Grand Bazaar - Isfahan
History
The old bazaar of Isfahan dates back to the 11th century during the Seljuk era. Originally, Grand Bazaar was built on the southwest wing of Jameh Mosque and Kohneh Square but later it was expanded to Naqsh-e Jahan Square. This section of the bazaar is also known as Keisaria Bazaar. It is due to to the Keisaria Gate on the northern side of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square.
The Grand Bazaar which goes around the Naqsh-e Jahan Square was built at the start of the 16th century. This bazaar has almost 5 kilometers of shopping streets with many arches and corridors. In the past, this bazaar was the centre of the city and it was also a meeting point for the locals. There are many other bazaars in Iran but Isfahan bazaar is one of the largest. Entrance of the Grand Bazaar on the northern side is sometimes referred as the main entrance of the bazaar.
There are different parts of the bazaar which are divided to into smaller sections on the basis what they sell. This bazaar with 2 km length is the main connection between the old city and the new one. The Grand Bazaar of Isfahan is a covered market and shop keepers display their products in front of the shops as well.
The Keisaria Gate of the Grand Bazaar has few paintings on its main gate and one of them shows a polo match being played. In the past, the Naqsh-e Jahan Square was used to host these matches. When compared with the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, the bazaar of Isfahan offers a peaceful space to see the shops and the displays inside.
