From the Grand Bazaar to Ephesus
Vezirhan has a new home on the Aegean. Our second showroom, Vezirhan Ephesus, is now open in Selçuk, just minutes from the ancient city of Ephesus.
For years, travellers have found us in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, in a building once used by the viziers of the Ottoman Empire. Many of them told us the same thing: they were heading south next, to walk the marble streets of Ephesus. Now we are there too.
If you are visiting the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre or the Temple of Artemis, the same carpets, the same people and the same unhurried welcome are waiting for you a short drive away.
A story that began in Van
Vezirhan’s story starts far from the sea, in the eastern city of Van. Our founder, Tahir Abi, grew up watching the women of his family weave kilims through the long winters, then trade them in the village when spring came.
In 1987 he opened his first shop in Van, selling kilims bought directly from weaving families. A showroom by Lake Van followed, where visitors could watch a kilim take shape from raw wool. Then came Istanbul and the Grand Bazaar, where Vezirhan became a stop for collectors, designers and travellers from around the world.
The idea has never changed: a carpet is not just a product, it is a piece of someone’s life and region. Ephesus, a city that has welcomed travellers for thousands of years, felt like the natural next chapter.
Why Ephesus
Ephesus is one of the great meeting points of the ancient world. Settled for some 8,000 years, it was once among the largest cities of the Roman East and the home of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders. Today it draws visitors from every continent, by road from İzmir and by sea through the cruise port of Kuşadası.
It is also carpet country. The Aegean has its own weaving traditions, from the warm reds of Milas to the bold geometry of Bergama and the deep blues of Yağcıbedir. Bringing our Anatolian collection here means showing these pieces close to where many of them were born.
And for travellers, timing matters. A carpet is a decision best made slowly, not in the last hour before a flight. Being near Ephesus gives our guests the time to look, touch, ask questions and come back the next day if they wish.
What you’ll find at Vezirhan Ephesus
The new showroom brings the spirit of our Grand Bazaar shop to the Aegean, with a few things we think every visitor should experience.
- A curated collection. Handwoven carpets and kilims from across Anatolia, alongside fine Persian rugs and vibrant Caucasian weaves, in every size from small prayer rugs to large room pieces.
- Weaving you can watch. See a weaver at the loom and learn how a single knot becomes a pattern, how natural dyes are made and why a silk carpet can take months to finish.
- The story behind each piece. Our team will tell you where a carpet comes from, what its motifs mean and how to tell wool, cotton and silk apart.
- Certified authenticity. Every Vezirhan carpet comes with a certificate stating its origin.
- No pressure, ever. Come for a cup of tea and a conversation. Many of our guests visit simply to learn, and they are just as welcome.
- Shipping to your door. Fell in love but travelling light? We can ship your carpet home safely, wherever home is.