Shopping in Istanbul is one of the
delights of a visit to this city
where wandering through the colorful
bazaars is a enjoyable as browsing
in the modern shops. For all tourist
the 'Kapali Carsi' or Covered Bazaar
in the old city is , of course, the
favorite place. In this labyrinth of
streets and passages are more then
4,000 shops with each trade its own
area: goldsmiths’ street, carpet
sellers’ street and so on.
Of the
great variety of goods offered there
is something to suit every taste and
pocket.
In
Ottoman times this was the centre of
trading, and a vital area of town.
The Sandal Bedesten was added during
Suleyman’s reign, to cope with the
rising trade in fabrics, during the
16th century.
Traditionally the more valuable
goods were in the old central area,
called Ic Bedesten, because it was
more secure. As quite typical of the
area, most streets are laid out and
devoted to a particular trade, for
example gold on Kuyumcular Caddesi,
leather on Bodrum Han, and shoes on
Kavaflar Sokak. But the trade has
also spilled out onto the
surrounding streets, and it is very
common to see Russian traders buying
up huge sacks of leather jackets or
shoes outside the main entrance.
Even the streets leading to the
Golden Horn are lined with outdoor
stalls, which have traditionally
been controlled by strict trading
laws to reduce competition between
traders.
There is wide selection of jewelery,
from traditional to modern settings,
while the carpet shops display eye-catching
wares of vivid colors and intricate
designs. Turkish arts and crafts,
such as handpainted ceramic plates,
handhoned copper, brassware and
trays, water ewers, onxy-ware and
meerschaum pipes; all make charming
souvenirs and gifts. Leather and
suede goods are excellent and
relatively inexpensive. In the Old
Bedesten, in the heart of the bazaar,
the pattern of shopping seems to
have remained unchanged for century.
Information
