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Embrace Isfahan Bazaar's Soul in a Walking Tour

Embrace Isfahan Bazaar's Soul in a Walking Tour

Isfahan Bazaar walk tour | Listen to the stories behind Isfahan handicrafts to imprint unique souvenirs in your mind

Easy
5 hours
Experience Region
Free

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  • Gallery
  • Overview
  • What you experience
  • Available On
  • Locations
  • Features
  • Necessities
Overview

Walking in the narrow alleys of Isfahan’s bazaar is like walking in the past of Persia’s glorious history. The city, known as “half of the world” for its beauty, abounds with exquisite handicrafts so that it is known as Iran’s capital of art and culture. Over generations, craftspeople have perpetuated local and original handicrafts, which find their roots in traditional habits and beliefs. They are the true soul of Iran and recall the spiritual culture of its society. Listen to the stories behind every tile work, carpet design, stamp and metal engraving to imprint unique souvenirs in your mind.

What you experience
  • Drinking tea or coffee in a company with pure craftsmen of Isfahan in native shop

  • Visiting workshops of secret routes in bazaar to understand the myths of Persian history and literature

  • Knowing the stories behind every pattern and color of carpets, the most traditional Persian art

  • Admiring the typical architecture of the bazaar while diving into the history of the Safavid era

  • Having the opportunity to shop the best handicrafts first hand from the producers

  • Enjoying a delightful and traditional lunch in the bazaar like a native bazaari person

Available On
Oct 20th
Oct 21st
Oct 22nd
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Oct 24th
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Location & Paths
Features
  • Meals: Lunch, coffee or tea
  • Services: English spoken guide
  • Not included: Shopping, any extra meals or drinks, tips (optional), transportation
Necessities
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Water bottle
Details

In the heart of Isfahan's Grand Bazaar, right behind where Naqsh-e Jahan square exhibits its enthralling beauty, our starting point lies. In this human-scaled market, traditional daily life can be witnessed, almost unchanged for centuries. Built under the Safavid dynasty, in the 17th century, the graceful vaults and domed halls recall the story of the Silk Road merchants, finding some coolness in the quiet caravanserais... It's a blend of architecture, history, scents, tastes, and arts.

Worldwide famous Persian crafts

Every corner of every antic shop has an unheard story to tell you. Start a journey to Persian arts and handicrafts: With more than 160 different disciplines specific to Isfahan, no wonder UNESCO has recognized the value and creativity of this city.

Take for instance "Mina Kari", the traditional Persian art of metal ornaments. Isfahan is recognized worldwide for its gorgeous blue enamel vases. Old craftsmen may share with you the secret behind their own specific patterns. Simply gaze at the mesmerizing blue colours, believed to be the bright blue colour of heaven. It should lead your eyes to a turquoise workshop nearby, where those precious stones are used to decorate copper utensils.

Isfahan handicrafts workshop in Bazaar
The story of  fond artisans with turquoise and copper, Elham Moeini | TasteIran

The magnificence of arts in "Half of the world"

Let's move on to other ancestral handicrafts, from "Ghalam Zani" (metal engraving) to "Ghalam Kari" (hand-printed fabrics using handmade wooden stamps) are performed meticulously by the last guardians of this craft. While opening their doors to the enthusiasts, it's a whole piece of Iran's history that they share.

Walking between the busy lanes of the bazaar, guided by the scent of spices and the sounds of merchants' voices, the visitor suddenly stumbles upon Imam Zadeh Ahmad. This holy shrine, dating back to the Qajar's era, displays magnificent arts of mirror mosaics which makes it so unique.

Carpet, the soul of Iranian handicrafts

Dig deeper into the legends and myths of Persia, by observing the accurate gesture of Miniature painters perpetuating the oldest Iranian painting art. On the walls, those colourful characters and sceneries transport you to the tales of the famous mythical Shahnameh and other epic Persian books. Of course, a comprehensive view of the Iranian culture cannot be completed without visiting a carpet workshop.

Miniature is the oldest painting method of Iran
The colours of Miniature has magic, Elham Moeini | TasteIran

The same way bazaars are not a simple shopping centre, Iranian carpet is everything but just a piece of furniture. A whole section of the bazaar is dedicated to these highly respected craftspeople, not only for weaving workshops but also for traditional dyeing and repairing workshops. Handmade carpets are a piece of art requiring high skills and years of work, which are going to remain with a family from one generation to another. That's why you can find people carefully repairing carpets, in their intimate workshop full of colourful wool some in secret parts of bazaar usually hard to get.

Carpet repairing shop in Isfahan bazaar
Repairing carpets, Elham Moeini | TasteIran
Dyeing yarn for Iranian carpet
Yarns of Persian carpet dyeing in workshops, Elham Moeini | TasteIran

From the crafts workshop to the taste of Bazaar

Leave this peaceful silence to follow the sound of hammers hitting metal. You are about to enter the iconic and picturesque cooper alley. From brown to golden and silver, copper dishes pile up in front of every store. Inside, craftsmen restlessly shape their art piece with hand, before carving delicate decorations upon it.

Cooper alley of Isfahan Bazaar
Mesgar-ha alley in Isfahan bazaar, Elham Moeini | TasteIran

No doubt they are the best persons to share with you the old beliefs about the benefits of using copper in Persian cuisine. For sure, their explanations would work on your appetite! Don't worry, hidden in the maze of the bazaar you are rewarded with traditional restaurants where you can appreciate one of the most beloved local arts; Persian cookery!

Brief Itinerary

The walking tour starts at 9:00 a.m. at Naqsh-e Jahan square, where you will meet your guide and the rest of the group. Then, you will enter in old Bazar from a specific route to meet with the original shop and workshops which tourists rarely are aware of them. During your visit to every art shop, there is an opportunity to get introduced to the history and culture of Isfahan Bazaar, its architecture and famous buildings like imam zadeh Hassan. There are workshops that warmly host you and share their sense and knowledge about every craft or art with you happily. At the end of the tour, you'll experience an authentic lunch in Bazaar in a restaurant that people who work in the bazaar have been having their food in there for centuries. The tour ends at 2:00 p.m.  

 

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