The people's representative
Karim Khan Zand ruled most of Iran from Shiraz in the mid-1700s, but he refused the title of shah. He called himself Vakil-e Ra’aya, the Representative of the People, and he is remembered as one of the kindest rulers in Iranian history. He rebuilt Shiraz with a citadel, a mosque, a bathhouse and this bazaar, all bearing the name Vakil.
Under the brick vaults
The bazaar’s high brick vaults keep its long aisles cool in summer and warm in winter. Side doors open into quiet caravanserai courtyards with fountains and orange trees. Nearby, the Vakil Bath, with its domed halls and carved stone columns, is one of the finest old bathhouses in Iran.
