preserving it for future generations. Ancient monuments and edifices stand as invaluable assets universally. Yet, their preservation is essential to ensure their enduring value over time. Hence, this day symbolizes a global endeavor involving communities worldwide.

On this occasion, numerous events unfold across the globe, ranging from conferences to site visits, all aimed at celebrating our rich heritage. For the uninitiated, heritage sites are essentially locales of cultural importance, safeguarding both tangible and intangible legacies passed down through generations.

The world boasts an array of breathtaking heritage sites and monuments. Among them is Machu Picchu, nestled amidst lush, mountainous terrain overlooking the Urubamba River in Peru. Egypt boasts a plethora of remarkable sights, including the iconic Pyramids of Giza. Other notable destinations encompass Bagan in Myanmar, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and the majestic Great Wall of China.

AM