Markale is Sarajevo's main open-air market, a covered and outdoor food market selling fruit, vegetables, cheese, meat, and household goods. It has operated on this site since Ottoman times and is still where Sarajevo residents go for fresh produce.
The market is also one of the most historically significant sites in the city — it was the location of two devastating mortar attacks during the siege that killed over a hundred civilians and became turning points in the international response to the war. There is a small memorial plaque; most visitors walk past it without noticing. For those who know the history, buying a bag of strawberries from a stall on the market is a quietly affecting act of normalcy. The market operates every day from early morning until early afternoon.