Editing Tehran (section)

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Tehran}}
The [[culture of Tehran]] concerns the arts, music, museums, festivals, many [[Persian Culture|Persian entertainments]] and sports activities in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. [[Iranian Festivals|Iranian festivals]] are held in Tehran along with regional and western festivals. [[Nowruz]], [[Chaharshanbe Suri]], [[Sizdah Be-dar]], [[Yaldā Night]], [[Valentine's Day]] and [[Halloween]] have been popular festivals in recent decades.<ref name="Tehran Culture">{{Cite book |title=فرهنگ عامه مردم تهران - ۹۸ }}</ref>

=== Architecture ===
{{See also|Architecture of Tehran}}
The oldest surviving architectural monuments of Tehran are from the [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar]] and [[Pahlavi dynasty|Pahlavi]] eras. In Greater Tehran, monuments dating back to the [[Seljuk Empire|Seljuk]] era remain as well; notably the [[Tughrul Tower|Toqrol Tower]] in Ray. [[Rashkan Castle]], dating back to the ancient [[Parthian Empire]], of which some artifacts are housed at the [[National Museum of Iran|National Museum]];<ref>{{cite book |title=Ancien Rey |first=Hossein |last=Karimian |chapter=Anjomane Asare Melli}}{{full citation needed|date=January 2020 }}</ref> and the [[Bahram fire temple]], which remains since the [[Sasanian Empire|Sassanian Empire]].

Tehran only had a small population until the late 18th century but began to take a more considerable role in Iranian society after it was chosen as the capital city. Despite the regular occurrence of earthquakes during the Qajar period and after, some historic buildings remain from that era.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Iran/Tehran-Capital-City-of-Iran/128 |title=A guide to Iran – etiquette, customs, clothing and more… |website=Kwintessential.co.uk |access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-date=17 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017070645/http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Iran/Tehran-Capital-City-of-Iran/128 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Tehran is Iran's [[primate city]], and is considered to have the most modernized infrastructure in the country. However, the [[gentrification]] of old neighbourhoods and the demolition of buildings of cultural significance have caused concerns.<ref>{{cite web |last=Urschel |first=Donna |url=https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0408/iran.html |title=The Style of Tehran – Library of Congress |website=Loc.gov |access-date=21 May 2012 |archive-date=19 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819051336/http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0408/iran.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:02 hasan abad Sq..jpg|[[Hasanabad, Tehran|Hasanabad Square]]
File:Tehran City Theater 1.jpg|A view of the building of the [[City Theater of Tehran]]
File:Iranian Foreign Affaire Ministry.jpg|Police House,<br />the [[National Garden, Tehran|National Garden]]
</gallery>Previously a low-rise city due to seismic activity in the region, modern high-rise developments in Tehran have been built in recent decades in order to service its growing population. There have been no major quakes in Tehran since 1830.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Guardian |title=Women to blame for earthquakes, says Iran cleric |date=19 April 2010 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/19/women-blame-earthquakes-iran-cleric |access-date=17 December 2016 |archive-date=25 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225093212/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/19/women-blame-earthquakes-iran-cleric |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Tehran International Tower]] is the tallest skyscraper in Iran. It is 54-stories tall and located in the northern district of [[Yusef Abad]].

The [[Azadi Tower]], a memorial built under the reign of the [[Pahlavi dynasty]], has long been the most famous symbol of Tehran. Originally constructed in commemoration of the [[2,500-year celebration of the Persian Empire|2,500th year of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran]], it combines elements of the architecture of the [[Achaemenid architecture|Achaemenid]] and [[Sassanid architecture|Sassanid]] eras with post-classical [[Iranian architecture]]. The [[Milad Tower]], which is the [[List of towers|sixth tallest tower]]<ref name="NBN Nasl Bartar Novin">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbn.ir/viewer.php?id=15 |publisher=NBN (Nasl Bartar Novin) |title=Milad Tower, a perfect product for a perfect project |access-date=10 September 2009 |date=n.d. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117010931/http://www.nbn.ir/viewer.php?id=15 |archive-date=17 November 2009 }}</ref> and the [[List of tallest buildings and structures#Tallest structures, freestanding structures, and buildings|24th-tallest freestanding structure]] in the world,<ref>Andrew Burke, Mark Elliott. ''Iran (Lonely Planet Country Guide)''. p. 114. Lonely Planet Publications, 5th Edition, 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-74104-293-1}}.</ref> is the city's other famous landmark tower. [[Leila Araghian]]'s [[Tabiat Bridge]], the largest pedestrian overpass in Tehran, was completed in 2014 and is also considered a landmark.<ref name="archdaily" />

