TEHRAN–Hammam-e Qinarjeh, a historical public bathhouse in Zanjan province, has undergone some rehabilitation work, the deputy provincial tourism chief has said.The project involves cleaning the inside of the structure, implementing a protective wall around the building, repairing the rooftop, and replacing the worn-out materials and flooring, Mohammadreza Mohammadpur explained on Saturday.The historical structure was inscribed on the national heritage list in 2019.Bathhouses or ‘hammams’ in Iran were not the only places for bathing and cleaning up.
They had a social concept for people who gathered at these places weekly.It was a place where people talked with each other about their daily life and shared humor and news.
There are still bathhouses in Iranian cities, but they do not have their social function anymore since most people have bathrooms in their homes due to the modern lifestyle.Some cities had separate bathhouses for men and women.
They were usually built next to each other.
However, there were some bathhouses, which were used by men and women at different times of the day.Persian literature is full of proverbs, narrations, and folk stories about bathhouses, which indicate the importance of the place in the pastime.Zanjan is one of the cities founded by Sassanid King Ardashir I (180-242 CE).
The province makes a base for wider explorations with the architectural wonder of Soltaniyeh, the subterranean delights of the Katale-Khor caves, colorful mountains, and the UNESCO-registered Takht-e Soleyman ruins nearby.In January 2020, Zanjan was designated as a “world city of filigree” by the World Crafts Council after the WCC assessors visited various craft workshops, stores, exhibits, and bazaars of the city in a two-day itinerary in December 2019.ABU/AM