An extra bonus, our tour guide allowed us to visit the Spice Bazzar which is sometimes called the Egyptian Bazaar. It is one of the oldest bazaars in the city. Located in Fatih, in the neighborhood of Eminönü, it is the second largest covered shopping complex after the Grand Bazaar.
There are several documents suggesting the name of the bazaar was first "New Bazaar". However, due to the fact that many spices were imported via Egypt in the Ottoman period, the name "Mısır Çarşısı" was favored by the public. The word mısır has a double meaning in Turkish: "Egypt" and "maize". This is why sometimes the name is wrongly translated as "Corn Bazaar". The bazaar has been the center for spice trade in Istanbul.
The building itself is part of the külliye of Yeni Mosque, and rents from the shops within was intended to help pay for the upkeep of the neighboring mosque. The structure was completed in 1660.The Spice Bazaar is an “L”-shaped building, consisting of 88 vaulted rooms, almost all of which are now divided into an upper and lower story. Monumental gateways are at the ends of both halls, with chambers above each entrance way. The main entrance is in the southwest corner, facing the Yeni Mosque.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice_Bazaar,_Istanbul
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/GoldenHorn/EgyptianMarket.html
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spice_Bazaar,_Istanbul
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/GoldenHorn/EgyptianMarket.html
