Bazaar

Kate Comer visits one of the great capitals of the 21st century, London. She explores this great city that boasts of a vibrant, creative, and stimulating melting pot in which culture, arts, architecture, gastronomy, economics and politics thrive together.

Judith Jones explores one of South America’s most stylish cities – the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.

Ever wondered where the Royal Family get their groceries? Or where they shop for fine threads? Then take a look at our guide to shopping like a Royal! With its rich history, Kate Comer visits one of the great capitals of the 21st century, London. She explores some of the world-renowned heritage establishments that have stood the testament of time.

In this programme, we travel across the Islamic World to appreciate some of its more unusual and fascinating treasures.

Zanzibar – Spice Island, honeymoon destination and an Aladdin’s cave of exotic antiques brought over by the Arab and Indian traders who were carried here 200 years ago by the monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean. Bazaar traveller BRIANNA BARNES explores Zanzibar’s streets in search of great and rare objects of desire.

Judith Jones visits the beautiful Mediterranean island of Sicily. Having been heavily influenced by invaders ranging from the Greeks and Romans to the Carthaginians, Arabs, Normans, Spanish and French this place is a veritable treasure trove for the serious shoppers of the world.

Once the stomping ground of Romans, Moors and Crusaders, this historic hillside city has culture, cobblestones, cafés, cable cars and cod aplenty. Sprawling across 7 hills, overlooking the River Tagus and the Atlantic Ocean, Lisbon offers a wealth of cityscape vistas.

In Bazaar Istanbul, Flora Montgomery visits Istanbul, famously the only city in the world that stretches over two continents, which has made it a major stopping point for trade travelling from east to west. Laden with history, craftsmanship and modern design Istanbul is a shopping paradise that caters to every need.

Now on most travellers’ hotlists, Peru offers mouth-watering gastronomy, archaeological delights and stunning colonial architecture. But perhaps most importantly, this South American country has been modernised without losing any of its traditional heritage. Once the Inca capital of Peru, Cuzco is now the traveller’s capital and Brianna Barnes heads there to discovery why.

Provence is one of the most beautiful and most varied regions of France that stretches from the Mediterranean Sea to the mountains of the Vaucluse. It makes for a great variety of geography and climates and that is reflected in its culture, produce and craftsmanship. Each town seems to have its own idiosyncrasies and specialities making it a wonderful shopping destination.

Latin America, more than any other continent on the planet, is a fusion of fantastic and in many cases diverse cultures. The conquering empires of both Spain and Portugal made a huge impact on the native cultures of these lands but in the last one hundred years, the pre-Hispanic civilizations that existed here before European colonisation have re-asserted their cultural traditions. The result is a unique mix of treasures: objects, sites, and works of art that reflect Europe’s golden age and the mysteries and beliefs of the ancient tribes that inhabited these lands. In this Bazaar special, Judith Jones visits Mendoza in Argentina and tours the wineries that have been established here.

Mexico’s epic history has bequeathed it some of the richest cultural traditions on the planet. A combination of more than 50 pre-Hispanic cultures and its Spanish invaders have left a unique and iconic legacy. For the shopper there’s a wealth of goods to buy, from time honoured crafts to modern quirky design.

Across Asia, from China to Europe exist a number of ancient cities that were key markers on the Silk Road. From Xi’an in the East of China, where the route began, to Istanbul on the edge of Europe, these cities were for centuries the key trading hubs for the exchange of goods, religions and ideas from East to West.