The market itself is lively, crowded and
colourful. It takes place every Tuesday, and is so popular that day excursions are
organised here for tourists from resorts in the area. Attractive tablecloths, pillow cases
and other household linenmade of locally woven cotton fabrics, trinkets and gifts and |
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summer clothing fill the stalls in one half
of the market, while the other half is given over to a mouthwatering array of fresh
fruits and vegetables.
The arasta, an Ottoman period open air bazaar, is lined by small old fashioned
shops, occupied by tailors, shoemakers, antique dealers, corned beef makers,
and offal butchers. Close by is ~I7ollühan, a typical example of a han which
provided rooms, storage and stabling for merchants and artisans. The han was built in
1768 by Abdülaziz Aga. Passing between the packsaddle maker’s and a shop
making bead ornaments for horses and camels which face one another at the
entrance, I entered the courtyard. A tumbledown wooden staircase led to the upper
gallery, where there is a workshop spinning and weaving goat’s hair. Kilims made
from hair and patterned felt rugs had been hung over the balustrade.
Milas is famous worldwide
for its handwoven carpets made of vegetable dyed
wool that are mainly produced in mountain villages in the southern part of the
province. Since they are bought up by dealers while still on the looms for the
domestic market or export there are very few shops selling carpets in Milas
itself The typical pastel designs of Milas carpets date back to the 17th century, and
their value derives from both these and the quality of their weaving. |