After my short acquaintance tour, I am at the Grand Bazaar of Maraş again.
Grand Bazaar has come under the domination of dried nuts, spices, veiling and souvenir shops.. It hosts historical inns and buildings such as İzmir’s Kemeraltı Bazaar.. While one end of the Grand Bazaar starts with the Coppersmiths’ Bazaar, the other end is the square where the Atatürk Monument is located.
When you turn left or right parallel to the Bazaar, you come across workshops where different handicrafts are performed.
Especially the beauty of wood carving and copper embroidery catches your eye.. With every step I take here, I realize that Maraş is not just about “tattoo ice cream”.
We enter Taş Han, the restoration of which was completed in 2007.. Taş Han is located adjacent to the Grand Bazaar.. Small manufacturing workshops are still working hard at the inn, which is thought to have been built during the Dulkadiroğulları Period.
In these workshops, which sell fabric by the meter and operate especially in the field of textile, local clothes are offered for sale.. It is also possible to come across examples of walnut carvings.
After leaving Taş Han behind, we take a look at Taş Madrasa in the square opposite the Historical Maraş Castle.. The masjid and mausoleum parts of Taş Madrasa attract the attention of those who want to perform their worship and visitors. The bazaar is located. Flags of Palestine and Turkey are waving side by side in this bazaar, where I can’t find a shop other than shops selling hijab clothing.. It has a peaceful view with its wide courtyard.
Historical Kahramanmaraş Castle is located on the hill, right across the square, where historical mosques and madrasahs are side by side, intertwined and visually calming.
Palm trees on the skirts of the castle betray Maraş, which is in the Mediterranean Region and under the influence of the Mediterranean climate.. Of course, palm trees are not the only way to understand climate.. The sudden turn of the extremely hot sunny weather into rain mixed with hail reminds me of the “unstable” Izmir weather.. Therefore, I am embarrassing myself that I am in the Mediterranean city of Maraş.
The face of the castle facing the square is beautifully arranged with inscriptions expressing the heroism of Maraş.. Visual elements were used with flowers of different colors.
The WATER AND BRIDGE CASE
As I go from the square to the upper settlements of the city, I come across many historical bridges.
It is possible to encounter historical bridges in the streets of almost many neighborhoods.
Water has great importance in Maraş.. The city of Maraş, where it is not even possible for those who do not know the city to have water when viewed from the outside, is very rich in terms of water.. It is possible to notice this wealth from the shopkeepers who pour the pressurized water in front of their shops in vain!
The city has many lakes and wetlands.. Pınarbaşı, which is the closest to the city center, has become the representative of the water gushing from the lands of Maraş.. In this area, which houses picnic and recreation facilities, it is possible to eat in the coolness of Maraş without getting overwhelmed by the heat.
We also have our lunch in Pınarbaşı.. The entrance of the military area just above Pınarbaşı is organized as the “Muhsin Yazıcıoğlu Recreation Area”.
YOĞURTLU KEBAP
“What to eat unique to Maraş? ” We get many answers to the question. These answers are generally kebab varieties.. Due to its proximity to the southeast and its mountainous terrain, meat is at the forefront in meals.. While the butchers taste the grilled meat in their shops, I can’t help but mention that the cutlery from the artisan groups is the group that makes the most money.
Yogurtlu Kebab, similar to İskender Kebap, is one of the recommended dishes.. After slicing the pita bread we know into the bottom of the plate, they pour butter and yogurt on it.
Meat pieces that look like meatballs but are not meatballs are added on top of this yogurt mixture.. Kebab with Yoghurt is a food that I strongly recommend to taste.. This soup, which resembles a little lentils and a little bit of ezogelin, contains different spices and wheat, which is called splitting.
In the kebab, which is expressed as “Miskender” and is prepared with tomato sauce poured over the well-known Iskender, with 21 different kinds of spices; It is among the dishes you can taste.
PEANUT BUTTER
The most important product that people who come to Maraş take on their way back. However, by going beyond the classics, I discover a product from Maraş that tastes perfect.. Pistachio paste, which I had the opportunity to taste after directing me to Genç Patisserie, is really delicious.. You can buy green peanut butter, which is not too sugary, but is found in baklava, also known as “wrapping”, as a mold.
The price of peanut butter, which is sold in half-pound packages, is 8 TL.
With historical and touristic elements of Kahramanmaraş he opens his arms to everyone, but even the Tourism Promotion Office is not open on Saturday!
I can’t get enough of the beauty of Maraş with what I discovered while visiting the city by hearsay.
