Merhaba To Istanbul

Located in the center of the Old World, Istanbul is one of the world's great cities famous for its historical monuments and magnificent scenic beauties. It is the only city in the world which spreads over two continents: it lies at a point where Asia and Europe are separated by a narrow strait - the Bosphorus. Istanbul has a history of over 2,500 years, and ever since its establishment on this strategic junction of lands and seas, the city has been a crucial trade center.

 

The historic city of Istanbul is situated on a peninsula flanked on three sides by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. It has been the capital of three great empires, the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and for more than 1,600 years over 120 emperors and sultans ruled the world from here. No other city in the world can claim such a distinction.

 

During its development, the city was enlarged four times, each time the city walls being rebuilt further to the west.

 

Surrounded by 5th century Roman city walls and stretching over seven hills, Istanbul is adorned by the masterpieces of Turkish art, the great mosques of the Sultans that crown the hills. The city presents an exquisite, majestic and serene silhouette from all directions. The Golden Horn, which is a very secure natural harbor, has played a significant role in the development of the city.

 

Fortune provided such advantages to Istanbul as a location at a junction where the main overland routes reach the sea, an easily defensible peninsula, an ideal climate, a rich and generous nature, control of the strategic Bosphorus, and a central geographical position in the ancient world.

 

As a capital of empires, the city was not only an administrative, but also a religious center. The Patriarchate of Eastern Christians has been headquartered here since its establishment, and the largest early churches and monasteries of the Christian world rose in this city on top of the pagan temples. Within a century after the city was conquered, it was enriched with mosques, palaces, schools, baths and other architectural monuments that gave it a Turkish character, while some of the existing churches in ruins were repaired, altered and converted into mosques.Between the 16th century when the Ottoman sultans acquired themselves the title of the "Caliph of Islam" and 1924, the first year of the Republic, Istanbul was also the headquarters of the Caliphate. More Jews settled in Istanbul than any other port, and here they built themselves a new and happy life after they were rescued from Spain by the Turks in the 15th century. Istanbul has always been a city of tolerance where mosques, churches and synagogues existed side by side. The city was adorned with a large number of dazzling and impressive works even during the period of decline of the Ottomans.

During this time, the influence of European art made itself felt in the new palaces, while the northern slopes of the Golden Horn, Galata and Beyoglu districts assumed a European character. Even when the Empire, which was a party to World War I, collapsed and the young Republic that replaced it moved the capital to Ankara, Istanbul did not lose its significance.

 

The haphazard development that began in the years following World War II and accelerated in the 1950's has unfortunately had a negative impact on the fabric of the old city, and while old wooden houses disappeared rapidly, concrete buildings proliferated. Istanbul experienced a population explosion due to immigration, and within a very short period it expanded far beyond the historical city walls. The areas inside the walls were invaded by workshops, mills and offices; even the new thoroughfares could not solve the traffic problems, and the inadequacy of the infrastructure gave rise to a sea pollution problem, starting with the Golden Horn.

 

With the initiatives for saving the city in the 1980s, Istanbul embarked on a process of restructuring on a scale unseen in its history.Thousands of buildings along the Golden Horn were demolished to make way for a green belt on its shores; parks and gardens were built on the land claimed by filling up the beaches of the Sea of Marmara. In order to prevent sea pollution drainage systems were completed and physical and biological wastewater treatment plants were erected; the use of natural gas for heating has considerably reduced air pollution.

Efforts are continuing for the restoration of the Roman city walls, and Beyoglu, the main artery, was rescued by building a newavenue. Improvements were made in ihe general cleaning, maintenance, garbage collection fields and these services are now at Western European standards. Ring roads cross the Bosphorus over two suspension bridges to connect the two continents. The European side has now a fast tramway system and a subway, and comfort and speed has been ensured in sea transportation with the hydrofoil terminals built on the seashores. All industrial establishments on the historic peninsula have been moved to new facilities in the suburbs, and the new international bus terminal has reduced traffic intensity. The old jail and the first large concrete building of the city were given over to tourism and converted into 5-star hotels.

 

The city is growing dynamically and developing at full speed on an east-west axis along the shores of the Marmara.

 

For A Short Visit The Istanbul

  

Have you got only a short period of time to visit this beautiful city? No need to worry- there are choices of “tasting Istanbul” even in a short period of time.

Daily excursions available throughout the year will give you the chance to visit the most important historical sites, museums, famous Grand Bazaar and surroundings. Excursions departing from hotels of the port present to you the monuments in the historical peninsula in half-day tours. You get a chance to visit Ayasofya Museum, the Mosque of Süleyman the Magnificent, the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet (also known as Blue Mosque), Hippodrome and Topkapı Palace Museum. You may also participate in tours taking you on the Bosphorus or to the Asian side. Then, you will go back home with unforgettable and beautiful memories.

The Roman fortifications, Chora (Kariye) Museum renowned for its late Byzantine period frescoes and mosaics, the Galata Tower for a splendid panorama of the city, Dolmabahçe Palace on the Bosphorus - the richest palace museum in the world, Archaeological Museums, Turkish-Islamic Arts Museum, the Spice Bazaar and others require 3 to 4 days’ time.

And cruising Bosphorus… A ferry ride on the Bosphorus will be amongst the most unforgettable. You may be carried away with the unparalleled beauty of the yalı mansions lining along the coasts and from which many ancient love stories reflect on the water, luxurious modern villas of the 20th century, the palaces of Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi and Göksu, Rumeli and Anadolu Fortresses, remnants of the fishing villages, restaurants, tea gardens, and night clubs. In the same day you can cool off in the waters of the Black Sea and then relax with a cup of coffee at a tea garden on the quiet coasts of the Sea of Marmara enjoying the beauty of the Istanbul Straits.
Istanbul is a place where the ancient meets the modern. For shopping there is a great variety of choices. The Grand Bazaar and the big reputable shops by it, the shopping malls of Ak Merkez, Galleria, Capitol and many more, the boutiques at Nişantaşı and Beyoğlu and in the Baghdad Street are at your service all through the year.

