The Spice Bazaar was built in 1664 as an extension of the New Mosque (Yeni Camii) complex, and that its revenues helped support the upkeep of the mosque while keeping its philanthropic institutions such as a school, a hospital and several baths.
The bazaar was called Mısır Carsisi (literally translated Egyptian Market) because the story goes that it was built with money paid as duty on Egyptian imports. The annual ‘Cairo caravan’ would bring along spices from Egypt, just like Istanbul located on the trade route between the East and Europe.
The Spice Bazaar main entrance is via a high brick arch on the pigeon infested plaza next to the New Mosque in Eminonu, located in the historical part of Istanbul. Upon entering the L-shaped market, your nostrils will immediately pick up the overwhelming scent coming from the hundreds of spices on sale. Where the stalls in the bazaar originally only stocked spices (baharat) and herbs, over the years other edibles were added, such as nuts (kuruyemis), honeycomb (petekbal), Turkish delight (lokum), dried fruit and vegetables (kuru meyve ve sebze), mature hard Turkish cheese (eski kasar), caviar (make sure you get the Iranian variety) and smoked or dried beef (pastırma). Today, a fair amount of the over 90 shops unfortunately swopped their spices and offer the typical tourist trinkets such as low quality scarves, kids costumes and gold.
Moreover, on both sides of the Spice Bazaar, there are some more bargains to be made. Outdoors, on the west side of the bazaar, you’ll find more stalls with fresh food. If you’re a caffeine connoisseur, don’t forget to pay Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi a visit which is a famous coffee shop that has been supplying the locals with their own-brand beans for over 100 years and if you’re a flower or bird enthusiast, check out the open market between the bazaar and the New Mosque for flowers, plants, seeds and even birds.
It's no wonder this is prime retail space, right at the southern end of the Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn in the Eminonu district, right next to the New Mosque (Yeni Cami). Stroll through the market (free, 1/2 hr, open 7 days a week), and if you have the time, stroll for another hour through the surrounding bazaar streets on all sides of the market building.
Hasırcılar Caddesi, the narrow bazaar street running west from the market building, is particularly colorful, with lots more shops selling spices, snacks and housewares. A few blocks westward along Hasircilar is the Rustem Pasha Mosque which is one of Istanbul's finest small architectural gems.
Variety is everywhere and anywhere and there is no end to it, the only thing that one needs to have that perspective to see and understand them! There is lot to see and and feel in the world.
Uniqueness is the great source of joy in life, one must experience it for sure!
AW: (Samrat Biswas)
