Souks (Shopping Bazaars) in Tripoli - Lebanon

Souk el-Aattareen

Souk elBazerkan

Different views of the main Bazerkan Bazaar in Tripoli Lebanon (May 2001).

The Bazaerkan Bazaar (1950s).

Souk al-Haraj

Souk al-Haraj is considered as one of the oldest and most important commercial bazaars in Tripoli. The souk has a total surface area of 2,300 m2 and is composed of two floors. It's situated in the Hadeed district, midway between the Mallaha and Dabbaghah districts. This covered Mameluke (14th century) bazaar has a high vaulted ceiling supported by granite columns which may have originally been part of the Roman or Byzantine structures, that were renovated by the Crusaders, Mamelukes, and Ottomans (when it became the inalienable property, Waqf, of Monjik Pasha, who has many Waqfs in Tripoli, Damascus, and other cities). A total of 14 granite shafts can be seen along the north, south and east sides.

Souk al-Haraj is distinct from the other bazaars and khans for having four gates which open in the four directions around a vast yard approximately of a square form, in the center of which there are two columns of Granit imported from Pharaonic Egypt. It is surrounded by shops based on 12 columns of Granit. Above which there are rooms used as a hotel for the merchants who used to come with their goods to sell them at auction. Hence it took the name Souk al-Haraj.

Today this space is occupied by sellers of floor mats, pillows and mattresses. In summer 2003, a cafe was opened in Souk al-Haraj. The cafe offers a variety of snakes and the traditional Narjileh (Hubble-Bubble). It has a warm and historical atmosphere and is worth a visit.

Souk el-Nahhaseen

Neighborhood of Souk al-Nahhaseen

Old Tripoli: Alleys of memories.

Souk al-Sayyagheen

The gate of Khan el-Saboun at the Sayyagheen Bazaar.

It is one of the oldest specialized souks of the city (Goldsmiths and Silversmiths). It engulfs also a lot of archeological sites. At its entrance there exists the Mansouri Great Mosque, the Khayyriyah Hosn School, the Nasiriyyah School, the Mash'had School, and the Shamsiyyah School. On the same road tere also exists the Hammam al-Nouri, the Nouriyyah School, the Tuwaishiyyah School, the Hammam el-Abed, and Khan el-Saboun. The Sayyagheen Souk was renovated in 1996 by the municipality of Tripoli city.