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The Covered Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) take the first place to visit in
Istanbul for foreigners. Millions of different objects that are
sold in thousands of shops seem charming for especially Western
Visitors. Although it is far from its oriental appearance of
nearly 100 years ago, it is still one of the most important
places to be visited. Kapali carsi has often been restored after big fires and
earthquakes. Each time it has enlarged more and during the last
century it took the appearance it has today. |
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The Covered Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) has faced
J2 strong earthquakes and 9 big fires heretofore and the
restorations after the earthquake in 1894 and the big fire in
1954 resulted in the most comprehensive works. Kapalicarşi
covers a total area of 30 ha. There are approximately 3.500
shops and 15.000 tradesmen in 80 streets and roads inside it.
Of the 18 gates of the Bazaar, the most important ones are
Nuruosmaniye Gate which, on its pediment, has a rigging of
weapon, book and flag and Bayezid Gate on which 'God loves
tradesmen' writes and the imperial sign of Abdulhamid II is
embroidered. Kapalicargi includes 7 fountains, one well, one
mosque and twelve masjids (small mosques). The school and the
bath were omitted during the restorations after the earthquake
in 1894. During the Ottomans, Kapalicargi had been not only a
shopping and trade center, but also a place serving as exchangge
offices and banks and where economy was organized. It was the
vanguard of similar covered markets in Eastern countries.
At those period its streets would smelling spices, cloth or wood
depending on the type of goods sold in the surrounding. Until
mid 19th century, it had also served as a slave market. At the
beginning of that century, people running away from the Russian
revolution brought antiques with them and, as well as the
valuable belongings of sultanate and dynasty, these had been
sold in Kapalı Çarşı. The first lace works, cloth and bed
spreads imported from Europe were sold here at. the same period. |
