Grand Bazaar, Istanbul
Encyclopedia
The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
is one of the largest and oldest covered markets
in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and half a million visitors daily.
The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror
. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake.
Today, the grand bazaar houses two mosques, two hamams, four fountains, and multiple restaurants and cafes. The sprawling complex consists of 12 major buildings and has 22 doors.
.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
is one of the largest and oldest covered markets
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
in the world, with more than 58 covered streets and over 4,000 shops which attract between 250,000 and half a million visitors daily.
History
The grand bazaar began construction in 1455 and opened in 1461. It is well known for its jewelry, pottery, spice, and carpet shops. Many of the stalls in the bazaar are grouped by the type of goods, with special areas for leather coats, gold jewelry and the like.The bazaar contains two bedestens (domed masonry structures built for storage and safe keeping), the first of which was constructed between 1455 and 1461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror
Mehmed II
Mehmed II , was Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for a short time from 1444 to September 1446, and later from...
. The bazaar was vastly enlarged in the 16th century, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman the Magnificent
Suleiman I was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566. He is known in the West as Suleiman the Magnificent and in the East, as "The Lawgiver" , for his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman legal system...
, and in 1894 underwent a major restoration following an earthquake.
Today, the grand bazaar houses two mosques, two hamams, four fountains, and multiple restaurants and cafes. The sprawling complex consists of 12 major buildings and has 22 doors.
Streets, hans and gates
The Grand Bazaar has four main gates situated at the ends of its two major streets which intersect near the southwestern corner of the bazaar. One street connects the Bayezid II Mosque and Bayezid Square with the Nuruosmaniye MosqueNuruosmaniye Mosque
The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is an Ottoman mosque located in the Çemberlitaş neighbourhood of Fatih district in Istanbul, Turkey. It is considered one of the finest examples of mosques in Ottoman Baroque style. It was built by architects Mustafa Ağa and Simon Kalfa from the order of Sultan Mahmut I and...
.
| Street | Han | Gate |
|---|---|---|
| Acıçeşme | Ağa | Beyazıt |
| Ağa | Alipaşa | Çarşıkapı |
| Altuncular | Astarcı | Çuhacıhan |
| Aminçiler | Balyacı | Kuyumcular |
| Araracıoğlu | Bodrum | Mahmutpaşa |
| Aynacılar | Cebeci | Nuruosmaniye |
| Basmacılar | Çukur | Örücüler |
| Çuhacıhanı | Evliya | Sepetçihan |
| Bitpazarı | Hatipemin | Takkeciler |
| Fesçiler | İçcebeci | Tavukpazarı |
| Ganiçelebi | İmamali | Zenneciler |
| Hacıhasan | Kalcılar | |
| Hacıhüsnü | Kapılar | |
| Hacımemiş | Kaşıkçı | |
| Halıcılar | Kebapçı | |
| Hazırelbiseciler | Kızlarağası | |
| İplikçiler | Mercan | |
| Kahvehane | Perdahçı | |
| Kalpakçılar | Rabia | |
| Karakol | Safran | |
| Karamanlıoğlu | Sarnıçlı | |
| Kavaflar | Sarraf | |
| Kazazlar | Sepetçi | |
| Keseciler | Sorguçlu | |
| Kilitçiler | Varakçı | |
| Kolancılar | Yağcı | |
| Koltukçu | Yolgeçen | |
| Kürkçüler | Zincirli | |
| Lütfullahefendi | ||
| Mercançıkmazı | ||
| Muhafazacılar | ||
| Mühürdaremin | ||
| Ortakazazcılar | ||
| Örücülerhamamı | ||
| Parçacılar | ||
| Perdahçılar | ||
| Püskülcüler | ||
| Reisoğlu | ||
| Ressam | ||
| Sahaflarbedesteni | ||
| Sandal | ||
| Sandalbedesteni | ||
| Serpuççular | ||
| Sıra odalar | ||
| Sipahi | ||
| Tacirler | ||
| Takkeciler | ||
| Tavukpazarı | ||
| Terlikçiler | ||
| Terzibaşı | ||
| Terziler | ||
| Tuğcular | ||
| Varakçıhan | ||
| Yağlıkçılar | ||
| Yarımtaşhan | ||
| Yeşildirek | ||
| Yorgancılar | ||
| Yüncühasan | ||
| Zenneciler | ||