World Craft Cities in Iran

Lalejin
Lalejin is a small city at the east of Iran, Hamadan Province and situated only 25 kilometers away from Hamadan, the ancient capital of Iran. Recent discoveries in Lalejin reveals the existence of a civilization at least since 11th century. Having good water supplies, agriculture was flourished in Lalejin. In addition, this place is also famous for its unique ceramic and pottery handicrafts art, as it is known as the Capital of Middle-East Pottery. About 80 percent of the nearly 20 thousand residents of Lalejin are busy in the field of pottery in about one thousand workshops. In 1936, the first pottery stock company was established to value the goods and sell them in the market. In 2016, Lalejin was included in WIPO for its Pottery handicrafts.

Abadeh
In Farsi, Abadeh means a reclaimed area and its origin goes back to 1000 B.C. It is located in Fars Province, on the main road between the two main big cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, contributed to its notable history and rich culture.

Although the crafts makers in Abadeh, practice various handicrafts, they are mainly known for woodcarving (Munabbat-Kari in Farsi). This small city with its 60,000 people is known as the birthplace of Munabbat-kari art in Iran and the world. In 2018, Abadeh was included in WIPO for its Munabbat art. The word “Munabbat” is derived from the verb “Nabat” relating the first stages in the growth of a plant, hence the high relief carved wood resembles the sprouts of a plant.

Khorashad
Khorashad is a small Village at east of Iran, South-Khorasan Province. It is situated in Nasr Abad Valley and the unique name which means “The place of Sunrise” in Pahlavi language, is derived from the unique scenery. Originates back even before Islam, this place is a rare example of a village that people migrate to, instead of leaving it. Khorashad’s noticeable features are breeding of many successful and elite individuals in scientific, cultural and economic areas, which are much greater than the capacity of a village with 1000 people. The region has been introduced as an elite village in Iran.

Residents of this village produce handicrafts beside agriculture. In 2018, Khorashad was included in WIPO for its Hand-Woven Fabrics called Tow-Bafi.

Kalporagan
Kalporagan is a small village at the south east of Iran, Sistan & Baluchestan Province. This place is known as the only Living Pottery Museum of the World, Originates back to 7000 years ago. The art of pottery without any pottery wheel has been inherited orally from one to another without any changes since then. While the men carry pottery clay from Maskootan mine near the village and prepare the primary phases, major production process is done by around 30 women living in the village.

Geometric pattern with ancient motifs reflects artisans inspirations. Final product is brown, derived from a special stone called Titook. It is from brown or black Manganese stone, used instead of glazing. Kalporagan pottery can be in diverse forms such as: bowl, Jar, cup, sugar pot, pitcher and mug. Kalporagan was the first Iranian Village included in WIPO list since 2017.

Malayer
Malayer is the second largest city in Hamedan province, after Hamedan city. The most part of the population in this city are occupied with wooden handicrafts and especially the production of traditional furniture. Although this art had been existed from a long time ago, it is about a half century that it has gained prosperity. In some cases, the whole family are occupied with traditional furniture making and although they didn’t make much money this way, their love for handicrafts and the increasing perseverance of woodcarving artists of Malayer shows today a new face of this art-craft to the world.

Despite all tragedies, Malayer woodcarving succeeded to be nationally registered in 1396 SH. And after two years of hard work and perseverance of people and authorities of the region, the products of Malayer woodcarving handicrafts met all UNESCO standards including high quality, authenticity, historical background, innovation and creativity. With the approval of the World Crafts Council’s inspectors in Bahman 1398 (January 2020) Malayer was added to the list of UNESCO cities and villages as “World City of Woodcarving and Wood-carved Furniture”.

