Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Exiting the
bedesten
from its south door, walk down to the first cross-street,
Halıcılar
Walking east (right) you will come to a major cross-street,
Kuyumcular Caddesi
(Street of the Jewellers). Turn left and walk past the little kiosk in the middle of the street.
Built in the 19th century and known as the
Oriental Kiosk
, this now houses a jewellery
store but was once home to the most famous
muhallebici
(milk-pudding shop) in the dis-
trict. A little way further down, on the right-hand side of the street, is the entrance to the
pretty
Zincirli (Chain) Han
, home to one of the bazaar's best-known carpet merchants:
Şişko Osman. Returning to Kuyumcular Caddesi, turn sharp left into Perdahçılar Sokak
(Street of the Polishers). Walk until you reach
Takkeçiler Sokak
, where you should turn
left. This charming street is known for its marble
sebils
(public drinking fountains) and
shops selling kilims (pileless woven rugs). Turn right into Zenneciler Sokak (Street of the
Clothing Sellers) and you will soon come to a junction with another of the bazaar's major
thoroughfares: Sipahi Sokak (Avenue of the Cavalry Soldiers). Şark Kahvesi (
CLICK HERE
), a traditional coffee house, is right on the corner. Sipahi Sokak becomes Yağlıkçılar Cad-
desi to the north (right) and Feraçeciler Sokak to the south (left).
Take a left into Sipahi Sokak and walk until you return to Kalpakçılar Caddesi. Turn
right and exit the bazaar from the Beyazıt Kapısı (Beyazit Gate, Gate 7). Turn right again
and walk past the market stalls to the first passage on the left to arrıve at the
Sahaflar
which has operated as a book and paper market since Byzantine times. At the centre of its
shady courtyard is a bust of İbrahim Müteferrika (1674-1745), who printed the first book
in Turkey in 1732.