The Grand Bazaar still retains the dreamlike atmosphere of the “good old days,” yet, it presents you with the newest choices of the modern world: eye-catching jewelry, copperwork, rugs, leatherwear, suede wear, and many more… Once caught by it, you may lose track of time strolling in the Grand Bazaar.
                                     

Besides its historical importance and cultural heritage, the city is furbished with modern hotels, elegant restaurants, nightclubs, bars, historical bazaars and shops as well.

Once you step in this city, you will be able to experience by yourself this historical and natural beauty beyond words can describe. Our greetings and love from the beautiful Istanbul, home of many civilizations.

 

DON'T GO WİTHOUT

• Seeing the Mosques of Süleymaniye and Sultan Ahmet (also known as the Blue Mosque);
• Visiting the Ayasofya and Chora Museums;
• Visiting the Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palaces and the Rumeli Fortress;
• Taking the ferry up the Bosphorus and to the Princes’ Islands;
• Watching the panorama of the city from the Galata Tower and the Pierre Loti;
• Enjoying the cultural and artistic activities;
• Wondering and joining the life of entertainment;
• Visiting the Ortaköy market;
• Riding the phaeton in Büyükada (island);
• Eating fish at a restaurant on the Bosphorus, at Kumkapı or Flower Passage; eating yoghurt at Kanlıca and profiterol at Beyoğlu;
• Buying a rug, jewelry, leatherwear at the Grand Bazaar, Turkish delight, baklava, pastrami and candy at the Spice Bazaar;
• Shopping at Beyoğlu and other mega sized shopping malls.

From Şile To Ağva: A Refreshing Summer On The Black Sea

 

From Şile To Ağva: A Refreshing Summer On The Black Sea

Perched on a promontory high over the Black Sea north of Istanbul, Şile is ideal for a few days getaway. There is a surprise marketplace in the center of town, where you will come across a statue of a young girl weaving the famous Şile bezi cotton cloth. The shops along the avenue are a rainbow of color with embroidered tablecloths, curtains, dresses, shirts and countless other items, all made of Şile bezi, a lightweight, naturally crimped fabric made of natural cotton. It’s perfectly delightful to enjoy the refreshing breeze and gaze at the sea from the rocks at the harbor, where crates laden with fresh fish are carried from the boats direct to the restaurants. Whatever comes out of the sea is immediately offered to the customer. The patch of defense wall on the steep cliff opposite dates back to the Byzantines. Next to the harbor, swimmers frolic on the public beach, where the town’s world-famous beach volleyball matches are played. Acrobatic gulls are the real owners of the palisades overlooking Kavala Park, and the historic Şile Lighthouse complements the scene. Built in 1858, this 20-meter octagonal structure is described as Turkey’s oldest lighthouse in its promotional brochure. Further down the road are the Weeping Rocks, so called because the water seeping through these intriguing rock formations worn down by centuries of wind and waves have been compared to tear drops. A little further on, the area around the windmill at the tip of a green headland is ideal for a walk. Swimming, sunbathing, picnicking, or a fresh fish feast… The possibilities are endless at Şile.

The Nearby Villages
We set out now to see the villages of Şile. Kabakoz, about 10 kilometers outside of town, lies at the foot of a wooded slope. Known since time immemorial for weaving Şile bezi, the town’s people engaged in the craft have dwindled sharply today. Kabakoz’s next door neighbor Akçakese is a former Ottoman village. The newest of its wooden mansions, built by the same masters who constructed the houses at Safranbolu, is a hundred years old. Most of these houses with their columned balconies, symmetric al facades and ornamental eaves have been restored.  And the village’s long beach with its log cabins is reminiscent of the tree houses at Olympos near Antalya. Ağva, too, is not far away, nestled between two rivers that empty into the Black Sea at the end of a road that winds through the woods. Named for the jungle-like vegetation along its coast, Yeşilcay (Green Stream) is a natural harbor, where colorful boats are moored to wooden piers along the length of the river. A wide beach extends from the point where the river empties into the sea. Göksu Çayı meanwhile, so-called because the blue sky is reflected in its waters, is known for its river hotels. According to the local guides, there are exactly 32 hiking trails in the area. The best known are Kalemköy, where you can see Roman ruins, Geredeli with its Genoese harbor, Gürlek Cave at Hacılı, which bears traces of life from the 3d century, and the Genoese defense walls at Hisartepe. Only 15 minutes from Ağva by boat, the coast is chock full of interesting rock formations, tiny islands and caves. You can choose your own private cove and have a dip in the cool waters off these coasts, which are almost always deserted. The best spot for magnificent sunsets at Ağva is obvious. We settle down to wait next to the lighthouse at end of the breakwater. The sun sinks slowly, staining the Black Sea myriad shades of red.

 

By Skylife

Visitor's Guide

Why is the driving so bad?

So, you’ve noticed? In a bumpy car chase scene in the TV series ‘Leverage’, when asked by Parker where she learnt how to drive, Sophie answers, ‘From a taxi driver in Istanbul’. It’s not like we take pride in it or anything, but we accept it: the driving is bad enough to replace the age-old saying ‘smoking like a Turk’ with ‘driving like a Turk’. The ‘why’ part is a little shady, though. We generally have no respect for fellow human beings; we think we’re always right, and we don’t like waiting in queues. So, yes, there you have it. (But you’ll really enjoy how hospitable we are.)  In our defence, driving is bad, but pedestrians are worse (read: slow).

 

Why do people keep running into me?

The same reason why the driving is bad. The only way you can prevent people from running into you is if you run into them first. Crowded and wide avenues with little to no car traffic such as Kadıköy’s Bahariye Caddesi or Taksim’s İstiklal Caddesi operate according to invisible traffic rules that no one knows. You should watch out to gauge when to go faster, when to slow down and when to cut someone off. Also, walking very solemnly, as if you’re in a lot of hurry, usually helps.

