The Bazaar of Tabriz, also known as Bāzār-e Tabriz in Persian and Tabriz Bazari in Azerbaijani, is a historic market located in central Tabriz, Iran. It is among the oldest bazaars in the Middle East and the largest covered bazaar in the world. The site is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iran.
History
Tabriz has been a place where different cultures have shared ideas and goods since ancient times. Its historic bazaar complex was one of the most important places for trade along the Silk Road. A bazaar has been located on the same site since the early development of cities in Iran after the rise of Islam. The bazaar was described by the Venetian traveler Marco Polo, who said he passed through it during his journey on the Silk Road.
Many travelers and historians, including Al-Maqdisi in the 10th century, Yaqut al-Hamawi around 1213 CE, Zakariya al-Qazwini around 1252 CE, Marco Polo in 1271 CE, Odoric of Pordenone around 1321 CE, Ibn Battuta around 1330 CE, Ambrogio Contarini in 1474 CE, Hamdallah Mustawfi in the 13th to 14th century, John Cartwright in 1606 CE, Jean Chardin during the time of Suleiman I of Persia, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier around 1636 CE, and Giovanni Francesco Gemelli Careri around 1642 CE, wrote about the Bazaar of Tabriz. These writings show how important the bazaar was throughout history.
The bazaar is located in the center of Tabriz and is divided into rows, each with shops selling specific types of goods. These include Amir Bazaar (gold and jewelry), Mozzafarieh (handwoven rugs sorted by knot size and type), Bashmakhchi Bazaar (shoes), Kiz Basdi Bazaar, and Rahli Bazaar (produce). Tabriz and its bazaar were most prosperous in the 16th century, when the city became the capital of Safavid Iran. The city lost this status in the 17th century, but the bazaar remained an important center for trade and the economy in the region and on the Silk Road. Even though modern shops and malls have opened in recent years, the Tabriz Bazaar continues to serve as a key economic hub for the city and northwestern Iran.
The bazaar was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in July 2010.
Restoration
In 2000, the Historical Hermitages Organization of Iran started a restoration project for the Bazaar, with the help of the shop owners. The repair project received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 2013.
Photo gallery
- Mozaffarieh is a section in the Tabriz Grand Bazaar where handwoven rugs are sold.
- Mozaffariyeh refers to the Bazaar of Tabriz.
- One of the two entrance gates to the Mozzafariyeh area.
- A dome located in the Amir row of the bazaar.
- A caravanserai (a large roadside inn) near the Amir row.
- A caravanserai located in the Bazaar of Tabriz.
- Gan Bazaar, which means "wider bazaar," is a section in the Tabriz Grand Bazaar.
- Gan Bazaar is a section in the Tabriz Grand Bazaar.