Vakil Bazar : symbol of the Zandiye dynasty 

Bazar is like veins and arteries of the society’s body. As in your body the vascular system transports blood and other vital fluids needed to continue your life, Bazar transports goods and money among all businesses in the society. Before introducing big shopping malls and complex business centers, Bazar in eastern countries connected producers and consumers by brokers and businessmen. Even the people who worked in the bazaar are named as “Bazarries” and even today we know them by the same expression.

History of Vakil Bazar

Each city in Iran has its own bazar or market but in some big cities like Shiraz the size and complexity of the bazaar is bigger and higher than the small cities where the volume of trade and transactions are smaller and lower during business seasons. Vakil Bazaar in Shiraz, Iran, is a historical landmark dating back to the Zand dynasty. Named after Karim Khan Zand, the ruler of the Zand dynasty, this bazaar is renowned for its intricate architecture, bustling atmosphere, and diverse range of goods. 

Unique architecture of Bazare Vakil

The bazar is like a maze and in normal language we name each bazar a “Sook” when 4 sooks come together we call it “Chahar sook” which means crossroad and all the sooks are interconnected in the form that this maze completes itself at last. It means if you start from the main gate which is closed in the late evening depending on the season and run to the bazar if you know all the way and small alleys in the main roads in bazar you can return to the same gate after a long walk. You will enjoy it, I promise, so if somebody walks in the bazar even not to buy something   we say she or he is going to “bazar gardi” means fooling around in the bazar. Vakil bazaar in Shiraz follows the same rule except this beautiful bazar is one of the most beautiful and complicated bazars which you can find in Iran or in the Middle east. Especially one part of bazar which is named as moshir bazar. Is one of the best in Iran and you never find a copy or something resembling it in the whole country.
All the bazars have a complete passive air conditioning system which works 24 hours and during different seasons keeps the interior atmosphere and air fresh and balanced compared to the exterior harsh weather of deserts in summer or winter. Iran is located in a very harsh land. But when you enter the bazar the weather is normal and balanced comparing to the outside weather imagine that when the weather outside the bazar is around 45 to 50 centigrade degrees and hundreds of people are walking in bazar and the many people are trading and bargaining and many animals are transporting the goods between stores in market how hot and not tolerating have to be for the people inside bazar. But if you have the experience of trading in bazar in hot summers you understand how delightful the weather inside is and how people are happy and resting inside the halls. The ceiling of bazar , which is roofed by bricks and mud bricks and a covered layer of clay and straw, keeps the weather cool and normal in summers and warm and delightful in freezing winters.
In the ceiling there are some windows and holes which let the light illuminate the closed space of the beautiful vakil bazaar Shiraz.
According to a common rule in bazars each souk or street in Bazars which is named as “ raste Bazar” which means a row of stores in bazar belongs to a business or profession. For example on bazar belongs to spice vendors or in other street which is branched from mane bazar or main sook known as bazar of coppersmiths all the stores and workshops of bazar belongs to coppersmiths and  and you can buy, sell or repair all the copper metal objects and instruments like kitchen utensils, bowls, skillets , pans and other copper ornamental objects which are made from copper or copper alloys.
In another sook which belongs to goldsmiths you can find gold ornaments and other related gold objects and alloys etc. It means this branched complicated complex of roads and stores and objects make something like a spider web of spaces which add more and more complexity to the bazar and vakil bazar in Shiraz is one of the best examples of a complex and sophisticated Bazar in Iran.

Various stores in vakil bazaar shiraz

As bazars are smaller and get bigger and bigger through time, when the number of people in the city gets more crowded during the civilization process many people start to make new houses and living areas around the market and bazar. Because of this you can find many homes and private mansions of some elite and wealthy people living in the market. Vakil bazar is not an exception, because of this you can find many interesting and elite mansions around the bazar wakil which some of them have a door or a gate to the bazar to simplify transferring from bazar to private home and because of this in some occasions the name of the street or Alley is changed to the name of merchant of the businessman who lived near that place .in some occasion a place of whole piece of the market have the name of nobleman who made the market.
In one corner of vakil bazar there is a very cozy and tranquil two stores market which is known as “Saraye Moshir”. No doubt that this part of market is one of the most beautiful market or bazar in Iran.
This space is four sided and in two stores. In center of this space there is a beautiful pool and fountains and in first floor there are many shops and workshops people can find souvenirs and ornaments and even antiques which fulfil everyone’s desires and it is like a paradise for all women and girls which are fooling around in the vakil bazar and enjoy walking   and shopping in the market. Inside the moshir hall there are old citrus and orange trees which make a good shade in summer and make the air inside the space more delicate and desirable and add more tranquility and silence to the bazar.
After the gate of the moshir there is an octagon that divides the inner space from the bazar and there are some shops which trade gold and antiques and outside the gates there are many spice shops and stores which sell spices and other goods like fabrics there. Against the gate there is a small soup you can buy and eat ice-creams and noodles and sherbets to refresh and enjoy in the hot summers of Shiraz in the middle of the desert of this vast country. Vakil bazar is unique in form and ornaments and one of the best places to visit and spend time especially in summer time and afternoons to enjoy life .

Tourist Attractions of Vakil Bazaar

One of the best tourist attractions of vakil bazar is the souk of carpet dealers and Moshir bazar . the carpet sook is like a dream from old times and it is like a paradise for international tourists which are visiting shiraz. They can find different kinds of carpets and runners in different colors and designs, tribal rugs in different forms and designs and different prices. The tourists have the chance to bargain and fulfil their needs and desires. The carpet souk of vakil bazar is different from other parts of the country for two reasons. First of all in this beautiful bazar you can find a mixture of tribal and city carpets at a reasonable price and second the atmosphere of bazar is different and unique in the country. It is so beautiful that even by walking in the main souk you can enjoy much and have an experience you cannot taste in any place inside or outside the country.
One other interesting characteristic of vakil bazar and carpet sook is the elevation of the shops compared to the main surface of the bazar. It means the shops are higher than the normal level of walking streets in bazar. This feature is not very often and there is not a place like this in other bazaars.
One of the other suks in vakil bazar which was attractive for local and international tourists is the sook of fabrics and threads in vakil bazar Shiraz. In this part of the bazar you can find the colorful fabrics used by tribes as their normal or special events for thousands of years. Today most of the tribes use the normal fabrics and closing and just in special events as wedding parties they use their tribal outfits. In general use the tribes used very colorful skirts and wearing which is amazing in color and form. In this part of vakil bazar you can find the fabrics and ornaments of their clothing which is attractive for many people, especially international tourists. Visiting vakil bazar for everyone who visit shiraz is not an option, it is a must and if you miss it you lose a lot, so next time you intend to visit Iran and shiraz never forget to visit bazar and by a special souvenir for your dear family members . buying a souvenir is a very important matter in Iranian culture .
Note that vakil bazar like other traditional bazars are closed on holidays and all the tourists should know this when they are visiting Shiraz and vakil bazar. As a matter of fact all bazars in Iran during the holidays especially in religious holidays and manifestations are like a ghost house the whole day and everybody should consider this matter because in holidays you cannot visit the bazar and in many occasions they close even the main gate and people and the guards prevent people to walk through even to the main sooks of vakil bazar shiraz. in sanapersian team we are ready to arrange everything you need to visit Iran, Shiraz and we hope to see you soon visiting vakil bazar. please do not hesitate to ask anything you need to know about Iran.