Descripción del sitio
The Tehran Grand Bazaar is a mismatched, pieced together cultural landmark. Ancient and of indeterminable age, though probably as old as the city of Tehran itself, the bazaar mixes new architecture with structures over four hundred years old. Though shopping centers in the North end of the city are stealing some of the bazaar's glory, the Tehran bazaar is still a bustling place of trade, particularly in the market of traditional goods such as jewelry, art, and rugs. More and more, this traditional market is attracting tourists who are searching for a taste of the infamous and traditional haggling, and this trend is not being discouraged by the market entrepeneurs. As a matter of fact, hotels are being built in the area of the bazaar to encourage them. It should be noted that bazaar merchants are not mere capitalists; the bazaar is a powerful economic force, and so when bazaaris flex their political muscle, they can move mountains. The conservative traders, wary of the Shah's love of industrialism, helped to finance the Islamic revolution, and even now they are hearty supporters of the conservative Islamic regime, though economic crises in recent years have turned some merchants into reformists.