Opened on October 15, 2005, it is a modern shopping and entertainment centre located in the Sisli district of Istanbul, Turkey.

Spread over an area of 348,000 square metres, Cevahir Mall is the largest shopping centre in Europe, and the seventh largest in the world.

The project, originally a trade complex, including retail centres and three skyscrapers with 40 and 48 floors to replace one of the city's old bus depots, was designed in 1987 by American architects Minoru Yamasaki & Associates.

The foundation stone was laid in 1997; however, it took eight years to complete only the shopping section due to numerous delays.

Image: A view of Cevahir Shopping Centre.