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Whether you plan to
fill your case with goods to take home or not, you must
set aside at least half a day to explore the Grand Bazaar, known in Turkish
as the Kapali Carsi a shopping experience unlikely to be matched anywhere
else in the world. This is said to be the largest covered bazaar in the
Muslim world, with over 10,000 merchants boisterously hawking their wares
from the bazaar's 4,000 shops, some of which are little more than a hole
in
the wall. There are more than 90 interior streets in this rambling market,
organized according to the items sold. Head for one area and you will
find
all the leather sellers, whereas over the other way are the jewellery
outlets. There's almost nothing you can't buy here, from shaving cream
to
souvenir fezzes, and bargaining is all part of the game.
The foundations
of one of the most outstanding covered markets of Istanbul,
the Grand Bazaar, which stretchs from Beyazit to Nuruosmaniye, were
laid out
immediately after the conquest of Istanbul. The Conqueror first laid
the
foundations of the old bedesten (market), and these were followed by
those
of the Sandal bedesten. The bazaar grew from shops and hans, lining
the
streets, which had the space between covered over for more convenient
shopping. The resulting arcades were covered with roofs and arches,
and were
illuminated by clerestorey windows. Each street became the center of
one
particular trade, such as the street of the slipper-makers, furniture-makers
and quilt-makers.
The bazaar was comprised
of 4400 shops, 40 hans on over 50 streets, 2200
rooms to the hans, together with business premises, mosques and 19 fountains
and hamams, making up what was effectively a city within itself. The
covered
bazaar itself consisted of the Bedesten at the center, which was entered
by
four main gates, the Gates of the Sahaflar (Goldsmiths), Takkeciler
(Cap-Makers), Zenneciler (Fripperies and Women's garments) and Kuyumcular
(Jewelers). The main streets were named the streets of the Tent-Makers
(Çadircilar), Quilt-Makers (Yorgancilar), Fez-Makers (Fesciler),
Fur
Hat-Makers (Kalpakcilar), Pouch-Makers (Keseciler), Cap-Makers (Takkeciler),
and Nuruosmaniye.
These streets were
attached to a maze of roads and alleys. The most
important of the streets, which numbered up to fifty, were the streets
of
the Clog-Makers (Kavaflar), Printed Clothier (Basmacilar), Sandal Bedesten
and Aga Sokak. The Bazaar underwent a great threat during the fire of
1546
and was later seriously damaged and restored after the fires of 1660,
1695,
1701 and 1750. During the earthquakes of 1766, 1791, 1826 and 1894 it
was
badly damaged, and the hans of the Market were completely destroyed
and
closed down. The street of the Kalpakci between Beyazit and Nuruosmaniye
was
closed off by gates at each end, over which the Tughra (Coat of arms)
of
Abdülhamid II was mounted. The Covered Bazaar underwent fires during
1943
and 1954 which destroyed much that was authentic. However, it still
retains
its attraction as the center for Turkish jewelry, carpets, embroidery
and
related handicrafts. The market, which began to grow over the foundations
of the old Bedesten and later the Sandal Bedesten gradually grew to
its
present state. The first nucleus of the market, the old bedesten was
surrounded by walls 1.5 m thick, covered by 15 cupolas and itself covered
an
area 45 by 29.5 m, a total of 1336 sq. meters. The four gates of this
market
opened onto the streets of Keseciler, Takkeciler, Sarraflar and Kuyumcular.
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