The two kilometer bazaar is a vaulted street that links the old city, the Friday mosque and old maydan with Shah Abbas' new maydan. The entry at the Maydan-i Shah is marked by a large portal that mirrors in form the entrance portal of the Shah Mosque. The iwan of the bazaar portal is flanked by galleries and crowned with the representation of Sagittarius in mosaic tile.
The portal accesses the royal bazaar, the royal mint and the royal caravanserai, leading to the major artery of the bazaar. Mosques, hamams and khans lead off this main street, much of which is lit by circular openings cut into the brick vaults, shafts of light dotting the passage at certain times of day.
Sources:
Blair, Sheila S. and Jonathan M. Bloom. 1994. The Art and Architecture of Islam. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Michell, George. 1978. Architecture of the Islamic World. London: Thames and Hudson.
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