 

Who’s the blonde guy with blue eyes whose photos are in every shop?

[Sigh] That’s Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic and the country’s first president. He was also an accomplished military offi... Actually, just Google him.

 

Can women enter the mosque? Do they have to cover their heads?

Yes and yes. Covering your head with a scarf is a symbolic gesture of respect and will most probably be expected of female visitors. Covering your shoulders, legs and chest is also a good idea. Miniskirt, tube top, flip-flops: good for the beach, not so much for the mosque. (Also, guys, leave your Bermuda shorts at the hotel and opt for a pair of jeans when you’re on your way to Sultanahmet.)

 

Why aren’t there more Turks wearing fezes?

Do you see any? Originally a Moroccan invention, the fez was an indispensable part of the Ottoman attire, especially for governmental officials. As part of his clothing reform in 1925, Atatürk abolished the use of the fez (along with other headgear such as the turban) and replaced it with European-style hats. The fez remains a touristic novelty item, and the fate of those who expect to see people wearing fezes will be the same as the fate of those who expect to see camels on the streets: disappointment.

 

Are there any brothels in Istanbul?

Why, yes, of course! Istanbul offers a multitude of corporal pleasures with thousands of female, male, transgender and transvestite sex workers. But need we remind you that Istanbul isn’t your top destination for sex tourism? When the passport police at the airport asked you the nature of your visit (‘business or pleasure?’), that wasn’t what he meant. Still, you can find brothels in Karaköy and Beyoğlu, and a number of hostels/ hotels in Laleli, Kumkapı and Aksaray are used as venues where you can hook up with prostitutes.

 

Is prostitution legal?

Technically, yes. But there’s no guarantee that the transsexual hottie eyeing you has a valid permit. By the way, there are also really nice museums in the city you might want to check out while you’re here... Just sayin’.

 

Can I drink beer on the street?

At your own risk. There have been incidents where non-suspecting young people drinking beer on the street have actually been beaten. It all depends on the neighbourhood, really. Üsküdar, for instance, definitely isn’t a good place to try daredeviling acts with alcohol (although the Maiden’s Tower view from the shore at night will definitely tempt you to grab your nearest fling and a few cold ones), whereas Kadıköy and Beyoğlu are much freer districts. When in doubt, don’t. 

 

Can I drink tap water?

Only if you have no taste buds. Tap water in Istanbul is generally accepted to meet world standards in treatment and purification, but we still wouldn’t recommend it. We wouldn’t recommend brewing tea or coffee with tap water, either, as it will spoil the taste.

 

I went to use the toilet and only saw a hole in the ground. What gives?

That’s called a squat toilet (also flat toilet, alaturka toilet or simply Turkish toilet). While it’s generally accepted to be much more uncomfortable than the regular, European kind you’re used to, there are some who claim that squatting is actually more hygienic (no contact, no germs!). These types of toilets aren’t really all that common except in older, lower-income neighborhoods and public restrooms.

 

What’s proper tipping etiquette?

It’s not customary to tip cab drivers, but do go ahead if the driver has pleasantly surprised you with his spotless car, perfect driving, extensive navigation skills and courteous manners, and be sure to give us his number. In restaurants, a 10-15 percent tip is acceptable. Any other place where you feel like tipping (the bell boy, the girl who did your nails, etc), go with your instinct.

 

Where can I eat pork?

So Islam prohibits drinking alcohol and eating pork. But while you can find alcohol and people drinking alcohol everywhere, pork is somewhat of a taboo. Weird, right? Still, pork is no longer as unconventional or hard to find as it once was. You can find pork dishes in many hip restaurants such as Miss Pizza (Cihangir), Que Tal (Şişhane), Num Num (multiple branches) or in high-end delicatessens such as Namlı Gurme (Karaköy), Şütte (Nişantaşı) and Macrocenter supermarkets.

 

(For single males) I heard/read that if a man approaches me and tries to take me out to a nightclub, I should politely but firmly refuse him. What’s the deal with that?

Istanbul is an eclectic metropolitan with all kinds of beauties the World has to offer – and all kinds of dangers, too, many of which can be avoided with some common sense. Do doubt the good intentions of a stranger approaching you at a touristic location, asking if you’d like to get a drink. You may end up getting swindled or wake up in bath full of ice cubes with your kidneys missing (the first one is more likely). Do not go to strange places with people you don’t know, and definitely don’t accept any candy from them.

Around Town

1. You automatically take off your shoes when entering a house.

2. You’ve tried all the types of street food Istanbul offers: corn, stuffed mussels, chickpeas on rice, nuts, pomegranate juice, popcorn...

3. Not a day goes by without drinking at least one çay (tea). If it does, you feel weird about it.

4. Friends don’t invite you to their homes for dinner, but for breakfast.

5. You know the name of the guy at the bakkal (corner store) on your street.

6. Everything is çok (very): çok güzel, çok iyi, çok ayıp...

7. You have started to answer questions by repeating the answer (evet, evet; var, var; hayır, hayır; yok, yok).

8. You’ve forgotten what it means to recycle.

9. You no longer hear the honking of car horns.

10. You know there is always traffic in Istanbul: the question is whether there is traffic or A LOT of traffic.

11. You know you’ll find a portrait of Atatürk everywhere you go.

12. You have learned to accept yogurt as something salty you drink with your food rather than something sweet you eat for dessert.

13. You hardly hear it anymore when the mosques issue the call to prayer. Five times a day. Starting at 05.30.

14. You have drunk çay when it’s 35 degrees Celsius outside.

15. You know the only way to cross the street is kamikaze-style, with the cars passing just a few centimetres away. Traffic lights? What are those?

16. You know the first rule about Atatürk is: you do not say anything bad about Atatürk.

17. And the second rule about Atatürk is: you do not say anything bad about Atatürk.

18. You ask for a student discount or try to bargain for almost everything.

19. Remember when you used to notice how there was always a smartass jumping the queue without anyone complaining? Now you’re that smartass.