=== Fashion and clothing ===
{{See also|Fashion in Iran|Women's rights in Iran}}
The city has produced many notable Iranian design houses and clothing companies. Fashion events are also held in some areas of the city.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ششمین نمایشگاه ایران مد از فردا آغاز می‌شود |url=https://www.ilna.ir/بخش-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1-6/697899-%D8%B4%D8%B4%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A2%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF |access-date=16 September 2019 |website=خبرگزاری ایلنا |language=fa }}</ref> Many famous Iranian models were born in Tehran, including [[Nazanin Afshin-Jam]], [[Cameron Alborzian]], [[Sahar Biniaz]], Elnaaz Norouzi, [[Shermine Shahrivar]] and [[Sadaf Taherian]].

Women of Tehran widely used over-the-knee and leather boots after 2000s.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Fashion Fads History V2 -Persia-, p.171,172,176. }}</ref>

=== Theater ===
[[File:RudakiHall.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Vahdat Hall]], Tehran]]
Under the reign of the [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar]]s, Tehran was home to the royal theatre of [[Tekyeh Dowlat|Tekye Dowlat]], located to the southeast of the [[Golestan Palace]], in which traditional and religious performances were observed. It was eventually demolished and replaced with a bank building in 1947, following the reforms during the reign of [[Reza Shah]].

Before the 1979 Revolution, the Iranian national stage had become the most famous performing scene for known international artists and troupes in the Middle East,<ref>{{Cite book |author=Kiann, Nima |date=2015 |title=The History of Ballet in Iran |publisher=Reichert Verlag |place=Wiesbaden, Germany }}</ref> with the Vahdat Hall, formerly known as Rudaki Hall, constructed to function as the national stage for opera and ballet. The hall was inaugurated in October 1967 and named after prominent Persian poet [[Rudaki]]. It is home to the [[Tehran Symphony Orchestra]], the Tehran Opera Orchestra, and the [[Iranian National Ballet Company]].

The [[City Theater of Tehran]], one of Iran's biggest theatre complexes, which contains several performance halls, was opened in 1972. It was built at the initiative and presidency of empress [[Farah Pahlavi]], and was designed by architect Ali Sardar Afkhami, constructed within five years.

One of the gathering centers of [[cabaret]]s in old Tehran was [[Laleh-Zar Street]]. Famous Persian cabarets were active in the city until 1979. They also introduced many domestic artists. In common language, cabaret was sometimes called "home of dance" or "dancing place".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Entekhab.ir |first=پایگاه خبری تحلیلی انتخاب {{!}} |date=29 May 2023 |title=گزارشی از شب های تهران ۴۷ سال پیش / آمارهای قابل توجه درمورد تهرانی ها و خرج هایی که صرف خوشگذرانی می کردند |url=http://www.entekhab.ir/fa/news/657920 |access-date=29 May 2023 |website=fa |language=fa }}</ref>

The annual events of [[Fajr International Theater Festival|Fajr Theater Festival]] and [[Tehran International Puppet Theatre Festival|Tehran Puppet Theater Festival]] take place in Tehran.

