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SHOPPING
Shopping in Istanbul is one of the delights
of a visit to this city where wandering through the colourful bazaars is
as enjoyable as browsing in the modern shops. For all tourists the "Kapali
Carsi" or Covered Bazaar in the old city is, of course, the fav ourite
place. In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4000 shops
with each trade having its own place: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet
sellers' street and so on. Of the great variety of goods offered there
is something to suit every tas te and pocket. There is a wide selection
of jewellery, from traditional to modern settings, while the carpet shops
display eye-catching wares of vivid colours and intricate designs.Turkish
arts and crafts, such as the hand painted ceramic plates, hand-bea ten
copper, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes
all make charming souvenirs and gifts. Leather and suede goods are excellent
and relatively inexpensive. In the Old Bedesten, in the heart of the bazaar,
the pattern of shopping seems to have remained unchanged for centuries.
Behind the Yeni Mosque is another attractive bazaar of a different sort,
Misir Carsisi or the Spice Bazaar. Here the air is filled with the enticing
aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and ever y other conceivable
herb and spice. The Istanbul Sanatlan Carsisi (Bazaar of Istanbul Arts)
is located in the l8th century Mehmet Efendi Medresesi on Sultan Ahmet
Square, close by is the Caferaga Medrese built by Sinan in the 16th century
and now a cultur al centre. Both are shopping areas for Turkish handicrafts
and the places where they are actually made. Also in the arasta (old bazaar)
of the Sultan Ahmet Mosque is another busy and popular shopping centre.
Contrasting with the noisy bustle of the bazaar s are the sophisticated
shops of the Taksim-Nisantasi-Sisli districts. At Istiklal Caddesi, Cumhuriyet
Caddesi, and near Taksim and Rumeli Caddesi in Nisantasi, are the most
fashionable shops where attractive Turkish fashion, which has been created
from t he high quality textiles of the country, can be found. Exquisite
jewellery as well as finely designed handbags and shoes are also available.
The recently developed Galleria complex in the Atakoy district has proved
to be very popular and now offers some o f the most elegant shops in Islanbul.
On the Asian side of Istanbul at Bahariye Avenue and Bagdat Avenue and
Capitol Shopping Mall are similar modern shopping centres. Istanbul has
many busy flea markets where one can find an astonishing assortment of
goo ds, both old and new. The Sahaflar Carsisi and Camarati in the Beyazit
district are open every day. Between Sahaflar and the Covered Bazaar is
a flea market on Sundays, while in Aksaray, the market at Horhor Carsisi
is open on weekends. Open daily are fle a markets in the Topkapi district,
on Cukurcuma Sokak in Cihangir, on Buyuk Hamam Sokak in Uskudar, in the
Kadikoy Carsi Duragi area, and one between Eminonu and Tahtakale. On Sunday
there is a market between Buyukdere and Sariyer.
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