Market sights in Turkey
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Spice Bazaar
This bustling marketplace was constructed in the 1660s as part of the New Mosque complex, with rents from the shops going to support the upkeep of the mosque and its charitable activities. It was called the Egyptian Market because it was famous for selling goods shipped in from Cairo.
As well as baharat (spices), nuts, honeycomb and olive-oil soaps, the bustling spice bazaar sells truckloads of incir (figs), lokum (Turkish delight) and pestil (fruit pressed into sheets and dried) – try the highly regarded Malatya Pazari (shop 44) if you want to take home some dried fruit or nuts, and Ucuzcular Baharat (shop 51) if you're after spices. Although the number of shops…
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Grand Bazaar
This labyrinthine and chaotic bazaar is the heart of the Old City and has been so for centuries. No visit to İstanbul would be complete without a stop here.
Starting as a small masonry bedesten (covered market) built during the time of Mehmet the Conqueror, the bazaar grew to cover a vast area as neighbouring shopkeepers put up roofs and porches (so that commerce could be conducted comfortably in all weather). Finally, a system of locked gates and doors was provided so that the entire minicity could be closed up tight at the end of the business day. Today, the bazaar has 16 hans (caravanserais), 64 lanes, mosques, banks, a police station, restaurants, workshops and more…
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Kapalı Çarşı
Behind the Ulu Cami, Bursa's sprawling Kapalı Çarşı is a great place to while away a few hours, especially if you find İstanbul's Grand Bazaar too touristy. At the centre of the Kapalı Çarşı, the bedesten (vaulted, fireproof enclosure for valuable goods) was built in the late 14th century by Yıldırım Beyazıt, although it was reconstructed after an earthquake in 1855. The market is renowned for its high-quality towels and bathrobes, should you have space in your luggage for such bulky items.
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Koza Han
The Kapalı Çarşı tumbles out into the surrounding streets, but at some point you will find the gateway into the Koza Han, which was built in 1490. Unsurprisingly, the building is full of expensive ipek (silk) shops. In the courtyard is a small mosque constructed for Yıldırım Beyazıt in 1491.
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Eski Aynalı Çarşı
Originally built in 1335 as the Orhangazi Hamam (the bathhouse of the Orhan Camii Külliyesi), Eski Aynalı Çarşı is a good place to shop for Karagöz shadow puppets and other traditional items.
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Emir Han
Beside the Ulu Cami is the Emir Han, used by many of Bursa's silk brokers. Camels from the silk caravans used to be corralled here and goods stored in the ground-floor rooms, while drovers and merchants slept and conducted business in the rooms above. It has a lovely fountain in its courtyard tea garden.
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Vakıf Bedesten Kapalı Çarşı
The Vakıf Bedesten Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Market) was built in 1483 and still in use today.
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Zincirli Bedesten
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Pazar Yeri
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Köy Pazarı
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Fish Market
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Bedesten
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Markets
Thursday sees one of the region's largest and most vibrant markets, and stalls seem to fill the whole town. Seek out the köy pazarı (village market), which takes place next to the main pazar yeri (bazaar). A daily fish market (Balık Pazarı) also takes place on the front next to the terminal for the ferry to Alibey.
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Central Markets
Behind Ulu Cami, Bursa's sprawling Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Market) contains two historic markets: the 14th-century bedesten (covered market), built by Sultan Beyazıt I, and reconstructed after the 1855 earthquake, plus the Eski Aynalı Çarşı (Old Mirrored Market) – originally the Orhangazi Hamam (bathhouse of the Orhan Camii Külliyesi). Built in 1335, it features a domed ceiling with skylights. Karagöz shadow puppets and other traditional items are sold here.
Kapalı Çarşı extends across surrounding streets – find the gateway into the Koza Han (Cocoon Caravanserai), built in 1490, for expensive ipek (silk) shops. A small courtyard mosque (1491) honours…
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Bazaar District
Pedestrianised Kunduracılar Caddesi leads from Atatürk Alanı to Trabzon's bazaar, located in the Çarşı (Market) quarter. Compared with İstanbul's Grand Bazaar, it's authentic, down to earth and proudly local. Near the restored Çarşı Camii (1839), central Trabzon's largest mosque, is the Taş Han (or Vakıf Han), a single-domed han (caravanserai) constructed around 1647. Trabzon's oldest marketplace, it's full of workshops, stores and cafes – a cool retreat for a çay.
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Bazaar
Mardin's rambling commercial hub parallels Cumhuriyet Caddesi one block down the hill. Donkeys are still a main form of transport, and look out for saddle repairers resurrecting even the shabbiest examples.
Look for the secluded Ulu Camii, a 12th-century Iraqi Seljuk structure that suffered badly during the Kurdish rebellion of 1832. Inside it's fairly plain, but the delicate reliefs adorning the minaret make a visit worthwhile.
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Bazaar
Spreading east of the Narıncı Camii, Urfa's bazaar is a jumble of streets, some covered, some open, selling everything from sheepskins and pigeons to jeans and handmade shoes. It was largely built by Süleyman the Magnificent in the mid-16th century. Women should be on guard for lustful hands.
One of the most interesting areas is the bedesten, an ancient caravanserai where silk goods were sold. Today you'll still find silk scarves here, as well as gaudy modern carpets and the lovely blue and red scarves worn by local women. Right by the bedesten is the Gümrük Hanı, with a delightful courtyard that is always full of tea- or coffee-swilling moustached gents playing…
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Bakircilar Çarşisi
South of the fortress is Gaziantep's rambling and labyrinthine bazaar area, which includes the Zincirli Bedesten, now fully restored and full of tap-tap-tap metalworkers and makers of handmade shoes. Keep exploring to find excellent food markets with mini-mountains of multicoloured spices and graceful garlands of dried chillies. South of the Zincirli Bedesten, in the Elmacı Pazarı area, you'll find the original Güllüoğlu baklava shop.
For a coffee break, seek out Tahmis Kahvesi, possibly the most atmospheric kahvehane (coffeehouse) in Gaziantep.
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