The heavy, arched doorway of Nakkaş Rug opens directly into the subterranean cistern of the nineteenth century Nakilbent Pasha Mansion. While the shop floor displays intricate carpets from across Anatolia, the foundation rests on ancient Byzantine stone. Beneath the rug displays, a spiraling staircase leads down into a dark, vaulted chamber where water once collected. This space is a remnant of the city’s vast hydraulic system, now housing the shop’s collection of historical textiles among the thick, damp stone walls.
Nakkaş Rug
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