Masuleh village officials are aiming to turn the historical village into a cultural tourism hub, Mehr News Agency quoted the head of Iran�s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism office in the village Mustafa Pourali as saying.

According to Pourali, meetings are to be held to discuss ways to promote the village�s culture and traditions. �One way is to organize festivals.�

Located in a wooded valley 60 km southwest of provincial capital Rasht, Gilan Province, the thousand-year-old Masuleh village is home to architecturally-unique buildings: the buildings are built into the Alborz mountain range and are interconnected.

Ever since talks of nominating the village for UNESCO-listed status heated up in 2011, restoring and renovating Masuleh�s buildings and monuments became a priority, he said.

�Masuleh is home to a myriad of historical structures that have eroded with time, but not beyond repair,� Pourali asserted, adding that it is imperative to restore the buildings with an eye towards maintaining the structures� traditional look. �Material used in the original construction of every structure must be used to maintain architectural authenticity.�

Unique Traditions
Pourali voiced concern over the number of tourists who visit Masuleh without any prior knowledge of the village�s rich culture. �It is as though they have no idea Masuleh has its own unique traditions and customs, and this needs to change.�

A common method of promoting a city�s culture is organizing events that become an inseparable part of the city, he said. �For instance � culturally speaking � Isfahan is recognized for its annual International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults.�

Pourali believes Masuleh officials must take measures to pave the way for the village to host festivals.

�During the Iranian New Year holiday season (March 21 � April 4), Masuleh hosted its first Photography Festival with a focus on interior design. The event was a success.�

Beyond Festivals
Establishing a house of handicrafts in Masuleh is another way to attract cultural tourists. �This way, we are able to target specific tourists; artists and handicraft-enthusiasts,� Pourali said.

There are also discussions about repurposing the historical Shokati House into a museum; thus offering more cultural venues to encourage people to spend more time learning about Masuleh�s culture and �less time in tea houses.�

By Financial Tribune