20. You go to the Tarlabaşı very Sunday to buy fruits and vegetables at extremely cheap prices. And you still try to bargain for a better deal.

21. You know where all the happy-hour places are in Taksim.

22. You always drink the biggest beer because "it’s just one lira more."

23. You’re still looking for the cheapest kebap in the city.

24. You have a nazar boncuğu ("evil eye") in your house or your room.

25. You do not say "ok"; you say "tamam."

26. You kiss both cheeks with your close male friends.

27. It doesn’t surprise you anymore to see two macho guys walking together with linked arms.

28. The entrance to your house looks like a shoe store.

29. You have accepted olives and cheese as part of your breakfast.

30. You have accepted that there will always be soup and yogurt with your food.

31. You have a favourite brand of rakı.

32. You have accepted yogurt as a sauce.

33. You are thinking about growing a moustache to look cool.

34. You think it’s normal to "drink a cigarette," "close the phone" or having it be "raining snow."

35. You call older neighbours "aunt" and "uncle."

36. You say "allah allah" to complain or express anger.

37. You don’t get surprised when some people still give prices in millions of liras.

38. You compare the price of an alcoholic drink to the food you could eat for that same amount.

39. You now expect to get a wet-wipe soaked in lemon scent at the end of a restaurant meal.

40. When you need groceries, you call the shop on the corner and have them sent up to you in a basket.

41. You know that kahvaltı means "under or after the coffee" – and that there is never coffee after breakfast.

42. You have eaten an islak (wet) hamburger after partying.

43. You have eaten midye dolma (stuffed mussels) after a night out. And you’ve stopped asking yourself where they come from or how they’re prepared.

44. You know you’ll always find the sugar served in cubes

45. You’ve stopped expecting sauce in your döner kebab and know it is normal to find French fries in it instead.

46. You expect to climb a ton of stairs to reach a bar or nightclub.

47. You only go to the historic part of the city when your friends visit you.

48. You think it’s normal for motorcyclists to ride in the wrong direction, without a helmet.

49. You know every building has a name of a person on it, and usually two numbers: the old one and the new one.

50. You have learned to play tavla (backgammon). Better yet, you’ve spent a whole afternoon drinking çay, smoking nargile (hookah) and playing tavla.

by: Santiago Brusadin -Timeoutistanbul

Intresting Facts About Istanbul

 

The Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest historical bazaar in the world with 4000 shops covering 61 streets.It’s the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the World.

 

Istanbul is the only city in the world which is both in Europe and Asia geographicaly.

The four bronze horses decorating the San Marco Cathedral in Venice were taken from Istanbul (Constantinople at that time) by the crusaders in the 13th century.

 

Tea has become a national drink only recently. Before that it was Turkish coffee but when it became expensive and tea leaves could be grown in the Black Sea region, tea took its place. Coffee cannot be produced in Turkey because of the unfavourable climate for its production.

 

Istanbul was the European Cultural capital in 2010. Two years later it became the world’s fifth-most-popular tourist destination.

 

Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world for about 900 years until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. It was also one of the 20 finalists for the New 7 Wonders of the World.

 

A global city, Istanbul is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the world and accounts for more than a quarter of Turkey’s GDP.

 

And of course it’s common knowledge that Istanbul is the only city in the world to straddle two continents but still worth mentioning. The historic centre lies on the European side of the city. The Bosphorus Strait divides the city (and implicitly the two continents) and is the link between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

 

 The Blue Mosque is the only mosque in the city with six minarets. Legend has it that when it was built, it had one minaret more than the Grand Mosque in Mecca (four was the common maximum at that time) and this was considered disrespectful in the Muslim world. In order to solve the issue, one more minaret had to be added to the Grand Mosque.

Istanbul has the third oldest subway in the world. It was built in 1875 after the ones in London and in New York in 1863 and 1868, respectively. It is 573 meters long and it is located in the Beyoglu district.

 

1500'S, there were 1400 public toilets in Istanbul while in the rest of Europe there were none.

 

Istanbul has been the capital of some of the biggest empires: Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman. – Istanbul is one of the biggest cities in the world, with around 14 million population, which is more than 122 countries around the world. However, it’s not Turkey’s capital. Ankara has been the capital since Turkey was proclaimed a republic by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in 1923.

 

Maiden's Tower also known in the ancient Greek and medieval Byzantine periods as Leander's Tower (Tower of Leandros), sits on a small islet located in the Bosphorus strait off the coast of Uskudar in Istanbul, Turkey. Used as a lighthouse for centuries, the interior of the tower has been transformed into a popular café and restaurant, with an excellent view of the former Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman capital. Private boats make trips to the tower several times a day.  The tower was featured in the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough. The tower was a point on the CBS reality game show The Amazing Race 7.

 

 

The pride of the Topkapi Palace Museum and its most valuable single exhibit is the 86-carat pear-shaped Spoonmaker Diamond, also known as the Kasikci. Surrounded by a double-row of 49 Old Mine cut diamonds and well spotlighted, it hangs in a glass case on the wall of one of the rooms of the Treasury. In 1774 a French officer named Pikot bought the diamond from the Maharajah of Madras in India and then took it to France. Somehow thieves got wind of the gem and robbed Pikot. Sometime later a large diamond about the size of the stone taken from Pikot, appeared at an auction, and the notorious Casanova made a bid for it. The diamond thus became known for a time as the Casanova Lottery Diamond. It was finally bought by Napoleon's mother, Letizia Ramolino, who later sold her jewels to help her son escape from Elba in 1815. An officer of Tepedelenli Ali Pasha bought the great diamond for 150,000 pieces of gold and put it in Tepedelenli's Treasury. When he was killed in the revolt against Sultan Mahmut II, his entire treasury came to the Palace of Turkey. It is probable that the stone now called the Kasikci, is the long lost Pikot (aka Spoonmaker's) Diamond. Source: "Diamonds Eternal" by Victor Argenzio. Printed by the David McKay Company Inc., New York. 1974.