=== Cinema ===
The first movie theater in Tehran was established by [[Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahhafbashi|Mirza Ebrahim Khan]] in 1904.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=1414606616 |title=The history of Iranian cinema |author=Mehrabi, Massoud. |access-date=9 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623113213/http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=1414606616 |archive-date=23 June 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Until the early 1930s, there were 15 theaters in Tehran province and 11 in other provinces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://offscreen.com/view/iran2?/new_offscreen/preiran.html |title=Iranian Cinema: Before the Revolution |website=offscreen.com |date=November 1999 |access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-date=26 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226080233/http://www.horschamp.qc.ca/new_offscreen/preiran.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In present-day Tehran, most of the movie theatres are located downtown. The complexes of [[Kourosh Complex|Kourosh Cinema]], [[Mellat Park|Mellat Gallery and Cineplex]], [[Azadi Cinema Complex|Azadi Cinema]], and [[Cinema Farhang]] are among the most popular cinema complexes in Tehran.

Several film festivals are held in Tehran, including [[Fajr International Film Festival|Fajr Film Festival]], [[International Film Festival for Children and Youth|Children and Youth Film Festival]], House of Cinema Festival, Mobile Film and Photo Festival, Nahal Festival, [[Roshd International Film Festival|Roshd Film Festival]], Tehran Animation Festival, Tehran Short Film Festival, and Urban Film Festival.

=== Music and dance ===
There are a variety of concert halls in Tehran. An organization like the Roudaki Culture and Art Foundation has five different venues where more than 500 concerts take place this year. [[Vahdat Hall]], [[Roudaki Hall]], Ferdowsi Hall, Hafez Hall and Azadi Theater are the top five venues in Tehran, where classical, pop, traditional, rock or solo concerts take place.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hipersia.com/en/news.cfm?id=580 |title=Tehran Day Tour {{!}} Concert in Tehran - HiPersia |website=hipersia.com |access-date=30 November 2019 |archive-date=8 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808060336/https://hipersia.com/en/news.cfm?id=580 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Erotic dance]]rs were active and trained in Tehran until the 1979 revolution. But after this date, due to the policies of the new government, these activities were completely banned.<ref name="Tehran Culture" />

=== Sports ===
{{See also|Sport in Iran}}
Football and volleyball are the city's most popular sports, while wrestling, basketball, and futsal are also major parts of the city's sporting culture. Ice hockey and rugby are also popular in Tehran.

[[List of ski areas and resorts in Iran|12 ski resorts]] operate in Iran, the most famous being [[Tochal Complex|Tochal]], [[Dizin]], and [[Shemshak (ski resort)|Shemshak]], all within one to three hours from the city of Tehran.

[[Tochal]]'s resort is the world's fifth-highest ski resort at over {{convert|3730|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} above sea level at its highest point. It is also the world's nearest ski resort to a capital city. The resort was opened in 1976, shortly before the 1979 Revolution. It is equipped with an {{convert|8|km|mi|0|adj=mid|-long}} gondola lift that covers a huge vertical distance.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tochal.org/en/telecabin_introduction.asp |title=Lines of Telecabin |website=tochal.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121200006/http://www.tochal.org/en/telecabin_introduction.asp |archive-date=21 November 2008 }}</ref> There are two parallel chair ski lifts in Tochal that reach {{convert|3900|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} high near Tochal's peak (at {{cvt|4000|m|ft|disp=x|/}}), rising higher than the gondola's seventh station, which is higher than any of the European ski resorts. From the Tochal peak, there are views of the [[Alborz]] range, including the {{convert|5610|m|ft|0|adj=mid|-high}} [[Mount Damavand]], a dormant volcano.

