A Precious Journey Through Time: The Historical Inns and Bazaars of İstanbul
İstanbul is famous for its inns and bazaars built at the most important points of the city, as well as its fascinating mosques, fountains and palaces. Carrying the traces of history and still the heart of trade today, these inns and bazaars are the center of attention for many local and foreign visitors. Let’s discover the historical inns and bazaars of İstanbul, which are worth seeing with their expertly decorated carpets, handcrafted products, various spices, jewelry and most importantly, all their experiences.
The Structure That Draws Attention with Its Large Courtyard: Büyük Yeni Han
It is seen that almost all bazaars and inns in İstanbul were built in the historical peninsula (Suriçi) region. Büyük Yeni Han was also constructed in 1764 by the sultan of the period, Mustafa III and is located on Çakmakçılar Yokuşu in Fatih.
Büyük Yeni Han, which has the widest area after Büyük Valide Han, attracts attention with its arcaded galleries, unique workmanship and open courtyard. Although it is thought that there was a water cistern on the ground floor of the structure, there is no definite information about this since the area cannot be entered. The inn, which hosted money changers, silversmiths and weavers in its time, is currently used for trade and silver manufacturing. We can say that some episodes of the TV series Ezel, which was broadcast on television for a while, were also shot in this historical inn.
The World’s Largest Bazaar: The Grand Bazaar
Did you know that the Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest bazaars in the world? Covering an area of 31 thousand square meters, the Grand Bazaar is located between Beyazıt Mosque, Nuruosmaniye and Mahmutpaşa Bazaar. Drawing attention with its hundreds of lead-covered and windowed domes, this bazaar fascinates you from the moment you enter.
The first structure of the Grand Bazaar, known as the Eski Bedesten, dates back to the Byzantine period. The construction of the bazaar, which began in 1460 during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, became a place where valuable items were sold with the shops that were added to the structure. Among the valuable items sold were jewelry, furs and precious stones. It is known that the state treasury was also kept here for a while.
Despite experiencing seven major fires and an earthquake, the Grand Bazaar has survived to this day. The documentary of Süha Arın, Kırk Bin Adım, shot for the Grand Bazaar, is among the recommended sources for those who would like to learn more about the development of the Grand Bazaar.
Famous for its Domes: Büyük Valide Han
Built by Kösem Sultan, one of the most powerful female sultans of the Ottoman Empire, Büyük Valide Han is located between Çakmakçılar Yokuşu and Fırıncılar Yokuşu. The structure, which was first called Kösem Sultan Han when it was built, was later named Büyük Valide Han. Büyük Valide Han, which has a lower entrance than other inns, is said to have 366 rooms when it was first built, although it is not known exactly how many of its rooms are used today.
The dome of Büyük Valide Han, one of the largest commercial inns of the Ottoman Empire, was once a popular place for tourists to take pictures with its unmatched scenery of the historical peninsula. However, since this damages the domes, it is forbidden to go to this area. If you visit Büyük Valide Han, you can walk around the courtyard of the inn, where wholesalers and some shops are located and take pictures.
The İstanbul Stop of Spice Road: Mısır Çarşısı
The Spice Bazaar, the symbolic structure of the Eminönü Hanlar Bölgesi, was built in 1660 by Hatice Turhan Sultan, the mother of Mehmed IV, to provide income for the Yeni Cami. Although the structure is called the Yeni Çarşı or Valide Çarşısı because it is located behind the Yeni Cami, it has been called Mısır Çarşısı since the 18th century because it was built with taxes that were collected from Egypt.
The bazaar, known as the İstanbul stop of the world-famous historical Spice Road, has 6 gates and 86 shops. Today, the bazaar, which hosts thousands of local and foreign visitors, sells various spices, plants, seeds, food and delicatessen products. As you wander around the bazaar, you will feel like you are in an exotic country with the scents of spices and herbs filling your nostrils and many souvenirs are also sold.
Accompanied by the Scent of Coffee: Kuru Kahveci Han
When you arrive at the inn which is located between Tahmis Street and Çiçek Pazarı Street, where coffee shops are heavily populated, you may notice the scent of coffee permeating every corner. However, if you think of an inn with coffee shops based on the name Kuru Kahveci Han, you are wrong. Built in the 20th century to accommodate merchants in İstanbul, the structure currently houses shops selling glassware and retail products.
The Kouru Kahvedji Han inscription on the door at the entrance of the structure and the date 1912 draw visitors’ attention the minute they walk in. After visiting this inn, whose exterior architecture is quite detailed and finely crafted, you can also order yourself a nice, foamy Turkish coffee.
The Place That Opens to the World of Books: Sahaflar Bazaar
When it comes to book sales in İstanbul, one of the first places that comes to mind is undoubtedly Sahaflar Bazaar. Located next to Beyazıt Mosque, Sahaflar Bazaar used to be inside the Grand Bazaar, according to Evliya Çelebi’s Seyahatname. The current location of the bazaar used to be Hakkaklar Bazaar, where fez sellers were located. These two bazaars, which changed places until the 1910s, have survived to the present day as Sahaflar Bazaar.
The bazaar, which has two entrance gates, also has a bust of İbrahim Müteferrika, the first Turkish printer, built by the municipality. Another fascinating feature of Sahaflar Bazaar is that it is one of the main locations of the famous Turkish novelist Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar’s novel Huzur.
After visiting these unique inns and bazaars, you can stay at Pera Palace Hotel, which will surround you with its delightful atmosphere and end the day with an accommodation experience that fully reflects the historical ambiance of İstanbul. You can contact Pera Palace Hotel to learn more about the historical hotel, which has hosted many important names from the Great Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk to the world-famous detective novelist Agatha Christie and to make a reservation.
