Kashan’s historic bazaar is an old bazaar in the center of the city of Kashan. It is thought to have been built in the Seljuk era with renovations during the Safavid period. Busy but not hectic, traditional but with a wide variety of goods, large enough to surprise but not to get lost in, it’s a great place to wander for a couple of hours, especially in the late afternoon. The multi domed roof of the bazaar dates from the 19th century, but the site has been the centre of trade in Kashan for almost 800 years. If you step off the main thoroughfare, you’ll discover caravanserais, madrasehs, mosques and hammams (public bathhouses).
The bazaar has a famous architecture, especially at its Timche-ye Amin od-Dowleh section, a caravanserai with a soaring, beautifully decorated dome. Dating from 1868, it’s currently being restored by the Kashani Culture & Heritage Office. There’s a tea stand at one of its entrances where you can sit and watch a steady stream of shoppers pass by. Alternatively, the 19th-century Hammam-e Khan is a popular spot for a tea and Qalyan (water pipe) in the late afternoon. Other notable features in the bazaar include the Seljuk-era Masjed-e Soltani (Soltani Mosque), located on the main thoroughfare (known as “The Main Line”), and the 800-year-old Mir Emad Mosque, located on a thoroughfare known as “The Copper Line”.