The Bedesten (= market hall) dates from 1483 (during the reign of Beyazıt II) and was built by Kapı Ağası Hüseyin Ağa (‘Gatekeeper’ Hüseyin; ‘gatekeeper’ being a rank much higher than the name sounds nowadays).
It is a square building, with wide outer porticos in the North and the East, offering space for passage and for little shops as well. At the end of the 19th century, it had become a ruin, with only the outer walls still standing. Around 1975, in a first restoration campaign the square hall was repaired; in 2011 a new campaign was going on, to bring the Bedesten back to its original condition.

On the picture: The northeastern corner of the Bedesten, where the outer portico's meet. As can be seen, the restoration was in progress.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Source: ‘Vakıf Abideler ve eski Eserler’ - Vakıflar Genel Müdürlüğü, Ankara 1983 .