Iran’s tourism poster selected

TEHRAN, Iran – Deputy Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization Manouchehr Jahanian announced that the world people have voted for a poster of Iran’s tourism attractions in a competition held by the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

“The UNWTO has held a tourism poster competition and the world people have been a part of the judgment,” Jahanian said on Tuesday.

“And the world people have voted for a poster named ‘Iran; the Gate of All Nations’ which displays a picture of Persepolis (Takht-e Jamshid) in Iran’s Southern province of Fars,” he said.

“In this competition, most world people gave voted for Iran’s poster and based on the results, Iran has ranked first followed by Armenia and Bhutan,” Jahanian added.

Once known as the richest city under the sun, Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, one of the greatest powers of the ancient world.

Darius established Persepolis in 519 BCE as the most magnificent of the four Achaemenid capitals — Susa, Ecbatana, Persepolis and Babylon — which were established in logistically important locations to help Achaemenid kings efficiently administer their vast empire.

Situated 70 km Northeast of modern day Shiraz, Persepolis (meaning city of the Fars) was built by Darius I and his successors over a 50-year period.

Spanning an area of over 125,000 square meters, the Achaemenid capital was known for its stunning inscriptions, unique architecture and wooden columns made of Lebanese cedar and Indian teak tree.

Persepolis, the ancient ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire, was registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1979.