Spice Bazaar, Historic bazaar in Eminönü, Turkey
The Spice Bazaar is an L-shaped marketplace with approximately 85 shops displaying colorful spices, dried fruits, nuts, Turkish delight, and traditional sweets under vaulted ceilings. The interior features classic Ottoman architecture with narrow passages connecting the shop stalls where goods are piled in open displays.
The marketplace was built in 1664 as part of the New Mosque complex and was funded through taxes collected from Egyptian goods. These revenues supported charitable institutions including schools and hospitals connected to the religious complex.
The market functions as a meeting point where merchants from across Turkey gather to trade regional goods and traditional spice blends. Visitors witness the daily exchange between sellers and buyers, which reflects long-standing trading customs.
The bazaar is open daily and can be easily accessed through the main entrance near the New Mosque in the Eminönü district. Come prepared to walk through narrow passages and allow time to browse the many shops at your own pace.
At the western corner of the bazaar sits Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi, a traditional coffee shop that has supplied Istanbul with fresh-ground coffee for over one hundred years. This small establishment is known for its strong brew and its deep roots in the neighborhood's daily life.
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