TEHRAN-- Hammam-e Nobar, a public bathhouse in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan province, is set up to open its doors to visitors by the end of the existing Iranian fiscal year (which ends in March 2023), the provincial tourist chief has said.Owned by Tabriz Municipality, the bathhouse will open its doors to the general public after being totally brought back, Ahmad Hamzehzadeh described on Wednesday.The historic structure is one of the substantial architectural works left over from the Qajar age (1789-1925) in Tabriz, therefor its preservation and defense is on program, the official added.Bathhouses or hammams in Iran were not just places for bathing and cleaning up.

They had a social concept for individuals who collected at these places weekly.It was a place where individuals talked with each other about their life and shared humor and news.

There are still bathhouses in Iranian cities, however they do not have their social function any longer considering that many people have bathrooms in their homes due to the contemporary lifestyle.Some cities had different bathhouses for males and females.

They were usually built beside each other.

There were some bathhouses, which were used by guys and ladies at different times of the day.Persian literature is complete of sayings, narratives, and folk stories about bathhouses, which indicate the significance of the place in the past.ABU/ AM