Qasemabad
Qasemabad is a village located in Oshiyan rural district, Roodsar cityو in the east of Gilan province. The name of Qasemabad always evokes the happiness and color for the Iranians. Various kinds of handwoven colorful fabrics and the traditional cloths of people in this region with the horizontal colorful strips have made this village as the center of fabric weaving in Iran. The most important fabric that is produced in this village is called Chador Shab. Chador Shab, or locally Chorshab or Lavan, is a kind of cotton, silk or woolen fabric that is woven in Gilan and Mazandaran provinces by the hands of women using a weaving handmade machine namely Pachal. Considering the wide employment of women, in this region, in Chador Shab weaving craft, the high quality of the products and establishing several local centers dedicated to this handmade art, Qasemabad village was nationally inscribed as the village of Chador Shab weaving in 1397 SH.

Shiraz
Shiraz is one of the biggest cities in Iran and most significant city at the center of Fars province at the height of 1486 m above the sea level, located in the Zagros mountainous area, a highly important protection for the strategic location of Shiraz. Shiraz consists of 3 districts, ”Arzhan“, “Zaraghan“ , ”Markazi“, six cities and 12 rural districts. Shiraz name has been explored in the Achaemenid inscriptions in Persepolis.

This city has been known as the most significant tourism center, the 6th populous city, the cultural capital of the country, 2nd literary city in the world, the 3rd religious city, the 3rd holy shrine of Iran and the city of poetry, wine and flower. The tombs of several poets such as Hafez and Sa’adi placed in Shiraz where embraces a major part of Iran’s ancient history, historical, cultural, religious and natural attractions.

Placing in the central zone of south Zagros and a partly fertile area, the social and economic structure of Shiraz has been turned into a natural setting for nomads such as Ghashghaei, the farmers and residents to exchange local commodities. This city has also been located in the way of the commercial roads to south ports such as Bushehr, but this role has been faded out by establishing the railway network to other ports of Iran. Administrators and military centers are among the other causes the city to be glorious. Shiraz is economically dependent on industry, significant factories, agriculture and magnificent handicrafts .Shiraz residents speak in Shirazi accent of Persian language and most of them are Shia.

Mashhad
Mashhad is located in Kashafrud River catchment basin and at the end of the Mashhad sedimentary plain, between Hezar masjid and Binalood mountains range, at the height of 1050m above the sea level with a mountainous and semi mountainous area which presents a moderate and variable climate.

This city consists of three districts “Markazi”, “Ahmad Abad” and “Razavi”, three cities and 11 rural districts. Mashhad is considered as the 2nd biggest and the populous city of Iran after Tehran due to it is religious, industry and economic conditions. Mashhad is known as the most important attraction for the passengers who are willing to visit Imam Reza holy shrine (8th Shia Imam), the biggest holy shrine in Iran.

As one of the most magnificent religious places in Iran, Astan Qods Razavi is the symbol of Mashahd where the Islamic art and religion are linked to each other. Located along the Silk Road, it is the economic capital and the intercontinental commercial center in the Central Asia. Mashhad economic activities are dependent on the services, industry and agriculture; however, it is focused on a services-based economy due to the presence of the passengers and pilgrims who travel to there. About 40 percent of Mashhad industry is relied on the food, metal and handicraft industry. Most of Mashhad people are of Iranian Aryan race, although many Kurds, Turks and Arabs live there. Mashhad residents speak in Persian Language, Mashhadi accent and they are the followers of Ja’afari Shia.

Isfahan
Isfahan is a metropolis surrounded by desert and semi-desert districts from east and Zagros Mountains from the west. The distance between the south of the capital of Iran and this city is about 414km and it is located at the height of 1575 m above the sea level and enjoys a moderate climate and partly regular seasons. Isfahan consists of 6 districts, 14 cities and 19 rural districts with many historical heritages and natural landscapes, which made Isfahan to be the 3rd biggest city in Iran, after Tehran and Mashhad. Isfahan is a district with Iranian civilization and culture which contains many heritages from all historical eras that registered in the list of historical monuments.

This city is one of the valuable archaeological centers, parallel to world-class areas, and many of its artifacts has been registered in the list of monuments and it has a high universal position for art, economy, science, industry, commerce and tourism. The name of Isfahan comes always along with Zayanderud River; also, it is properly called Nesf-e Jahan (means “half of the world”) as one of the most spectacular places in Iran. Isfahan has been always a significant and glorious city in transportation and commodity exchanges because of its strategic axis along the Silk Road in the past and its heritage of ancient art, commerce and industry, at this time.

