| |
|
ALL TURKEY TOURS |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
INFORMATION |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
GRAND BAZAAR;
During the Byzantine period the area of the Grand Bazaar was
a trade center. After the Turks came to Istanbul, two
bedestens which formed the essence of today's Grand Bazaar
were built between 1455-1461 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror
in an attempt to enrich the economic life in the city. Later
on as people needed more places for their trade, they also
added parts outside these bedestens. In time the Grand
Bazaar was formed.
Throughout the Ottoman period, the bazaar underwent
earthquakes and fires and was restored several times.
Today, shops selling the same kind of merchandise tend to be
congregated in their own streets or in hans as this was
originally the Ottoman system. In addition to two bedestens
there are also 13 hans in the Grand Bazaar.
With 18 entrances and more than four thousand shops it is
one of the greatest bazaars in the World. The atmosphere of
the Grand Bazaar is very interesting for tourists and has
consequently become a very popular place for foreign
visitors.
It is open during working hours on weekdays, closing earlier
on Saturdays, while on Sundays and religious holidays it is
closed.
A part of the Yeni Cami complex which is located next to it.
Misir in Turkish means Egypt and it is called the Egyptian
Bazaar because the shopkeepers used to sell spices and herbs
which were brought from or through Egypt. During the Ottoman
period it was known as a place where shops sold only spices.
Today there are only a few spice and herb specialists. The
rest sell dried fruit, borek, basket work, jewelry,
haberdashery, drapery and suchlike.
The bazaar has an "L" shape with six gates. Similar to the
Grand Bazaar, it is open on weekdays and only half a day on
Saturdays.
|
|
