TEHRAN – Iran is home to some of the world’s oldest bazaars, which formerly connected China and Europe along the legendary Silk Road.
Trade and cultural interchange took occurred daily at Iran’s grand bazaars, which attracted traders from cities such as Bukhara, Samarkand, Istanbul, and Turkestan.
People from all walks of life gathered at the market, and it also united the various regions of the city.
Iran’s bazaars are among the top tourist destinations in the world just based on their ancient architecture. The covered marketplaces resembled a small city all to themselves.
The Safavid period represents the pinnacle of Iran’s traditional bazaars and markets.
The word “bazaar” comes from the Persian word “bāzār”. Visiting bazaars is an important part of Iranian people’s life.
Besides the undeniable social influences of Iranian bazaars, they are categorized based on their functionality and architectural characteristics.
The top ten famous Persian bazaars include Tehran Grand Bazar, Ardebil Old Bazaar, Shiraz Vakil Bazaar, Tabriz Old Bazaar, Kashan Old Bazaar, Bazaar of Borujerd, Bazaar of Saqqez, Bazaar of Sanandaj, Bazaar of Isfahan and Bazaar of Shahroud.