Adolf Hitler worked in the constuction of Haydarpaşa Railhead as a younger worker.
 

Istanbul, Turkey opened its first coffeehouse in 1554. The Turks brought coffee to Austria when their army surrounded Vienna in 1683, laying siege to the city.

 

The last time the sea in the Bosphorus froze was in 1954 when people were able to cross from one side of the strait to the other walking on the huge pieces of ice.

 

The Golden Horn is entirely in Europe. It leads into the Bosphorus, which is the water that divides the two continents and which joins the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, which in turn leads into the Mediterranean. This is one reason Istanbul has always been of great strategic importance.

This cosmopolitan city is stretched out on 7 hills, partially in Europe with the other half in Asia, being separated by a beautiful body of water called the Bosphorus that stretches from the Marmara Sea in the south to the Black Sea in the north. When the Bosphorus bridge was completed it was the fourth biggest suspension bridge in the world. The first bridge over the Bosphorus was completed in three years and opened in 1973. The second one was completed in 1988.

Istanbul is a city where East meets west. It is the only city in the world that is situated on two continents. This makes it the nearest European city to Asia and the nearest Asian city to Europe.

Once the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, the city is home to landmarks of astounding beauty such as Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar.

 

Since 1990s there is a great tendency in the Western media and guide book writers that proponents of a secular Turkish state are elite, military or intellectuals. Nothing can be further from the truth. These people have not been here long enough or have not been in enough contact with the Turkish people.

 

Turkish society have become a class society after 30 years of neoliberal economic policies. You have the bankers, people working or doing business with multinational corporations, people tied to the state and to the governing party "du jour". And all of them tied to Wall Street. Lots of debts and lots of glamour is built since 2001. If you see in guidebooks or internet sites phrases such as "Istanbul has become hip", "In", that's why. Istanbul has always been beautiful, it is not a recent happening!

 

 Nisantasi is a small time Soho, in case you want to try posh shops in Istanbul with streets decorated with fancy cobbles stones and lamp posts. That's the part of city center for high income people.

 

Bosphorus is where ordinary people go there fishing for food next to multimillion dollar sea side villas known as yalis.

 

Although the major Mevlevihane (whirling dervish home) is in Konya, there is one in Galata as well. Every other week, on second and fourth fridays of every month there is a sema show (whirling dervish show).

 

Needless to say the most important historical figure who has lived in Istanbul is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who has passed away in Dolmabahce Palace, a summer residence of the president at the time. Among other famous people who have spend time in Turkey or Ottoman Empire are Kaiser Wilhelm, Franz Liszt, Florence Nightingale, Gustave Flaubert, Agatha Cristie and Pierre Loti.

 

Some remains of the Great Palace of Byzantine are under Sultanahmet. In fact there are some small tunnels closed to public access but were filmed in documentaries. Remains from the Palace are mosaics in Mosaic Museum.

 

Tea is a fairly recent national drink. It was Turkish coffee which was the national addiction but after coffee became expensive and it was possible to plant tea leaves in the Black Sea region, tea became the national drink. Turkey does not have production of coffee as it does not have a favorable climate for coffee production.

 

Our grandfathers and grandmothers living on the Asian side of Istanbul used to say 'I am going to Istanbul today' before leaving home for an hour trip to the European side of Istanbul marking the contrast between the two sides of the city. They did go to the European side mostly for compulsory reasons like, a hospital visit, business or shopping and after returning home would say things like my head is spinning.

 

Sultan Ahmet was a big failure as the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire yet his name is way more popular than other great sultans such as Fatih Sultan Mehmet who conquered Istanbul or Suleyman the Magnificient who expanded the territories of the empire to its peak. The reason is Sultan Ahmet had ordered the building of Sultanahmet Mosque which rivaled St. Sophia and gave its name to the neighborhood. So once more a person of power and wealth has made his name eternal through patronage of arts. 

 

 Looking at modern Uskudar, it is hard to imagine the battle to unite Roman Empire was done in Uskudar and upon victory Roman Emperor Constantin moved the capital of the Roman Empire from Rome to Istanbul.

 

Istanbul is dubbed by Turkish poets and Turkish people alike, the City of Seven Hills, like Rome. Interestingly Istanbul was the capital of the Roman Empire after Rome. The city offers gorgeous views from not only from these hills but also from seaside locations.

 

The ferry boat you see in the picture above and simit, a Turkish specialty food, oven cooked dough with sesame seeds, along with tea is the ultimate Istanbul to Turkish people.

 

Agatha Christie wrote her famous novel "Murder on the Orient Express" at Pera Palas Hotel in Istanbul.

 

There are 333 cemetaries in Istanbul (as of 2011); 268 of them are for Muslims and 65 for non-Muslim.

 

First traffic accident occured in 1912 at Sisli district, when the driver of the Italian Embassy hit a pedestrian and tried to run away from the scene.

 

Sapphire skyscraper at Levent district is the tallest (261 meters - 856 feet) building between Dubai - Frankfurt on the world map. Second tallest building in Istanbul is Is Kule owned by Is Bank, 181 meters (594 feet) high.

 

Biggest light house of Turkey is in Sile district on the Black Sea coast. It's 19 meters (62 feet) high and 1,1 meters (3,6 feet) wide.

 

Istanbul was the most crowded city of the world in 1502, then London took this title in 1840.

 

It has been a noted inspiration for authors from Paul Theroux and Ernest Hemingway to Orhan Pamuk and Abdülhak Sinasi Hisar

 

Originally named the Tower of Christ, the Galata Tower was built in 1348 at the apex of fortified walls and was used to house prisoners of war, later became an observatory, but now offers a 360-degree viewing gallery of the city.

 

Istanbul is surrounded by sea, with the Bosphorus cutting right through it. And yet, snow is common in the city, with the annual average being 18 inches.

