The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is slated to open an office in Shiraz, Fars Province, on August 15. “Given Fars’ cultural and historical background, we held talks with UNESCO to set up an office in Shiraz,” Masoud Maniati, director of the Friends of Fars Heritage Association, told reporters on Tuesday, ISNA reports. Maniati said the presence of UNESCO in the province will help promote Fars’ historical and cultural sites to the world. Fars Province boasts 3,000 national heritage sites, accounting for 9% of Iran’s historical sites. It is also home to two world heritage sites: Pasargadae, the ruins of Persepolis plus two gardens, Eram Garden and the Persian Garden, which are inscribed on the World Heritage List along with seven other gardens grouped under “Persian Gardens”. Also, there are 400 natural heritage sites in Fars that help draw tourists all year round.
