TEHRAN — Isfahan is sometimes referred to as the crown jewel of Iran’s handicraft industry, where its artisans do their best to safeguard know-how passed down from generation to generation.

“Isfahan ranks first in the country when it comes to the number and diversity of handicraft fields,” an official with Isfahan Municipality said on Tuesday.

“About two-thirds of Iranian handicraft fields are currently practiced in Isfahan,” Mohsen Masoumi said.

The official reminded Isfahan’s registration as a world city of handicrafts, saying: “Due to its respected position in the handicraft sector and traditional arts, Isfahan was registered as the world handicrafts city by the World Crafts Council in 2015 after numerous follow-ups by national and provincial officials.”

Furthermore, he outlined the kinds of support that the handicraft sector can provide for domestic tourism, adding the global registration of handicraft hubs has a special effect on the sustainable development of local tourism.

To promote their capabilities and the growth of tourism, cities, and villages with a rich cultural heritage and distinctive handicrafts should be globally registered, the official suggested.

Isfahan has strong handicraft capabilities as evidenced by the 126 international and 528 national seals of excellence it has received, the official stated.

Every day thousands of artisans go through time-honored routines to underpin the city’s reputation as a living museum of handicrafts.

Isfahan was once a crossroads of international trade and diplomacy in Iran and now it is one of Iran’s top tourist destinations for good reasons. It has long been nicknamed as Nesf-e-Jahan, which is translated into “half the world”; meaning seeing it is relevant to see half the world.

The ancient is filled with many architectural wonders, such as unmatched Islamic buildings, bazaars, museums, Persian gardens, and tree-lined boulevards. It's a city for walking, getting lost in its mazing bazaars, dozing in beautiful gardens, and meeting people. The ancient city is renowned not only for the abundance of great historical bridges but also for its ‘life-giving river’, the Zayandeh-Rood, which has long bestowed the city an original beauty and fertility.

AFM