 

You might think that tulips originate from the Netherlands. However, the first tulips bulbs were sent from the Ottoman Empire to Vienna in 1554 and they were distributed further to Augsburg, Antwerp and Amsterdam. Afterwards they grew in popularity in the Netherlands as they proved to be able to tolerate the harsher weather conditions.

 

 

Galata Bridge

The oldest recorded bridge over the Golden Horn was built as a simple one in 1453 during the Turkish siege of the city. In the beginning of 16th century it was decided to build a permanent bridge here and Leonardo da Vinci designed a single span bridge with double pillars at either end, 250 meters long, 8 meters wide and 24 meters high. However, technical drawbacks made it impossible to realize this project. Than another Italian artist, Michelangelo, was invited to design a bridge for Istanbul but he rejected the proposal, and the idea of building a bridge on the Golden Horn was shelved until the 19th century. In the early 19th century sultan Mahmut II (1808-1839) had a bridge built at some distance up the waterway between Azapkapi and Unkapani. This bridge, known as the Hayratiye, was opened on 3 September 1836. The project was carried out by Deputy Lord High Admiral Fevzi Ahmet Pasa using the workers and facilities of the naval arsenal. The bridge was built on linked pontoons and was around 500 to 540 meters long.

The first Galata Bridge at the entrance of the Golden Horn was constructed in 1845 by the mother of Sultan Abdulmecid and used for 18 years. It was known as the Cisr-i Cedid or New Bridge to distinguish it from the earlier bridge further up the Golden Horn, which became known as the Cisr-i Atik or Old Bridge.
The New Bridge was built by Abdulmecid Han. First to pass over the bridge was Sultan Abdulmecid, and the first to pass below it was the French captain Magnan in his ship the Cygne. For the first three days crossing the bridge was free, after which a toll known as mürüriye was paid to the Naval Ministry.

This was replaced by a second wooden bridge in 1863, built by Ethem Pertev Pasha on the orders of Sultan Abdulaziz in readiness for the visit to Istanbul of Napoleon III.

In 1870 a contract was signed with a French company, Forges et Chantiers de la Mediteranée for construction of a third bridge, but the outbreak of war between France and Germany delayed the project, which was given instead to a British firm G. Wells in 1872. This bridge completed in 1875 was 480 m long and 14 m wide and rested on 24 pontoons. It was built at a cost of 105,000 gold liras. This was used until 1912, when it was pulled upstream to replace the now genuinely old Cisr-i Atik Bridge.

    Photo : dunyabulteni.net 

The fourth Galata Bridge was built in 1912 by the German Man firm for 350,000 gold lira. This bridge was 466 m long and 25 m wide. It is the bridge still familiar to many people today that was badly damaged in a fire in 1992 and towed up the Golden Horn to make way for the modern bridge now in use.

    Photo : turkishairlines.com

The Galata Bridge was a symbolic link between the old Istanbul at Eminonu neighborhood, site of the imperial palace and principal religious and secular institutions of the Ottoman Empire, and the districts of Galata, Beyoglu, Sisli and Harbiye where a large proportion of the inhabitants were non-Muslims and where foreign merchants and diplomats lived and worked. In this respect the bridge connected these two distinctive cultures. As Peyami Safa said in his novel Fatih-Harbiye, a person who went from Fatih (in the old part) to Harbiye (in the new part) via the bridge set foot in a different civilization and different culture. Apart from its place in fiction, the romantic appearance of the Galata Bridge made it a subject of many paintings and engravings.

Today, the modern Galata Bridge has several restaurants and coffee houses underneath where local people enjoy their meal watching the rush of the ferry boats and fishermen. All daily city tours in Istanbul include this bridge as it's the passageway to the Old City of Constantinople. And the old bridge is now located deeper in the Golden Horn, between Sutluce and Feshane Convention and Fair centers.  By greatistanbul.com 

What can you do on Galata Bridge?

1-  Eat cheap a sandwich fish ( balık ekmek ) from boats

2-  Eat the fish and drink beer at under restaurants of Galata bridge . 

3-  Watch the fishermen 

4-  Smoke nargile pipes, catch the ferryboats and enjoy a day out with their families

5-  There is an abundance of tasty and cheap Turkish cheap foots from the hot corn

6-  You can cruise the Golden Horn by ferry

7- The Bridge serves as a good transport-starting place to other areas lying off the golden horn such as Uskudar and Ortakoy.

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The Maiden Tower

The Maiden’s Tower is located 150-200 meters off the shore of the Salacak district in Üsküdar. Although it is not definite as to when the Maiden’s Tower was built, the tower’s architectural style is said by some sources to be from around 340 BCE.

Previous names of the Maiden’s Tower were Damalis and Leandros. Damalis is the name of the wife of the king of Athens,Kharis. When Damalis died, she was buried on the shore, and the name Damalis was given to the Tower. It was also known during Byzantine times as “arcla” which means “a little castle.”

After the conquest of Istanbul by the Ottoman Turks, the tower was pulled down and a wooden tower was constructed in its place. The wooden tower was destroyed by a fire in 1719. It was rebuilt from stone once again by the head architect of the city, Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Paşa. The cone-capped part of the tower was taken away and a kiosk fitted with glass replaced it. A lead-covered dome was later added to the kiosk. Rakım Efendi, a famous calligrapher, added an inscription with Sultan Mahmut II’s  signature on marble and placed it above tower’s door. A lantern was added to the tower in 1857, and in 1920, the tower’s light was a converted into an automatic lighting system.

The Maiden’s Tower has been used for many different purposes over time, such as a tax collection area from merchantman, a defense tower, and a lighthouse. During the cholera epidemic in 1830, it was used as a quarantine hospital and  radio station. During the Republic Period, it was again used as a light house for a little while. The tower was handed over to the Ministry of Defence in 1964 and then to Maritime Enterprises in 1982. It has undergone renovations and presently functions as a restaurant open to the public owned by a private company.

