Spice Bazaar

Welcome to the vibrant Eminönü Square where the golden rays of the sun dance upon the waters of the Golden Horn. I am your guide and today we step into a world where time is measured in the scent of cloves and the hue of saffron. …

As we pass through the main entrance look up at the soaring masonry above you. This building is a prime example of the Arasta style an Ottoman architectural tradition where shops are arranged in a rhythmic row along a central…

Now breathe in deeply. The air here is literally saturated with the legacy of the Silk Road. …

As we reach the bend of the L-shaped corridor the sharp scent of spices softens into the sugary embrace of Turkish delights or Lokum. This is a place of pure indulgence where the colors of the rainbow are captured in gelatinous…

As we move toward the Haseki entrance I invite you to look up. Notice the two-storied structures built into the walls of the bazaar. …

We now approach the northern Balık Pazarı Gate also known as the Fish Market gate. This entrance holds a special fascination for historians because of the records left by Guillaume Grelot a French traveler who visited in 1680. …

As we step outside the historic stone corridors to the west the atmosphere changes from the orderly arches of the past to the vibrant organic energy of modern Istanbul. This is the outdoor market area where the locals come to do…

Our journey through the scents and stories of the Spice Bazaar comes to an end back near the courtyard of the New Mosque. As you prepare to leave this historic haven take a moment to look at the massive domes that have watched…