Tehran Grand Bazaar, Historic bazaar in District 12, Iran
Tehran Grand Bazaar is a market in District 12 in Iran that extends through a wide network of covered corridors. Its architecture combines Safavid, Zand and Qajar styles, with brick and mortar forming the supporting construction.
The marketplace first formed in the 16th century in Ray under Safavid rule, when traders gathered there for commercial exchange. Expansions under the Zand and Qajar dynasties shaped the labyrinth of covered corridors into the 19th century.
Inside the corridors each section is organized by specific products, with families passing their trades to the next generation since the Safavid era. Merchants still work at the same locations their ancestors operated, keeping the marketplace in its traditional structure.
Visitors find several entrances that give access to different areas of the marketplace, allowing one to choose a route based on desired goods. The busiest period runs from midday to evening, when both locals and traders are most active.
Alongside the commercial stalls the complex integrates banks, mosques and guesthouses directly into its commercial structure. This arrangement turns the bazaar into a working neighborhood where religious, financial and social activities happen beside trade.
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