In the old Bookseller’s Bazaar between Beyazıt Mosque and one of the gates to the Covered Bazaar in Istanbul are any kind of books for sale; school books, academic books, computer specialized and technical books, language books and publications about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey. In addition, numerous religious books and the Koran can be found here. Also novels, historical writings, books about the life of the Ottoman Sultans up to old stamps and coins, copies of Ottoman miniatures and with Koran verses decorated plates are for sale in small shops, filled up to the ceiling. There was already a book and paper market in the Byzantine period at this place.

The Covered Bazaar in Istanbul (Turkish: Kapalı Çarşısı) is also well known as the “Grand Bazaar” or the “Golden Bazaar”. The original part once was built of wood under Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II. in the year 1461, only eight years after the conquest of Constantiople and developed under the reign of Sultan Süleyman (1520-1566). Because of several fires the bazar had to be restored later and was more and more developed. The dealers in the bazaar are located together with their branches like gold shops, carpet or leather stores.

The world-famous bazaar accommodates hundreds of small business with nice decorated goods. Beautiful ceramic work, porcelain, glass painting, small wooden boxes, figured things from alabaster, waterpipes and multicolored turkish slippers, plates with nice decoration, tea glasses and oil lamps, decorative copper cans, arts and crafts from sea foam, curved daggers as well as carpets and scarfs spreading a flair of the old Orient.

The Covered Bazaar is an enormous labyrinth, where many people passes at certain times in the magnificent main lanes. Many handcraftsmen and artists, which were in former times also located in the bazaar, are now working in the quarter around, their products are for sale in the bazaar shops. An interesting place is also the old Büyük Valide Han, an Ottoman caravansary (Han) built in the 17th century. Today weavers are working in stuffy air in a room without daylight under the roof of the caravansary. Standing on the roof of Büyük Valide Han offers a wonderful panorama view over the bazaar district to Nuruosmaniye Mosque (completed 1755) or in the opposite directon over the Golden Horn to Yeni Mosque and Galata Bridge.

Between the Covered Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul’s quarter Eminönü, crowds of people are moving in the lanes up and down all day. Here are fabrics and clothing for sale, sometimes a fruit juice seller in traditional dress offers “Serbet”, others are selling roasted corn, marones or the round pastry named “Simit”. Loudly the sellers are shouting in this continual bustle from morning to night.

The Spice Bazaar (Turkish: Mısır Çarşısı), also known as “Egyptian Bazaar” in Istanbul’s quarter Eminönü, is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Covered Bazaar . The building was built by Ottomans as part of the complex of Yeni Mosque and completed in 1660. Rents from the shops and customs duty on the import of spices from Egypt should help pay for the upkeep of the mosque.

In the old vaults seduce colorful and nice decorated sweets, herbs and spices such as saffron, cumin, sage, mint, sesame, clove buds, thyme, various sorts pepper, ginger, cinnamon, Turkish sweets, halva, nuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, almonds, pine nuts and dried fruits such as apricots, figs, dates and much else. The square in front of the Yeni Mosque and the Spice Bazaar is a central busy market place near to the piers at Galata Bridge in Istanbul.

© Photos and writing by Jens Helmstedt

Text and images are copyrighted and owned by the author. It is prohibited to copy, hotlink or publish photos and text without written permission for private, commercial or editorial use. ©Jens Helmstedt

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