The Grand Bazaar, called Kapaliçarşi in Turkish, is an enormous, old covered market in Istanbul, Turkey. It consists of over 3,000 shops across 75 acres that employs over 25,000 people to serve the quarter-million plus shoppers that visit daily. Its origins date back to the 15th century when the Ottomans ruled over Constantinople. The buildings are built from brick and stone. The arched ceilings are brightly painted and have large windows for providing the primary means of lighting.