Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

It is impossible to imagine any eastern country without a bazaar. It can be called a separate state, with its own history, traditions, emotions, various goods, fragrances of spices and a many-voiced bargaining public.

And the grandest such building is the Grand Bazaar, built in the center of Istanbul in 1461. In his story, as in a fairy tale, there were tragic and joyful moments. He, like a Phoenix bird, burned down several times and was reborn from the ashes to again delight people with his scope, colorfulness and luxury. But let's dwell on this in a little more detail, as this will help to understand the uniqueness of the architecture of this trading labyrinth.

History of the Grand Bazaar

The first Inner Bedestan, as one of the covered parts of the market is called, was founded during the reign of Byzantium, which lasted until 1453, until Sultan Mehmed II liberated Istanbul from the power of the Romans. After that, the grandiose construction of the market began, where you could buy clothes, colorful fabrics, jewelry, dishes, interior items, famous oriental spices and sweets.

Until now, on the territory of the Inner Bedestan, you can find ancient jewelry and bijouterie, icons, sabers and daggers, the handles of which are encrusted with precious and semi-precious stones. Also, the attention of visitors will be attracted by silver dishes and candlesticks, ancient coins, furniture and so on. If you look closely at all these things, the whole history of Istanbul will be revealed, with its beautiful romantic, heroic, and sometimes tragic past.

The first fire happened in 1546, after Suleiman the Magnificent ordered to build a second Sandal Bedestan. In those days, the main building material was wood, so there was nothing surprising in the fact that most of the bazaar burned down. Rebuilt, it again suffered from fire almost a hundred years later in 1651. But the fire of 1710 made the then ruler Mustafa II think about the construction of stone buildings.

Now the fire did not pose a great threat to the market, but a powerful earthquake in 1894 destroyed a significant part of it. It took more than one year to restore, after which it seemed that there was no doubt about the reliability of the buildings. And that's when the huge fire of 1954 broke out. Only five years later, the gates of the Grand Bazaar reopened to visitors, the number of which is from two hundred and fifty to four hundred thousand people a day.

Grand Bazaar layout

As already mentioned, the bazaar expanded and built up around the Inner and Sandal Bedestans. Now its area has reached thirty-one square kilometers, on which 4,400 small trading shops, 12 mosques, a dozen warehouses, more than two thousand ateliers, numerous cafes, currency exchange offices, and even a school and a bathhouse perfectly coexist. On the territory of this architectural complex, 18 fountains murmur, hospitable doors of forty hotels open, numerous streets are decorated with columns, and from above all this is crowned with numerous domes painted with national ornaments and lined with mosaics.

The chaotic layout of the streets inside Kapala Carshi, as the people of Istanbul call the Grand Bazaar, is a symbolic reflection of all the historical changes that have taken place here over the course of six centuries.

You can get inside this grand structure through any of the eighteen gates, each of which has its own name. It is worth remembering it so as not to get lost inside the labyrinth of streets. Locals will be able to tell you how to find the right exit, even if tourists do not know Turkish.

Shopping at the Grand Bazaar

The ability to bargain here is elevated to the rank of art. A person who first came to Kapali Charshi, prices can plunge into a state of shock. However, knowing the local customs, after the seller announces the price of the goods, the buyer should start haggling. The main thing is to do it confidently and persistently. A confused and embarrassed client immediately becomes an easy prey to whom you can dictate your terms. Tourists should be well aware that the seller has honed his skills in the ability to bargain for many years, so you can only surpass him by showing a certain amount of ostentatious indifference and making several attempts to leave without buying.

Working hours

The Grand Bazaar is open daily from 9.00 to 19.00. Weekends are Sundays and religious holidays when all gates are closed to visitors.

In conclusion, it is worth adding that visiting the Grand Bazaar can take a whole day. Almost no one succeeds in coming here to see “with one eye”. The force of attraction of this place is akin to gravity, which does not allow a person to leave the surface of the earth. Therefore, when scheduling excursions, you should not plan other events for this day.

Recommended for viewing Alone in Istanbul.