Zanjan
Zanjan is located in the northwest of Zanjan province in a mountainous area with the height of 1663 m above the sea level. Uneven lands of this city are divided into north mountains and south mountains. This city enjoys a moderate summer and a highly cold winter. It consists of three parts naming “Zanjanrod“, ”Ghare Poshtlo” and “Markazi“, three cities and 12 rural districts. Zanjan is the biggest and most significant city in Zanjan province and also one valuable city, according to its position on the Iran–Europe transit way and being a connecting point among central parts, the west and northwest of Iran.

Meybod
Meybod is located in the northwest of Yazd, beside Tehran- Bandar Abbas road and Tehran-Kerman railway, along the edge of the central desert of Iran with the height of 1234 m above the sea level. Its eastern lands are plain and even and it end up in the foothills and Aqda south heights from the west. This city enjoys a warm and arid climate.

Meybod consists of one part named “Markazi”, two cities and two rural districts. Meybod is the second urban and commercial center and populous city after Yazd in Yazd province. Meybod is one of the first primary sedentism centers in Iran and the city registered on the Iran historical heritage list based on its valuable historical area. Meybod is one of the tourism regions based on its location and geographical situation.

This city is highly rich with mine resources and its economy depends on the industry. Numerous tile and ceramic factories have turned this city into the center of tile and ceramic industry in Iran.

The prosperity of pottery, tile and ceramic industry should be evaluated in terms of its connection between industry and tradition. Handicrafts especially Meybod carpet and ceramic products export to the other cities of Yazd, all around of Iran and World. The biggest Quail breeding center in the country with the second place in the Middle East is located in Meybod. Agriculture is common in this city from the past. People of this city are Muslims and they speak in Farsi with Yazdi dialect.

Marivan
Marivan is located in 125 km northwest of Sanandaj, in vicinity to Iran-Iraq border at the height of 1320 meters above the sea level. Zagros Mountains constitute the most unevenness lands of Marivan. The city is the rainiest city in Kurdistan province with the cold and wet weather. Marivan consists of three parts as “Markazi”, ”Sarshiv”, ”Khavumirabad”, four cities and 6 rural districts.

This city has been turned into the most important tourism center in Kurdistan province and Iran because of the existence of Zarivar lake as the most significant lagoon and unique water attraction in the west of Iran, geographical and transit location of this city in terms of vicinity to Iraq border, inexpensive commodity shopping centers, pleasant climate and natural environment of forest and mountain.

Valuable handicrafts such as traditional textile, Giveh and wood products of the province are raised in terms of quality and diversity in Iran because of the traditional features of Kurdistan province and lack of a dominant industrial sectors.

Tabriz
Tabriz is one of the oldest and biggest cities of Iran on the hillside of the Sahand Mountain (volcano). This city is surrounded by mountains in the north, south and east and flat lands as well as the Talkherud salt marsh in the west, like a partly big hollow or a plain with fantastic view among the mountains, at the height of 1350 to 1550 m above the sea level in different areas. This city enjoys a highly cold weather in winter and warm and arid in summer. Tabriz consists of two districts,”Markazi“ and “Khosro shah”, three cities named “Tabriz”, ”Sar Dorud“ and “Khosro Shah” and 75 rural districts. It is the most populous city in the east Azerbaijan and the biggest city in the northwest of Iran.

The number of passengers who travel to Tabriz has been increased after establishment of the Tabriz-Zanjan highway and the city turned into the 2nd destination of passengers after Mashhad. Arg-e Tabriz is the symbol of city. It connects the western cities of Iran to the eastern cities along the Silk Road and has been properly called the “Gate of the Orient”. Moreover, it is one of the main commercial, industrial, economic and cultural centers in Iran, since the past, due to its appropriate location. Given the specific geographical location, Tabriz has a high political and economic position and best-known as the “Cradle of Investment” due to the ability to attract large investments from private sectors. It is ranked 1 in attracting investment among Iran cities for five consecutive years.