Egyptian Spice Bazaar
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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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