A souq is an open-air marketplace or commercial quarter in Middle Eastern and North African cities. Historically, they were held outside cities at locations where incoming caravans stopped and merchants displayed their goods for sale. Later, due to the importance of marketplaces and the growth of cities, the major locations of souqs shifted to urban centers. Souqs are traditionally divided into specialized sections dealing in specific types of product. The main souq was one of the central structures of a large city, selling durable goods.
Read more »