The French word «passage» means a covered gallery of shops and boutiques. The building of the European Passage in Istanbul was built in 1885 and, according to the architect's design, was intended to become a copy of the famous French shopping galleries of Choiseul.
European Passage undoubtedly stands out among other shopping galleries and shops of Istanbul for its distinctive architecture and decorative elements. Corinthian columns adorned with bronze statues, elegant bridges connecting the galleries to one another, an abundance of mirrors in the interior spaces - all this creates a wonderful atmosphere for shopping and recalls French galleries. By the way, because of the abundance of mirrors, these shopping arcades are also known as the «Mirror Passage».
However, it is worth noting that the European Passage shows features not only of French shopping galleries, but also of authentic Turkish shops. The eye is inevitably drawn to colorful tiles, silk embroidered tablecloths, Turkish fabrics, and carpets.
