Spice Bazaar is located in Eminönü, one of the oldest settlements of İstanbul, which has been host to three great civilizations, next to Yeni Cami (New Mosque) and the Flower Bazaar. Spice Bazaar, which is one of the historical covered bazaars of İstanbul, was constructed upon the order of Turhan Hatice, mother of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed IV. Contrary to the bazaars of the day, it was built of rubble stone, dimension stone and bricks. The bazaar, whose construction was initiated by architect Koca Kasım Ağa in the year 1660, was completed by the Sultan’s Head-Architect Mustafa Ağa in 1664.

According to some written sources, it is told to there was a closed bazaar named Makron Envalos during the Byzantine era, at the location of the Spice Bazaar, and the Venetian and the Genoese performed trade there. The structure, referred as the New Bazaar or the Valide (Sultan’s Mother) Bazaar during the first years, has been referred by the public as the Egyptian Bazaar, starting from the 18th century. For, it was constructed through taxes received from Cairo, hence Egypt.

Spices arriving from Southeast Asia, India and Egypt, were being distributed in İstanbul, the most important stop of the Silk Road, to Europe, from there. As for the vault of the “L”-shaped bazaar, it is, as out of spite, much higher than the much larger Grand Bazaar’s. In the bazaar, which has 6 gates – Tahmis Gate (Fish Market Gate), Haseki Gate (Garden Gate), Flower Market Gate, Yeni Cami Gate, Ketenciler (Linen Sellers) Gate, which opens to Tahtakale, and Eminönü Gate -, are located 86 shops. Spice Bazaar had its’ share of fires, which have an important place in İstanbul’s history. Spice Bazaar, which was greatly damaged during the fire of January 2, 1691, was victim of the flames once again in 1940. The historical bazaar, which took its current shape following the renovation carried out between the years 1940 and 1943, hosts shops selling different products, from jewelry stores to herbalists, spice sellers to Turkish delight shops, delicatessens to gift shops. 

The bazaar, smaller than the Grand Bazaar in terms of surface area, is a frequently visited place, one which is a particular favorite of foreign tourists. Spice Bazaar, which has been a giant market throughout its history where cure-all dried plants, thousands of herbs and hundreds of spices met, continues to help people in recovering their health since 300 years.