Spice Market(Egyptian Bazaar)
Open
for regular business hours Monday to Saturday.
Istanbul's Spice Market or Mısır Çarşısı was constructed in 1663
as a part of the adjacent Yeni Mosque complex in order to generate funds
for the upkeep of the mosque. Mısır in Turkish means "Egypt" and
it is called The Egyptian Bazaar due to the fact that the spices came
from India and South-East Asia to Egypt and from there to Istanbul via
the Mediterranean Sea. Thus Istanbul marks the last stop along the
legendary Silk Road. It was the final destination for Asian goods, which
were then distributed to Europe. In fact, Istanbul had developed a spice
trade with the Venetians as early as the 13th century.
Most
Westerners traveling in the East discover before long that most of their
expectations have been based on fantasy and misconceptions. There are,
however, certain experiences that do fulfill the Westerners romantic
urge to find the Orient. The Egyptian Market, (or Spice Market as it is
often called), is one of those experiences. The inviting aromas of
cinnamon, cumin, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb
and spice fill the air, even before you enter the market.
The
Spice Market is teeming with customers, shopkeepers, and porters amidst
a dizzying array of colors and aromas. For centuries this market has
been the place where dried herbs and a variety of plants not found
anywhere else in the city, as well as holistic remedies for every
ailment have been sold.
Visiting the Mısır Çarşısı, is not merely a way to fulfill the tourist's
urge for the exotic. It is also a chance to really see and live
Istanbul's traditional commercial life. You may find yourself drifting
off as you purchase an assortment of spices, alternative remedies for
aches and pains, and aphrodisiacs that have been tested through the
centuries.
The
bazaar is "L" shaped and has six gates. The shopkeepers stock all the
staple flavors of Eastern cuisine and display them with an exquisite
sense of color and arrangement. Cardamom, green cumin, ground red pepper,
curry, sesame, ground coconut, yellow turmeric and saffron fill bags and
boxes and are heaped into miniature volcanoes, while strings of dried
okra, peppers and eggplant dangle temptingly overhead. Take your spirit
of adventure with you to the Spice Market. The more you explore, the
more unusual goods you'll manage to find. You'll find all kinds of
interesting beauty products as well, such as the best henna that can be
had, natural sponges, a large variety of oils and rose water, and the
fabulously exfoliating hand-woven kese, which are used in Turkish
baths for scrubbing.
If you
have the time to linger, have a lunch upstairs at the blue-and-aqua
tiled Pandeli Restaurant. To eat at Pandeli is like taking a step
back in time. Ottoman stone and turquoise tiles adorn the walls and
floor as they did hundreds of years ago; the views of the Golden Horn
from the windows and the calls to prayer from the mosques nearby; and
the sights and smells of the Spice Bazaar outside make the atmosphere
here almost magical. Almost 70 different dishes grace the menu,
including chicken, fish and meat doors. It is open only for lunch
everyday except Sundays and Religious holidays, 11.30 to 15.30 Tel
:(212) 527 39 09
At the
very least, on a sunny day sit in the courtyard between the bazaar and
the mosque and order a cup of tea or coffee while you listen to the
müezzin calling the faithful to prayer.
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