Tehran is the site of the [[Azadi Stadium|national stadium of Azadi]], the [[List of stadiums by capacity|biggest stadium by capacity]] in West Asia, where many of the top matches of Iran's Premier League are held. The stadium is a part of the [[Azadi Sport Complex]], which was originally built to host the [[1974 Asian Games|7th Asian Games]] in September 1974. This was the first time the Asian Games were hosted in West Asia. Tehran played host to 3,010 athletes from 25 countries/NOCs, which was at the time the highest number of participants since the inception of the Games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ocasia.org/7AG.asp |title=TEHRAN 1974 |website=[[Olympic Council of Asia]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711210717/http://www.ocasia.org/7AG.asp |archive-date=11 July 2006 }}</ref> That followed hosting the [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|6th AFC Asian Cup]] in June 1976, and then the first [[West Asian Games]] in November 1997. The success of the games led to the creation of the [[West Asian Games|West Asian Games Federation]] (WAGF), and the intention of hosting the games every two years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/westasiagames.html |title=West Asian Games |website=RSSSF |author=Stokkermans, Karel |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=16 December 2007 |archive-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604140852/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesw/westasiagames.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The city had also hosted the final of the [[1968 AFC Asian Cup]]. Several [[FIVB Volleyball World League]] courses have also been hosted in Tehran.<gallery mode="packed">
File:Esteghlal Edges Past Persepolis 3-2 to Claim Tehran Derby-33.jpg|[[Tehran derby]] in [[Azadi Stadium]]. The match is considered one of the world's most intense derbies.
File:Iran men's ice hockey league in Tehran.jpg|[[Ice hockey in Iran|Iran's ice hockey league]] in Tehran
File:Fitness training women M2 (babaea maryam Tehran 2018) 5.jpg|[[Horse riding]] in the west of the city
File:مژگان بختیاری تی ار اکس ترینر و بدنساز حرفه ای بین المللی ایرانی در تمرینات استاندارد در باشگاه (5).jpg|One of the health clubs in the city
File:Dizin, Iran.jpeg|[[Dizin]], Iran's largest ski resort, is located near Tehran.
</gallery>

=== Food ===
{{See also|Iranian cuisine}}
There are many restaurants and cafes in Tehran, both modern and classic, serving both Iranian and cosmopolitan cuisine. Pizzerias, [[sandwich bar]]s, and kebab shops make up the majority of food shops in Tehran.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://thecitylane.com/where-to-eat-in-tehran-food-guide |title=Tehran Food Guide |publisher=The City Lane |date=27 July 2015 |access-date=26 July 2015 |archive-date=28 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150728235411/http://thecitylane.com/where-to-eat-in-tehran-food-guide/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Graffiti ===
{{Main|Graffiti in Tehran}}
Many styles of graffiti are seen in Tehran. Some are political and revolutionary slogans painted by governmental organizations,<ref name="graff">{{Cite web |url=https://www.equaltimes.org/the-fleeting-freedom-of-street-art |title=The fleeting freedom of street art in Tehran |author=Cheragh Abadi, Mehrnoush. |date=10 February 2017 |publisher=Equal Times |access-date=14 June 2017 |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706113011/https://www.equaltimes.org/the-fleeting-freedom-of-street-art |url-status=live }}</ref> and some are works of art by ordinary citizens, representing their views on both social and political issues. However, unsanctioned street art is forbidden in Iran,<ref name="graff"/> and such works are usually short-lived.

During the [[2009 Iranian presidential election protests]], many graffiti works were created by people supporting the [[Iranian Green Movement|Green Movement]]. They were removed from the walls by the paramilitary [[Basij]] forces.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://observers.france24.com/content/20100302-tehran-graffiti-war-green-movement-basij-militia-spray-paint-tags |title=Tehran's graffiti war |publisher=[[France 24]] |date=2 March 2010 |access-date=19 November 2014 |archive-date=21 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321154539/http://observers.france24.com/content/20100302-tehran-graffiti-war-green-movement-basij-militia-spray-paint-tags |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In recent years, Tehran Municipality has been using graffiti in order to beautify the city. Several graffiti festivals have also taken place in Tehran, including the one organized by the [[Tehran University of Art]] in October 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mediacenter.dw.de/persian/pictures/item/687955/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87_%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1_%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84_%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C/ |title=دانشگاه هنر میزبان فستیوال گرافیتی |publisher=Deutsche Welle |language=fa |date=24 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130911080951/http://mediacenter.dw.de/persian/pictures/item/687955/دانشگاه_هنر_میزبان_فستیوال_گرافیتی/ |archive-date=11 September 2013 |access-date=30 March 2018 }}</ref>