Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı), one of Istanbul's important historical and touristic commercial centers, was built as the bazaar of the New Mosque complex to cover the mosque's expenses. Construction began in 1660 by the Chief Architect of the Imperial Household, Kazım Ağa, on the orders of Turhan Sultan, mother of Sultan Mehmed IV, and was completed in 1664 by the Chief Architect of the Imperial Household, Mustafa Ağa. 17th-century historians referred to the bazaar as the New Bazaar and the Valide Bazaar. However, because it was built with taxes collected from Egypt and the goods and spices sold in its shops were mostly imported from Egypt, it began to be known as the Spice Bazaar from the mid-18th century onwards.

History:It is said that a market called Makro Envalos existed in the same location during the Byzantine era. The current structure was built in 1660 by Turhan Sultan. Formerly known as the New Market or Valide Market, and reportedly constructed with taxes collected from Egypt, it began to be known by its current name after the 18th century. The market was last restored by the Istanbul Municipality between 1940 and 1943.

Signifance:It should be visited especially to experience the historical atmosphere, along with the spice shops, herbalists, Turkish delight and nut shops.

Structure:The bazaar covers approximately 3,800–4,000 m² of covered area. The structure generally has an L-shaped plan. Historically, it contained approximately 85–90 shops. Today, the number may vary slightly depending on the usage arrangement. The bazaar has a total of 6 main gates. The most well-known entrances are on the Eminönü and Tahtakale sides. Vaulted corridors and domed sections are located in the center of the structure.

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