Grand Bazaar facts for kids
The Grand Bazaar (which means 'Grand Bazaar' in Turkish) in Istanbul, Turkey, is one of the biggest and oldest covered markets on Earth! Imagine a huge shopping mall, but much older and with streets inside. It's a super popular place for visitors.
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What is the Grand Bazaar?
The Grand Bazaar is like a city within a city, all under one roof. It has 61 covered streets, which is a lot! Inside, you can find thousands of shops. While the exact number changes, there are usually between 3,000 and 4,000 shops.
A Busy Place
This amazing market is incredibly busy. Every day, between 250,000 and 400,000 people visit the Grand Bazaar. That's like a small city visiting every single day! In 2013, it was even named the world's most-visited tourist attraction, with over 91 million visitors in one year.
History of the Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar has a very long history. It was first built a long, long time ago during the Ottoman Empire.
Who Built It?
The market was started by a famous ruler named Mehmed the Conqueror. Later, another powerful ruler, Suleiman the Magnificent, helped it grow even bigger. Over time, it became the huge market we see today.
What Was Inside?
The Grand Bazaar isn't just shops. In the past, it also had special bathhouses called hammams, inns for travelers, mosques for prayer, and fountains for water. It was a complete center for trade and daily life.
Where is the Grand Bazaar?
The Grand Bazaar is located right in the heart of Istanbul. It's inside the old walled city area, in a part of town called Fatih. The neighborhood itself is even named after the market, Kapalıçarşı.
