Vakil Bazaar (bazaar-e Vakil)

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Probably the country’s most architecturally distinguished bazaar, Vakil bazaar dates back to Karim Khan Zand’s 18th-century dynasty which made Shiraz its capital. Determined to make this city of nightingales and poets just as famous as a trading centre, Karim Khan commissioned this great bazaar, whose vaulted brick ceilings make it cool in summer and warm in winter, shafts of bright light cutting through the interior from the hexagonal openings studding the ceiling. Get lost wandering through the various avenues which throng with locals and even nomads from the area in their colourful costumes. All avenues seem to lead to Serai Mushir, an open inner courtyard with a central pool and lined by two stories of shops and once a caravanserai. Here you can pick up local nomadic costumes of kids and the best of Iran’s handicrafts, especially the inlaid woodwork known as khatam. The bazaar’s bathhouse, Hammam-e Vakil, is now a traditional restaurant complete with live music.

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