Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
33
Pars Tourist Agency
D4
34
Police Department of Aliens Affairs (Visa Extensions)
G6
35
Tourist Information Office
E4
Transport
36
Iran Peyma Office
D4
37
Karandish Bus Terminal
H5
38
Local Bus Terminal
D5
AROUND SHOHADA SQUARE
The Bazaarsلیکو رازاب
The city's ancient trading district is home to several bazaars dating from different periods.
The finest and most famous of these is the
Bazar-e Vakil
(Vakil Bazaar; 8am-dusk
Sat-Thu)
, a cruciform structure commissioned by Karim Khan as part of his plan to make
Shiraz into a great trading centre. The wide vaulted brick avenues are masterpieces of
Zand architecture, with the design ensuring the interior remains cool in summer and warm
in winter. Today the bazaar is home to almost 200 stores selling carpets, handicrafts,
spices and clothes and is best explored by wandering without concern for time or direc-
tion, soaking up the atmosphere in the maze of lanes leading off the main thoroughfares.
Chances are you'll stumble across the
Seray-e Moshir
just off the main drag, Rouhol-
lah Bazaar. This tastefully restored two-storey caravanserai is a pleasant place to gather
your breath and do a bit of souvenir shopping. The nearby Seray-e Mehr Teahouse (
Click
Bazaar
, an arcade where you'll find tribal handicrafts. It leads to the forecourt of the
Masjed-e Vakil (Vakil Mosque).
On the other side of Zand Blvd are the
Bazar-e Vakil (North)
and the
Bazar-e Nou
(New Bazaar)
, both built during the Qajar era.
BAZAAR
Arg-e Karim Khanناخميرک گرا
(Citadel of Karim Khan; Shohada Sq; admission US$0.50; 8am-7.30pm)
Dominating
the city centre, this burly fortress was built in the early Zand period and formed part of the
royal court that Karim Khan had hoped would develop to rival Esfahan. The high walls
feature ornamental brickwork and are punctuated by four attractive 14m-high circular
FORTRESS