A bazaar in Tunis, circa 1860

The term “bazaar” comes from Persian and refers to a city’s public market. However, in North Africa and the Middle East, the word “souk” is more commonly used, which comes from Arabic.
The souks of Tunis are a collection of shops, boutiques, and workshops located in the medina of Tunis, most of which were built in the 13th century. They are organized into a network of streets and alleys and are grouped by trade.
For a long time, the souks were the economic heart of Tunisia: they offered local handicrafts, but also agricultural products from the countryside. Foreign trade also took place there.