Shiraz can become Islamic world’s cultural capital: NLAI head

Shiraz, Dec 4, IRNA – The city of Shiraz, considering its rich religious, cultural and historical works, can become the cultural capital of Iran and the world of Islam, said the head of the National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI) on Tuesday. Visiting the tomb of the 14th century Persian poet Hafez, Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri said: “Shiraz has great capacities in different tourism fields and the tombs of well-known literary figures including Saadi, Hafez as well as the Holy Tomb of Shah Cheragh can turn the city into the Islamic world’s cultural capital.” “Currently Uzbekistan is the cultural capital of the world of Islam while Shiraz holds all essential cultural and historical features to hold the title. The conference of the cultural capital of the world of Islam and Iran should be held in Shiraz and the officials of the province should vie for the title”, he noted. Shiraz is considered one of the oldest Persian cities, featuring many cultural and historical sites and is known as the city of poetry and roses. The Holy Tomb of Shah Cheragh, Karim Khan Citadel, Vakil Bazaar, Quran Gate, Afif Abad Garden and Eram Garden are among its other popular tourist sites./end