Isfahan Bathhouse to Serve as Tourist Complex

The historical bathhouse located in Rehnan District in northwest Isfahan is to be restored and expanded to serve as a tourist complex, a senior tourism official said.

According to Fereidoun Allahyari, the head of the provincial office of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, massive restoration is needed to revive the structure and its architectural beauty, and the building is spacious enough to be repurposed into a tourism complex.

"Beside sections for bathing, separate spaces are to be allocated for traditional sports and food," Mehr News Agency quoted him as saying.

Eastern bathing traditions can be appealing to western tourists. Turkey has been a pioneer in introducing the ritual to attract tourists. 

This project is Iran's first initiative to promote the place as an eastern experience. It is also part of the provincial authorities' efforts to develop tourism across the whole city rather than only its central districts. 

As long as history can remember, a major share of tourists' surge had been focused on the central part of the province, which is home to numerous world-known attractions. 

"Now it's time to expand the focus beyond the obvious," the official said. 

"The goal requires setting up new plans and defining strategies to balance the focus of tourism.

Allahyari noted that archeological studies are also required in less-explored western areas so as to promote them as cultural destinations. 

Rehnan Bathhouse dates back to Zand Dynasty (1751–94).