Istanbul Grand Bazaar

The Bazaar was neither simply a Tower of Babel nor a picturesque scene: it was a complex reality that would achieve a harmonious equilibrium.(Mortan and Küçükerman, 2009, p.89)

Istanbul is an ancient city with more than 8 thousand years of history, which is strategically located between Asia and Euro.  

Therefore, this place is a cultural and economic hub and an intersection point. Istanbul's population has proliferated since the founding of the Republic, where today, nearly 15 million residents live. As a result, this city is the most populated city in Europe and one of the megacities worldwide. 

All You Need to Know About Istanbul Grand Bazaar

Istanbul has historically been a significant economic hub because of its strategic location between Europe and Asia. The Silk Road, one of the most important trade routes in history, along which the city is situated. The Genovese and Venetian trade cities established trade colonies due to the Bosporus' location, which permitted sea trade between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean. Mehmet the Conqueror commissioned the Grand Bazaar to encourage trade during the Ottoman era. Istanbul has recently seen the building of bridges and railroads connecting Europe and Asia. With the industrialization of Turkey, factories were established in the city, which turned it into a commercial and industrial center. Istanbul hosts 20% of the workforce, and one-third of the production of industrial and service sectors is done in the city. Regarding trade, as of 2017, half of the export companies were registered in Istanbul, accounting for 52% of the export value. 

The Grand Bazaar, founded in 1454 by Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II (1451–1411) and has been Istanbul's commercial hub for centuries, is still a significant civic hub. The location of the Bazaar was initially selected following the Byzantine city's settlement patterns in a region that was already well-known for its significant trade hubs. The Istanbul Bedesten, the first section of the Bazaar (adjacent to the Imperial Road, now Divan Yolu), preserved traditional trade patterns while changing how trade was regulated and taxed. The Bazaar started to run under the vakf (pious foundation) system during the Ottoman era, which allowed it to be built with money from charitable endowments and then collected rent from tradespeople. The sultans, their mothers, and senior state officials "created these pious foundations" in the early towns and cities of the Ottoman Empire. These foundations built the cultural and commercial complexes in conquered cities because they were financially and administratively independent. 

The Grand Bazaar

The Bazaar was an absolute beating place for the Ottoman city's lifeblood. People of all socioeconomic classes mingle and interact in various languages and regional dialects. Even though the Levantine Ottoman city lacks a representative center, Istanbul's city community and nearly every aspect of daily life are intertwined in the "bazaar," where 20% of the labor force is employed, and one-third of industrial and service sector production is located. The Bazaar is a "special" place for all city dwellers within the polyethnic imperial structure based on the "nation" system from the Ottoman Empire, even though religious and cultural activities remained somewhat ambiguous. It is a "public arena" from today's perspective, to put it another way. Politics can be found in the Bazaar in addition to shopping. Government rumors are held here just as much as business discussions.

The Grand Bazaar, built-in 1461 by the architect Hayreddin and where the Ottoman Empire's beating heart that still beats and preserves all of its features, resembles a massive labyrinth and tries to keep up with each passing century. With 66 streets and 4,000 shops covering an area of 30,700 square meters, it also stands out as one of Istanbul's distinctive historical centers. 

This site, which Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror built and which is completely covered and resembles a city, has grown over time, met the "new" word, and maintained its popularity. There were previously 17 han, 24 doors, 5 mosques, 1 school, 7 fountains and 10 wells. By covering the developing streets and constructing new ones over the ensuing centuries, the two old structures with thick walls dating back to the 15th century and covered in a series of domes were transformed into shopping centers. It is well known that Nazar Usta, the most well-known stonemason of the era, and the apprentices he trained worked with white marble from the Marmara Region, cherry marble from El-Aziz, green marble and Germiyan province to create the Bazaar's stone masonry. There is a rumor going around the Bazaar that these stones used everywhere in the Bazaar have been washed with abundance potion.

This used to be a bazaar where specific jobs were performed on every street, their crafts were strictly regulated, and business ethics and customs were highly respected. Families specializing in generations kept or sold a wide variety of priceless fabrics, jewelry, weapons, and antiques in complete confidence. The Grand Bazaar was repaired and rebuilt as before at the turn of the 20th century after an earthquake and several major fires, but its original features have been altered. 

The Bazaar was constructed so that, in terms of spatial organization, every shop has the same width. Salespeople were not allowed to compete with one another. Additionally, an artisan could not display the product to the crowd while setting up his workbench in front of the store. It was only possible to sell the goods for what the government had set. The streets of the Bazaar have been known by their business names, such as Kalpakçlar, Kuyumcular, Aynac, Fesçiler, Yorgancler, Terlikçiller, and Yalkçlar because its streets were related to the guilds where people perform the same tasks. These occupational groups now remain in street names only.

