Bezesteni used to be a large covered market for luxury items. Its name derives from the Persian word “bez”, which means cotton or linen fabric, with “bezistan” being where these are sold. The market was built in the second half of the 15th century and consisted of 32 interior and 34 exterior shops. Four entrances, one on each side, were opened at sunrise and closed at sunset to protect the valuable merchandise. The roof features six domes covered with lead for better insulation and to enhance the feeling of luxury that was deemed appropriate for a building serving such an eminent trade.