3 Days in Istanbul: The Grand Bazaar

Istanbul, Turkey

Everyone loves a bazaar; the vibrant colors, the sound of shoppers and merchants, often haggling over prices, with unique articles for sale. Watching the people as they come and go gives the bazaar a life all it's own. The gold, the silks, the spices are everywhere you turn, becoming a feast for the eyes and nose.

Istanbul's Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world (established 1455/56 AD). As a photographer, I'm continually fascinated by the displays in the markets, with carefully laid out merchandise and hand lettered signs; it's quite refreshing from the big box stores we've grown accustomed to in the modern world.

The Grand Bazaar (Büyük Çarsi) is a historic sprawling network of indoor souks & market streets peddling leather, jewelry & gifts, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops. The construction of the future Grand Bazaar's core started during the winter of 1455/56, shortly after the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Today the Grand Bazaar is a thriving complex, visited by between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily, and one of the major landmarks of Istanbul.