The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul or the covered market is one of the most important historical bazaars in Turkey and the oldest covered market in the world. As we will see in this article from Ebla Real Estate.
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey:
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul (in Turkish means Kapalıçarşı or Büyük Çarşı) is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops, covering an area of 30,700 m2. It is characterized by roofed ceilings, arched ceilings that appear as an architectural and artistic hoop that attracts attention with its unique architecture and beautiful colors.
For centuries the Grand Bazaar was the most vital center of commerce, handicraft and finance in the Mediterranean and Near East.
Nowadays, the covered market in Istanbul attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. In 2014, it was listed No.1 among the world’s most-visited tourist attractions with 91,250,000 annual visitors. Moreover, the Grand Bazaar at Istanbul is one of the first shopping malls of the world. As everything is spectacular in this mythical place in the Turkish metropolis.
It is worth noting that the Turkish government pays great attention to the Grand Bazaar area.. Due to its distinguished tourist location, where various transportation and services are available.. In addition to hotels, restaurants, cafes, and several luxurious recreational facilities.
Location of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey:
The Grand Bazaar is located in the district of Fatih, the heart of Istanbul, within walking distance of Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, as well as a number of popular attractions. The Bazaar can easily be reached from Sultanahmet and Sirkeci by trams (Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı stop).
History of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey:
The first closed part of the Bazaar was built in the middle of the 14th century by order of Sultan Mohamed Al-Fateh in 1461, shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. And was part of a broader initiative to stimulate economic prosperity in Istanbul. It took about four years to build, and then Sultan Sulaiman al-Qanuni expanded it in the sixteenth century
At the beginning of the 17th century the Grand Bazaar had already achieved its final shape. The enormous extent of the Ottoman Empire in three continents, and the total control of road communications between Asia and Europe, rendered the Bazaar and the surrounding hans or caravanserais the hub of Mediterranean trade.
At that time, and until the first half of the 19th century, the market was unrivaled in Europe with regards to the abundance, variety and quality of the goods on sale.
According to an 1890 survey, in the Bazaar there were 4,399 active shops, 2 bedesten, 2195 rooms, 1 hamam, one mosque, 10 medrese, 19 fountains, one mausoleum, and 24 han.
It is worth noting that the Grand Bazaar was subjected to many fires and earthquakes. That caused a lot of damage, especially the earthquake in 1894. After these disasters, it has been restored several times to maintain the architectural structure.
Best things to buy in the Grand Bazaar:
- Handicrafts and folk-art items.
- Turkish home carpets and decorative carpets.
- Pottery and copper ware.
- Traditional Turkish pastries
- Precious stones.
- Genuine leather.
- Antiques.
- Fabrics.
- Gold.
- Silver
- Gifts of all kinds.
- Turkish coffee that is full of aromas.
- Spices.
- This is in addition to what the covered market offers of different stuff that meet the needs of the tourists and visitors.
Edited by: Ebla Group Real Estate
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