Arasta Bazaar in Sultanahmet
Located just next to the famous Blue Mosque in the small streets of Sultanahmet is the smaller version of the Grand Bazaar called the Arasta Bazaar.
It was built around the same time as the Blue Mosque and was a famous marketplace of Sultanahmet. The rents of the shops in this bazaar contributed towards the upkeep and maintenance of the Blue Mosque. It was known by the name of Sipahiler Bazaar in Ottoman period and was a favorite place for buying cavalry items.
However, later, it came to be used as a house for horses. This bazaar was damaged by fires and remained ignored for a number of years. It was only in 1974 that efforts were made to revamp the area.
At present, the bazaar has nearly 83 shops dealing in textiles and carpets. The shops also exhibit many items bought by tourists as souvenirs and gifts to lure wandering tourists to have a look inside the shops. If you happen to walk through the streets of this bazaar while doing window shopping, do not forget to take a break to enjoy the walkway.
While strolling along the walkway of the bazaar, you will notice several pieces of tiles and mosaics visible between the stones. These mosaics and tiles are the remnants of Byzantium’s Great Palace built by Constantine the Great. The design of this palace was originally made by Emperor Constantine I. The huge structure included a large number of state buildings, churches, libraries, fountains, assembly halls, stadiums, chapels, audience rooms, thermal baths and numerous courtyards.
However, over the years, the huge complex was ravaged by natural calamities including fires and earthquakes and remained neglected. If you want to have a look at the remnant mosaics from this palace, visit the Mosaic Museum located just next to the Bazaar (Arasta Bazaar). After you finish seeing the designer artworks of the palace and reach the exit point, you will be brought at the heart of this bazaar once again.
The Arasta Bazaar, with its laid-back atmosphere, happens to be the best bet for shopping carpets as compared to the Grand Bazaar. As the tourist season approaches, all the shopkeepers can be seen out in the bazaar to lure more and more customers into their shops with handful of tea glasses.
However, there is no persistence to buy anything as is common in other shopping areas of Sultanahmet. Moreover, the visitors to this bazaar are serious shoppers who are clear about what they want and where to shop for.
If you want to shop for collectable textiles, the best place in the Arasta Bazaar happens to be Mehmet Cetinkaya’s Maison du Tapis d’Orient. This shop was opened in 1986 and is quite famous the world over for buying reasonably priced Turkish textiles.
Another famous shopping place in this bazaar is Cocoon that was established by Mustafa Demir and Seref Ozen in 1995. This shop is known for affordable and quality goods. It is famous store for buying Turkmen embroideries and rugs from Central Asia.
Just at the beginning of the Arasta Bazaar, a small café stages a show called ‘whirling dervish show’ for tourists at night. If you don’t have a liking for touristy performances, then you must miss this show. However, for those wanting to witness a whirling dervish ceremony, the best thing is to visit Sirkeci train station or Galata Mevlevi Han.
A refreshing and instant snack meal can be enjoyed at the café located at the end of this shopping area near the Blue Mosque. You will not just get a perfect view of the Blue Mosque from this café but also see people having lunch, sipping tea and taking a puff of a nargile.
For those who want to enjoy a real sumptuous meal, the Mavi Ev Hotel situated across the street from this bazaar is the best bet. While enjoying meal at this restaurant, watch the exotic views of some of the famous places of Sultanahmet from the rooftop terrace of this restaurant.
Whether you want to refresh yourself after a hectic day of shopping and sightseeing or just want to gear up for a big shopping spree, a visit to the famous Java Studio for having the best coffee with delicious pastry is a must.