The legends of the Maiden’s Tower
The Legend of Leandros
According to this legend, a young man named Leandros falls in love with a nun named Hero who is faithful to Afrodit. However, as a nun, falling in love with someone is taboo for Hero. Hero lives in the Maiden’s Tower. Every night, Hero builds a fire in the tower so that Leandros may find his way to her by swimming to the tower. Thus, they meet every night. One night, however,the bonfire started by Hero is put out by a storm,  That very night, Leandros loses his own way in the cold waters of the Bosphorus and dies. When Hero hears of what happened to Leandros, she cannot endure the pain and commits suicide.

The Princess LegendOnce upon a time, a soothsayer makes the prediction to the King that his daughter will die as a result of a snakebite. Thereupon, the King has a castle built in the sea in order to protect his daughter. Time passes and the girl grows up in the castle. However, the prediction made by the soothsayer was inevitably comes true as a snake hiding a fruit basket carried to the princess bites and kills her.


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Historic Parks in Istanbul

Yıldız Park

Yıldız Park (Turkish: Yıldız Parkı) is a historical, urban park in Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the largest public parks in Istanbul. The park is located in Yıldız quarter between the palaces of Yıldız and Çırağan.

History
Yıldız Park was once part of the imperial garden of Yıldız Palace. Extending down the slopes from the palace, this walled park was reserved only for palace dwellers during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid II.

The area of Yıldız used to be a forest in Byzantine times. Starting during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent, the sultans made it their hunting grounds. In the next centuries, it remained as a grove behind the seaside palaces. The neighbourhood began to flourish in the wake of construction of the palace in the 19th century. It took its name from the first pavilion, namely Yıldız Kasrı, commissioned by Selim III in early 19th century.

The 25-acre (0.101 km2) of the palace's external garden were surrounded by high walls and detached from a grove during the reign of Abdulhamid II in the 19th century. A small artificial lake, pavilions, summer houses and a porcelain factory were established in this section.

Today
 Inside Yıldız Park with the way to the porcelain manufactury
Currently Yıldız Park is a beautiful garden complex with set in a very large park of flowers, plants and trees, gathered from every part of the world dating from the Ottoman era. Park grounds offer panoramic views of the Bosphorus. The park is a popular picnic place especially for the weekends. Two beautiful old pavilions, namely Çadır and Malta pavilions, are used to rest, drink tea, eat breakfast and have lunch.

The park is separated into two sections, the outer section is open to the public and comprises the Şale, Çadır and Malta pavilions and the still-operating Yıldız porcelain factory. The vegetation of the park includes magnolia, bay leaves, Judas trees, silver limes and horse-chestnuts. Furthermore, the park shelters oak, cypress, pine, yew, cedar and ash trees. Besides, the outer section has two man-made lakes.

Emirgan Park

The Emirgan Park (Turkish: Emirgan Korusu or rarely Emirgan Parkı) is a historical urban park located at the Emirgan neighbourhood in the Sarıyer district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coast of the Bosphorus. It is one of the largest public parks in Istanbul.

History
In the Byzantine era, the entire area, where today the park stretches, was covered with cypress trees and known as "Kyparades" or "Cypress Forest". It became known as "Feridun Bey Park", when the uninhabited land was granted in the mid-16th century to Nişancı Feridun Bey, a Lord Chancellor in rank in the Ottoman Empire.

In the 17th century, Ottoman sultan Murad IV (reigned 1623-1640) presented the estate to Emir Gûne Han, a Safavid Persian commander, who surrendered his sieged castle without any resistance, and followed him back to Istanbul. The name "Feridun Bey Park" was changed to "Emirgûne", which in time became corrupted to "Emirgan".

During the centuries, the estate's owner changed several times, and by the end of the 1860s, it was owned by Khedive Ismail Pasha (reigned 1863-1879), Ottoman governor of Egypt and Sudan. The area was used as the backyard of a large wooden yalı that he built on the shore of the Bosphorus. Further, he built within the park area three wooden pavilions, which still exist.

The heirs of the Khedive family sold the estate in the 1930s to Satvet Lütfi Tozan, a wealthy Turkish arms dealer, who granted the park grounds, the three pavilions included, later in the 1940s to the City of Istanbul during office of Governor and Mayor Lütfi Kırdar (1938-1949).

The park today
The park, owned and administered today by the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul, covers an area of 117 acres (473,000 m2) on a hillside, and is enclosed by high walls.

Inside the park with two decorative ponds are plants of more than 120 species. The most notable rare trees of the park's flora are: Stone Pine, Turkish pine, Aleppo Pine, Blue Pine, Eastern White Pine, Maritime Pine, Japanese Cedar, Norway Spruce, Blue Spruce, Atlas Cedar, Lebanon Cedar, Himalayan cedar, Beech, Ash tree, Sapindus, Babylon Willow, Hungarian Oak, Colorado White Fir, Maidenhair tree, California incense-cedar, Coast Redwood and Camphor tree.

Many jogging tracks and picnic tables make the Emirgan Park a very popular recreation area for the local people, especially during the weekends and holidays. The three historic pavilions, called after their exterior color as the Yellow Pavilion, the Pink Pavilion and the White Pavilion were restored in time between 1979-1983 by the Touring and Automobile Club of Turkey under its CEO Çelik Gülersoy, and opened to the public as cafeteria and restaurant.

The Emirgan Park is closely associated with the tulip, the traditional flower, which gave its name to an era (1718-1730) of the Ottoman Empire. A special garden was established in Emirgan Park in the 1960s to revive the city's tradition of tulip cultivation. Since 2005, an annual international tulip festival is organized here every April making the park attractive and very colorful with these flowers.

