Gazi Husrev-Begov Bezistan (Covered Market), Sarajevo
Gazi Husrev鈥態eg鈥檚 Bezistan, often called the Old or Great Bezistan, is a striking covered market in the heart of Sarajevo鈥檚 historic Bascarsija district. Commissioned by Gazi Husrev鈥態eg鈥攁n influential 16th-century Ottoman governor鈥攁nd built in 1555, the market forms a key part of his monumental endowment alongside the mosque, madrasa, library, and clock tower. The architecture鈥攃rafted in collaboration with Dalmatian and Ragusan masons鈥攆eatures a robust stone fa莽ade, a long vaulted corridor, and vaulted entrances, closely reminiscent of Istanbul鈥檚 famous Kapal谋 Bazaar.
Covering about 109 metres along Zlatarska (Gazi Husrev鈥態egova) Street, the Bezistan鈥檚 east-facing shops historically accommodated metalworkers, gold and silversmiths, while the interior housed grocers and textile traders in cooler, underground spaces. The name 鈥淶latarska鈥� derives from its longstanding association with jewelry artisans and guilds. Today, nearly 70 small shops continue to operate, offering handcrafted souvenirs, silver filigree, local crafts, and tourist goods.
Declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006, the Bezistan stands as a testament to Sarajevo鈥檚 rich Ottoman heritage, preserved remarkably well despite past fires and urban change. Though the adjacent Taslihan鈥攁 16th-century caravansarai鈥攚as destroyed by fire in 1879, remnants remain visible near the market鈥檚 south side, now integrated into the summer garden of Hotel Europe.
For tourists, visiting the Bezistan is more than shopping: it's an immersive journey through centuries of trade, architecture, and cultural continuity in Sarajevo. Whether seeking local crafts, silver jewelry, or simply curious about Ottoman urbanism, the market鈥檚 shaded, vaulted alleys offer an evocative backdrop to explore the living legacy of Gazi Husrev-Beg鈥檚 civic vision.
Covering about 109 metres along Zlatarska (Gazi Husrev鈥態egova) Street, the Bezistan鈥檚 east-facing shops historically accommodated metalworkers, gold and silversmiths, while the interior housed grocers and textile traders in cooler, underground spaces. The name 鈥淶latarska鈥� derives from its longstanding association with jewelry artisans and guilds. Today, nearly 70 small shops continue to operate, offering handcrafted souvenirs, silver filigree, local crafts, and tourist goods.
Declared a national monument of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2006, the Bezistan stands as a testament to Sarajevo鈥檚 rich Ottoman heritage, preserved remarkably well despite past fires and urban change. Though the adjacent Taslihan鈥攁 16th-century caravansarai鈥攚as destroyed by fire in 1879, remnants remain visible near the market鈥檚 south side, now integrated into the summer garden of Hotel Europe.
For tourists, visiting the Bezistan is more than shopping: it's an immersive journey through centuries of trade, architecture, and cultural continuity in Sarajevo. Whether seeking local crafts, silver jewelry, or simply curious about Ottoman urbanism, the market鈥檚 shaded, vaulted alleys offer an evocative backdrop to explore the living legacy of Gazi Husrev-Beg鈥檚 civic vision.
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Gazi Husrev-Begov Bezistan (Covered Market) on Map
Sight Name: Gazi Husrev-Begov Bezistan (Covered Market)
Sight Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina (See walking tours in Sarajevo)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina (See walking tours in Sarajevo)
Sight Type: Shopping
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina
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