Soltaniyeh Dome restoration begins as 14-hectare site set for revival
By Sadeq Dehqan
Staff writer
The Director General of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts for Zanjan Province has announced the launch of a restoration and revitalization program for the Soltaniyeh Dome, the world’s largest brick dome, saying funding has been earmarked for restoring the dome itself and rehabilitating and revitalizing the 14-hectare grounds surrounding the World Heritage site.
Mikaeil Mousavi, speaking to Iran Daily, said funds were set aside for the restoration and revitalization of the Soltaniyeh complex during last year’s visit by the president to Zanjan Province, as well as during the visit by the minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. Implementation of the project began this year.
He added that provincial funding will also be used to restore the Soltaniyeh Dome. The provincial governor’s office has also contributed to the project, allocating funding from its urban regeneration budget to revitalize, upgrade and prepare the grounds surrounding the World Heritage site. Mousavi said the Soltaniyeh Dome occupies a site of about 14 hectares and that the restoration plan covers both the monument itself and its surrounding grounds.
“Our plan is not limited to restoring the structure itself. We also intend to rehabilitate and revitalize the grounds so they can better serve both tourists and local residents,” he said.
As part of the restoration plan, the dome itself will undergo conservation work, while a large wooden door will be installed on the eastern side of the structure to serve as an entrance for visitors. Measuring approximately 3 by 9 meters, the door is intended to help organize visitor access and the circulation route through the site.
Mousavi also referred to archaeological excavations carried out on the eastern side of the Soltaniyeh Dome, saying the areas uncovered during those excavations will be restored and organized so that the archaeological features identified there can be preserved, revitalized and prepared for public viewing.
“The eastern wall of the complex will also be restored,” he said, adding that efforts are being made to organize these sections in a way that allows visitors to make better use of the complex.
Restoration of large inscription beneath the dome
Mousavi identified the large inscription beneath the dome as another important component of the restoration project.
“There is a large inscription beneath the Soltaniyeh Dome that requires restoration, and this section has also been included in the conservation plan,” he said.
The dome stands approximately 48 meters high, presenting particular challenges for restoration work on the inscription and other elevated sections of the interior. Scaffolding is currently installed inside the dome.
Mousavi said one of the priorities emphasized by the minister of Cultural Heritage is to accelerate restoration work and remove the scaffolding as soon as possible in order to improve the appearance and visual quality of the complex’s interior.
Revitalizing 14-hectare Soltaniyeh grounds
Mousavi also outlined plans to revitalize the 14-hectare grounds surrounding the Soltaniyeh Dome, saying the work will be carried out in cooperation with the provincial governor’s office and Soltaniyeh Municipality. The governor’s office has allocated funding for the project from its urban regeneration budget. In cooperation with the municipality, officials are working to rehabilitate the 14-hectare site and prepare it for public use. Mousavi said part of the grounds could eventually be converted into an urban park, noting that the Soltaniyeh Dome complex is located within the city. “Rehabilitating these grounds will not only contribute to tourism but also have a significant impact on the city’s appearance and urban landscape,” he said. He described the revitalization of the grounds as a demand of both Soltaniyeh residents and visitors to the site.
“Our goal is to turn this historic space, in addition to preserving its heritage value, into an appropriate environment for residents and tourists,” Mousavi said.
He added that visitors should not come to the complex solely to see the dome itself. The surrounding grounds should also offer an attractive setting for recreation, walking and sightseeing.
Restoration work gets under way
Mousavi said the groundwork for implementing the project has already been completed.
“Preparatory work has begun, and implementation of the plans to restore the dome itself and rehabilitate the grounds is also being pursued,” he said.
He added that the necessary coordination with the municipality had been completed regarding the grounds and that officials are now awaiting the release of the funding earmarked by the provincial governor’s office.
Once those funds are provided, he said, work to revitalize the grounds can move forward more quickly.
Mousavi expressed hope that, with the remaining funding secured and continued cooperation among the relevant agencies, restoration of the dome and revitalization of the 14-hectare grounds would proceed satisfactorily and be completed and opened to the public by next year.
Soltaniyeh Dome: Zanjan’s world heritage landmark
Mousavi concluded by underscoring the significance of the Soltaniyeh Dome, describing it as one of Zanjan Province’s most prominent historic monuments and one of Iran’s most important architectural landmarks.
“As a site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, it belongs to all the people of Iran as well as the global community,” he said.
He stressed that the Cultural Heritage authorities are seeking, through restoration work and the rehabilitation of the surrounding grounds, to create conditions in which the Soltaniyeh Dome can be visited and experienced more fully and in a manner befitting its historic and global significance.