News
from: Turkish Culture & Tourism Office
www.tourismturkey.org
Source: Brenda Urban, M. Booth & Associates

ABOVE: The Grand Bazaar is just a starting point for shopping in Istanbul and Turkey.

Turkey invites shoppers to look beyond Istanbul's Grand Bazaar

Visitors find hidden treasures in local markets and chic boutiques

Istanbul, Turkey, October, 2006 - Ever since its days at the center of the Silk Road connecting Europe and Asia, Turkey has offered shoppers an incomparable selection of goods presented in a variety of inviting environments, from open street markets and covered bazaars, to modern shopping malls and designer boutiques.

In the larger cities such as Istanbul, visitors can explore entire neighborhoods devoted to the art of shopping. Not far from the world-famous Grand Bazaar is Istanbul's Sultanahmet district, filled with diverse boutiques and stores that present shoppers with an irresistible assortment of handmade goods. A great place to brush up on Turkish pazarlik (bargaining), the Sultanahmet district offers everything from handmade cushions, rugs and Turkish home décor items, to hand-blown glassware, musical instruments and fine jewelry. The district's leather shops have hundreds of designs and colors, and many can custom-design items to shoppers' personal tastes. True to Turkish tradition, visitors can also find a specialty store in Sultanahmet devoted to belly dancing costumes and jewelry, where customers can learn the famed art of belly dancing as they peruse the colorful selections.

At the center of Istanbul, shoppers congregate at Istiklal Street in Beyoglu. Beginning at Taksim Square, bargain hunters pore over the shelves of tempting boutiques selling clothing and accessories. Great deals can also be found at Horhor Bit Pazari (Flea Market) behind Aksaray Mosque: its seven stories and 220 stores offer everything from collectible antiques, to rare Ottoman furniture.

Fashionistas find top designer brands of clothing in Istanbul's Nisantasi district and on the Asian side of the Bosphorus in Bagdat Caddesi. Well-known designers like Louis Vuitton and Hugo Boss have set up stores, alongside quaint cafés where shoppers can relax and enjoy their treasures. Other high-end shops line the aisles of Kanyon Mall on Büyükdere Avenue. Istanbul's first mega-mall complex, it offers shoppers everything from books and electronics, to children's toys and cosmetics.

Artisans' workshops and village bazaars in Turkey's smaller cities and countryside offer visitors a chance to experience first-hand and appreciate the time and painstaking detail that goes into making some of the country's most precious and intricate crafts. In Ankara, visitors can stroll through the "high-society bazaar" known as Asagi Ayranci Pazari. The city of Izmir's Alaçati Antika Pazari is packed with vendors selling both food and antiques from Izmir, Ankara and Bursa. And at Bolu's Köylü Pazari, shoppers can interact with over 600 villagers (mostly women) who sell their homemade food there every Monday. With specific regions specializing in particular artistries, exploring each area of Turkey gives travelers the opportunity to take home unique mementos of their visit, as meaningful reminders of this diverse, rich culture.

Turkish Carpets

One of the most sought-after items, luxurious Turkish carpets vary in size, design, purpose, and materials, depending on their region of origin.

Those traveling along the Aegean coast can find lamb's wool carpets with rare patterns, rich in dark indigo blue and red colors, made in nomad-inhabited villages. The Kayseri area is well-known for its intricately-designed rugs and kilims in both silk and wool. And in Hereke (near Istanbul), the hand-knotted rugs are world-renowned for their exquisite designs and elaborate patterns.

Jewelry

Jewelry aficionados flock to Turkey for its wide selection of fine jewelry. One-of-a-kind pieces lend glamour and old-world charm to marketplaces and shops everywhere, and especially in Istanbul's Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Market. Though antique pieces of jewelry are found in abundance, vendors also sell more modern forms of 18K and 24K gold, as well as silver.

For a traditional piece of Turkish jewelry, visitors favor Boncuk. This blue "little magic stone" protects its wearer from Nazar, better known as the Evil Eye. Stemming from a superstitious folk tale, Boncuk charms are found all over the country. They make perfect souvenirs to bring back to family and friends interested in Turkish culture and traditions.

Tiles and Ceramics

The Turkish art of ceramic tile-making reached its peak in the 17th century, blending elements from cultures which had left their mark on Turkish arts over the ages-Greek, Roman, Arabic, Seljuk and Ottoman. A wide range of ceramics can be found in most areas of the country. Iznik is well-known for its colorful, floral, hand-painted tiles and pottery, while potters from Canakkale are famed for their red clay jugs and bowls with complex, bold designs.

For information about travel to Turkey, call 1-877-FOR-TURKEY or contact the Turkish Culture and Tourism Offices in New York at 212-687-2194, in Washington D.C. at 202-612-6800, or in Los Angeles at 323-937-8066 and visit www.tourismturkey.org  or www.kulturturizm.gov.tr.

Photos: Turkish Culture and Tourism Office

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