Tag: Tous

Tous, Siraf & Persian Mosques Three New UNESCO World Heritage Candidates in Iran Three New UNESCO World Heritage Candidates in Iran: Tous, Siraf and the Persian Mosques Iran’s UNESCO World Heritage story is entering a new chapter. Following the inscription of Alamut Castle and its Related Fortifications on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2026, Iran now has 30 UNESCO World Heritage properties. At the same time, Iran is preparing several new nominations for possible future inscription. Among the most important are the historic city of Tous in Khorasan Razavi Province, the ancient port of Siraf on the Persian Gulf, and a serial nomination representing some of Iran’s most important historic mosques.   These three candidates tell very different stories. Tous represents the cultural and literary heritage of Khorasan and the legacy of the great Persian poet Ferdowsi. Siraf recalls the extraordinary maritime trade that once connected Iran with India, China, East Africa and the wider Indian Ocean world. The Persian Mosque nomination, meanwhile, aims to demonstrate the long development of Iranian Islamic architecture across different historical periods and regions. For travelers interested in Iran’s history, culture, architecture and lesser-known heritage sites, these three places are especially worth watching. Iran Now Has 30 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On July 26, 2026, Alamut Castle and its Related Fortifications were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea. The inscription includes not only the famous Alamut Castle but also a network of seven medieval fortifications spread through the rugged Alamut region of Qazvin Province. With this inscription, Iran’s number of World Heritage properties reached 30. UNESCO currently lists 28 cultural and two natural World Heritage properties for Iran. Iran also has a much larger group of places on