About this experience
I invite you to take a walk through the mysterious Istanbul bazaars! The shops of hereditary craftsmen “esnafy”, trading alleys in semi-abandoned corridors, ancient painted doors, a secret rooftop cafe - all of this awaits you on the tour. Plus, a sea of bright authentic products, delicious street food, and an atmosphere of an eastern festival.
What to Expect
Origins of the Bazaars
In the course of the walk, we will see many landmarks mentioned in the context of the city's development chronology and its conquests:
- The Snake Column - the beginning of all beginnings. And we will find out why, despite such a name, there are no snake heads on it;
- Hippodrome Square and one of the mysterious pillars associated with the name of Emperor Constantine. There is a hypothesis that once the ancient agora trading square was located here;
- The Serpent Column - or Chemberlitash, it holds the secrets of the forum of Constantine the Great and the bustling market of those times. And we will also walk on the road to the ancient necropolis;
- Two mosques, by their appearance narrating classical construction techniques and the style of Ottoman baroque and rococo. You will be surprised, but one mosque bears the marks of male rule, and the other - female! And we will definitely go inside and admire the decor: original tiles and shining stained glass.
The Grand Bazaar
This is a real 'city within a city', consisting of 66 streets and 18 gates. At the same time, each street has its own specialization: gold, antique, clock, clothing, shoe and others. As we stroll through them, we will talk about the history of Turkey's main market, the slave trade that did not abate until the 19th century, and the variety of the eastern bazaar. You will see prototypes of caravanserais, learn about the purpose of “bedestans”. You will see interesting artifacts from different eras in the most unexpected places. For example, a Byzantine single-headed eagle and an Ottoman painting in 'arabesque' style. And I will also tell you how the proud Ottomans adopted the trading model from the Christian world.
Egyptian Bazaar
You will enter the realm of aromatic spices and Eastern sweets. Be amazed by the variety of herbal teas and different types of Turkish coffee, decipher the mysterious concept of “charshi”. We will talk about great women and find out why another bazaar was needed in the 17th century. Here you can also purchase amazing Turkish two-story teapots, copper Turkish coffee pots, woven products, and cute trinkets.
Organizational Details
- I will conduct the tour for you or another guide from my team
- Purchases, food, and drinks at the market are paid for separately
