Arasta Bazaar

The Arasta Bazaar, also known as Sipahi Carsisi inTurkish , is located behind the Blue Mosque  in the old city center, just next to the entrance of the Mosaics Museums. Despite The Grand Bazaar , Arasta Bazaar is a small and simple traditional market in Istanbul. There are about 40 shops lined on both sides of a street, selling mostly traditional items. Originally this place was built in the 17th century together with the mosque and used to be stables during the Ottoman period. Several fires in the past destroyed the stables and it was left in ruins for a long time. It was converted into shops in 1980s, permitting the money from rents to be used in the restoration works of the Blue Mosque.