People gave their savings to the bedesten like a bank during that time and wanted it to be run with a sense of trust in artisans. In many bazaar streets today, shops are subject to functional changes. While jewelry stores predominate on the Bazaar's main street, goldsmiths are on a side street. Shopping for tourist groups visiting Istanbul since the 1970s is provided by contemporary and sizable shops at the Bazaar's main entrance, despite the Grand Bazaar maintaining its original vividness in color and atmosphere. A smaller bazaar is the Spice Bazaar, located on the Golden Horn's shores. A small covered bazaar from the 15th century still exists in the Galata neighborhood on the other side of the Golden Horn. The writings of author Halit Refik Karay from fifty years ago are included in Kenan Mortan and Önder Küçükerman's works titled "Market, Bazaar, Commerce, and the Grand Bazaar," about the Grand Bazaar, which has survived since its establishment and which has great importance for the Ottoman people and ensures that the shopping culture fits entirely in minds, as;

         "The Grand Bazaar has left its mark in our society history not only in terms of goods exchange but also because of Istanbul's male and female relations. The Bazaar is a "love bazaar" by gathering of innumerable generations under its roof for centuries. In this respect, it is another kind of monument and heirloom. The Grand Bazaar has continued throughout Istanbul's life. Moreover, in my opinion; the present half-collapsed and the mosque of beauty destroyed, but the mihrab remained in place, the big monument is not considered to have lost its charm yet. I still hear that there is something warm and warm, something sweet and sweet."

With its grid structure formed in its internal structure, this enormous architectural monument— which is still used as a shopping center today— continues to exist. However, due to the rapid population growth and high volume of tourists, this life has lost many distinctive spatial features and is doomed to do so. The density of these visitors and the building around it both harm the Bazaar, which is listed among the must-see places in the world with the visit of 15 million tourists. Construction is distorted due to new spatial arrangements created to meet people's consumption needs. The Bazaar, which has been able to withstand fires and earthquakes for more than 500 years, is in danger because the laws are insufficiently protective. Although the effectiveness of the interventions on the Bazaar's shops is debated in terms of protectionism, it is clear that they are made to protect the building. 

Remember, while visiting Istanbul Grand Bazaar.

The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul offers an example of a physical environment containing specific districts that have emerged over time. Further, Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the world's largest and most attractive bazaars and contains hundreds of stores that sell various goods and products, such as silk clothes, precious jewelry, leather products, and authentic carpets. By wandering around this Bazaar, you can feel the exquisite smells of spices, attractive colors, valuable handicrafts, unique sounds and noises, and the smell of Turkish coffee, which can be a distinctive experience. Moreover, one of the most attractive and populous tourist destinations is the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul, especially in summer. Visiting this amazing place can be an unrepeatable experience that is surprising due to its beauty and grandeur.

The Istanbul Grand Bazaar, about 500 years old, is the most suitable place for buying souvenirs such as spices, carpets, leather, golden or silver objects, jewelry, precious stones, silver or copper dishes, Turkish handicrafts, and many other captivating things. It is worth mentioning that this great Bazaar is located in the Fatih district and stretches from west to east between the Beyazit and Nuruosmaniye mosques. All stores are open from Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and are closed on Sundays. Besides, on the first day of the Ramazan Bayram (Ramadan Eid), the stores are also closed along with the 4 days of Kurban Bayram (Sacrifice Fest).

A trip to Istanbul is only complete if you visit the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul. Anytime in the day is suitable for visiting and exploring the Bazaar; however, remember to allow enough time for this fantastic place to walk, sightsee, and shop. In this great Bazaar, you need to be patient since it is too noisy, crowded and, more importantly, because of complex passages like mazes. Be sure to enter the Bazaar in a good mood so that you can enjoy your experience the most. Furthermore, this Bazaar includes 21 gates that make it easy to enter and exit from it easy, although it has 4 main gates, which are situated at the ends of its two major streets. If you want to get out of a particular gate, it becomes difficult, but you can succeed with the help of signs and maps. Each group of stores selling the same type of goods is gathered in one place where visitors can easily find what they need to buy, especially souvenirs.

Finally!

After the conquest of Istanbul by Mehmet the Conqueror, many institutes were established since Istanbul was one of the most important cities of that period, especially from an economic point of view. Therefore, the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul was one of the most critical and complex projects developed by the Ottoman Empire. Not only was the Bazaar itself significant, but also it was the center of trade and finances. Mehmet the Conqueror built Sandal and Cevahir to bring money to Hagia Sophia. Whereas these two bazaars have lost their functions today, they are the centers for exchange and jewelry. Shopping in the Istanbul Grand Bazaar is one of the attractions for tourists. Furthermore, the Grand Bazaar or Kapalicarsi is one the largest bazaars in Istanbul, which is also large among the historical roofed Bazaar in the world, attracting many tourists from all over the world. Feel free to get lost in this great Bazaar, which is entirely normal, as the atmosphere of this Bazaar is 100% safe. If you enjoy shopping in historical and pleasant environments, be sure that the best choice for your desire is the experience of shopping in the Istanbul Grand Bazaar. Stay calm about finding what to buy; during wandering around the Bazaar, your instinct will find what you need!