The world's most famous markets
Do you want to buy a new pair of sunglasses? The latest CD? Or something for your dinner this evening? Nowadays you can shop by telephone, by post or by Internet; but for many people, the most exciting way to shop is also the most traditional - at a street market. You can find markets anywhere in the world. Here are five of them....
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey, is more than 500 hears old and it has more than four thousand shops under one roof! You can buy almost anything, but the most popular items for tourists are the beautiful rugs and carpets.
There are many "floating markets" in Asia. Perhaps the most famous is in Thailand, at a place called Damnoen Saduak, 100 km from the capital city, Bankok. From six in the morning to midday, every day, poeple sell fresh tropical fruit and vegetables from the their boats.
Many Italians say that the Campo de Fiori, in the oldest part of Rome, is the most beautiful square (or "piazza") in the world. It's the home of a colourful flower, fruit and vegetable market, open from seven o'clock in the morning to midday every day except Sunday. In the evening the piaza becomes a lively place to meet friends and to have a meal.
Every year, thousands of people from all over the world travel to Germany to visit the famous Christmas markets. The old town of Nurnberg has the biggest market, open from the end of November until Christmas. Here people can buy toys, hand-made gifts, Christmas decorations, and food and drink, or they can just enjoy the wonderful atmosphere!
One of the world's most unusual markets is in Mexico City: at the Sonora Market. As well as toys and birds, you can buy herbs and natural medicines which (they say) can help with anything - from problmes at work to problems with your marriage! It's open every day from early in the morning till late at night.
