How are Isfahans UNESCO and national heritage sites faring after airstrikes
How are Isfahan’s UNESCO and national heritage sites faring after airstrikes?
ISFAHAN - Airstrikes on the Iranian city of Isfahan have severely damaged two of its most iconic heritage sites: the UNESCO-listed Chehel Sotoun Palace and the National Heritage Site Ashraf Hall, alongside damage to over 12 other cultural landmarks.
Provincial heritage officials confirmed that the joint U.S.-Israeli operation (which targeted Isfahan on March 10, 11, and 13) destroyed portions of these sites, including 400- and 200-year-old wall paintings, intricate tilework, and delicate architectural details.
As a journalist, I visited Chehel Sotoun Palace, Ashraf Hall, Rakebkhaneh (the Iranian Decorative Arts Museum), and Jobbehkhaneh (the Contemporary Art Museum of Isfahan) on those dates to document the destruction. The attacks caused catastrophic damage to ornamental elements, particularly destroying the palace’s intricate doors, windows, and centuries-old frescoes.
Shockwaves from the explosions also wreaked havoc on the decorative elements and interiors of all affected buildings, leaving behind a trail of devastation.
Hadi Alahyari, Head of the Technical Office and Development of Urban Planning at the Isfahan Department of Cultural Heritage, confirmed the extent of the damage and called for immediate preservation efforts. “We need to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the damages to the floors, walls, and roofs, so we can develop a detailed restoration plan,” Alahyari said. “These buildings have been preserved for centuries, but now they urgently require attention and restoration.”
While the path to repairing these priceless monuments will undoubtedly be long and challenging, Alahyari stressed that restoring these cultural treasures is not just about preserving Iran’s national identity but also safeguarding a shared heritage for future generations.
400-year-old Khajou Bridge amid airstrikes
I was visiting the Khajou Bridge when airstrikes occurred at a distance. This allowed me to take some photos showing one of the world’s most beautiful historical bridges, with dark smoke from the explosions visible in the background. According to the Director General of Cultural Heritage in Isfahan, one of Isfahan's historical bridges, the Si-o-se Pol (400 years old), was struck by projectiles during the U.S.-Israeli attacks. The impact of the blast waves on other historical bridges is yet to be assessed.
Damage to Chehel Sotoun Palace (a World Heritage site)
A day after the airstrikes near Chehel Sotoun Palace, I visited the monument to document the damage. This visit was repeated the following day when I, along with the Governor of Isfahan, the Director General of Isfahan’s Cultural Heritage Organization, foreign and Iranian journalists, and a group of experts, went to survey the four damaged buildings.
Damage to Talar Ashraf (National Iranian Cultural Heritage Monument)
The historic “Talar Ashraf,” located near the Governor’s office and the eastern side of the airstrike target, was one of the Safavid-era structures that suffered the most damage. When we arrived at the site with the Governor and journalists, it was announced that the situation was critical and we had to leave the area immediately. However, I managed to capture some photos of the destruction caused by the shockwave of the explosion and the impact of projectiles on the building. This structure, famous for its valuable muqarnas and layered architectural details, is now facing significant damage.
Damage to a museum with ties to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The decorative museums of Iran, housed within the historic “Rakebkhaneh” building, have also sustained significant damage. The Rakebkhaneh tower, located in part of this structure and offering a beautiful view of the Safavid-era governmental complex from its top, has experienced extensive destruction. This includes the separation of the building's decorations and the removal of doors and windows from the tower's floors.
This museum has a strange connection with the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York: a 700-year-old wooden door from the Baba Qasem school is preserved in this museum, while the valuable mihrab and stone basin from the same school were taken to the United States decades ago and are currently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
International efforts needed for restoration
Hassan Ravanfar, a member of the Cultural Heritage Technical Council, has emphasized the necessity of assembling a specialized team of national and even international experts to devise and implement the preservation and restoration efforts. Experts believe that UNESCO and other international organizations must act to protect historic buildings during times of war. Although, before the war began, water shields had already been installed on the historical buildings in Isfahan as a precautionary measure.
AM
source: tehrantimes.com