Yellow Pavilion

The Yellow Pavilion (Turkish: Sarı Köşk) is a large wooden mansion in the form of a chalet built by Khedive Ismail Pasha between 1871-1878 as a hunting lodge and guest house.[

Situated in the center of the park and overlooking the Bosphorus, the two-storey mansion with one balcony, one terrace and a basement is constructed on an area of 400 m2 (4,300 sq ft). It consists of four rooms, one hall and a kitchen in the lower floor and three rooms and one salon in the upper floor.Its layout reflects the architecture of the traditional Ottoman house with a salon encircled by many living rooms. The ornaments at the ceilings and the walls were the work of the court architect Sarkis Balyan. The ceilings are enriched with oil painted flower figures and the facades with outstanding carvings. The high doors and windows, as well as the opulent interior decorations in bright colors reflect the glory of that era. A pond is situated to the northeast, next to the mansion.

Used only by the owners from the very beginning, the pavilion was restored within four months in the beginning of the 1980s with due diligence, furnished with antiques and opened to the public as a cafeteria. The Yellow Pavilion, the main base of the park, is run since 1997 by Beltur, the tourism company of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul. Up to 100 guests can be served at the premise in summer and winter time.

Pink Pavilion

The Pink Pavilion (Turkish: Pembe Köşk), one of the three mansions in the park built by Khedive Ismail Pasha, is a two-storey, typical Ottoman house. Named after its exterior's original color of cranesbill flower pink, the pavilion reflects the glory of its history with fine ornaments.

The pavilion is used as a cafeteria on weekends. Furthermore, it available for conventions and wedding ceremonies. In the summer months, the premise can accommodate up to 350 guests, for cocktails up to 500 people. In the winter time, groups of up to 150 guests can be served.

White Pavilion
The White Pavilion (Turkish: Beyaz Köşk) is the third mansion within the Emirgan Park built by Khedive Ismail Pasha. It is only 150 m (490 ft) far from the Yellow Pavilion. The two-storey wooden building bears the architectural characteristics of the neo-classical style.

The mansion is used in the daytime as a cafeteria and in the evenings as a restaurant of Turkish-Ottoman cuisine.

Fethi Paşa Korusu

Fethi Paşa Korusu (Fethi Pasha Grove) is a large park in Istanbul, Turkey, on the hillside coming right down to the Bosphorus shore in the area called Paşalimanı. It is located between Kuzguncuk and Sultantepe neighborhoods in district Üsküdar on the Asian side of Istanbul. It is named after Ottoman governor, ambassador and minister Fethi Ahmet Pasha.[1] After long years of neglect, it has been recently renovated and opened to public for recreation. It has a breathtaking view of Bosphorus Bridge and the European side of Istanbul.

Gülhane Park

Gülhane Park (Turkish: Gülhane Parkı, "Rosehouse Park") is a historical urban park in the Eminönü district of Istanbul, Turkey; it is located adjacent to and on the grounds of the Topkapı Palace. The south entrance of the park sports one of the larger gates of the palace. It is the oldest and one of the most expansive public parks in Istanbul

Gülhane Park was once part of the outer garden of Topkapı Palace and mainly consisted of a grove. A section of the outer garden was planned as a park by the municipality and opened to the public in 1912. The park previously contained recreation areas, coffee houses, playgrounds etc. Later, a small zoo was opened within the park. The first statue of Atatürk in Turkey was erected in the park in 1926, sculpted by Heinrich Krippel.

The park underwent a major renovation in recent years; the removal of the zoo, fun fair and picnic grounds affecting an increase in open space. The excursion routes were re-arranged and the big pool was renovated in a modern style. With concrete structures removed the park regained the natural landscape of the 1950s, revealing trees dating from the 1800s.

 The Museum of The History of Science and Technology in Islam
The Museum of The History of Science and Technology in Islam is located in the former stables of Topkapı Palace, on the western edge of the park. The museum features 140 replicas of inventions of the 8th to 16th centuries, from astronomy, geography, chemistry, surveying, optics, medicine, architecture, physics and warfare.

Future
The old barracks within the area of Gülhane is expected to be converted to a cultural center in due course; the center will host a library and exhibition hall together with a workshop on kilim and handicrafts.

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Çamlıca

A HILL THAT HAS EVOLVED INTO A SYMBOL OF USKUDAR: ÇAMLICA

Çamlıca is the name of two hills, located close to each other, on the Anatolian Side of the İstanbul Bosphorus, between Üsküdar and Ümraniye. From these, the Big Çamlıca is 262 m tall, and the Small Çamlıca is 226 m tall, and in the neck separating these two hills, the Kısıklı neighborhood is located. And the position of Çamlıca as virtually being a geography laboratory or a geography museum, also emerges in the name of

the Kısıklı neighborhood. “Kısık”, which is purely a Turkish word, expresses a narrow pass or a crossover between two tall sections (an area trapped between two elevations). And the neighborhood which has exactly been established in such an area has been named “Kısıklı” due to this geographical feature.

Today Çamlıca  has a priority as a “summer resort area” or a “picnic area”. In this sense, its use dates back to the 17th century, as far as we know. The building of certain manors in the aforesaid century, during Ahmed I (1603-1617) and Murad IV (1623-1640) periods, plus the construction of a wooden palace during the Mehmed IV (Mehmed the Hunter, 1648-1687) period and the fountains for the Big and Small Çamlıca waters, had rendered the Çamlıca hills more attractive. In this sense, its use dates back to the 17
th century, as far as we know. The building of certain manors in the aforesaid century, during Ahmed I (1603-1617) and Murad IV (1623-1640) periods, plus the construction of a wooden palace during the Mehmed IV (Mehmed the Hunter, 1648-1687) period and the fountains for the Big and Small Çamlıca waters, had rendered the Çamlıca hills more attractive.

Near the end of the 17th century and the beginning of the 18th century, as the Janissary terror rendered transportation to distant resort areas such as Çamlıca unsafe, the significance of the Çamlıcas that was observed in the first half of the 17th century has started to decrease. In the 19th century, the Janissaries have been disengaged and security has been restored, and with the operation of the Şirketi Hayriye (local transportation) boats (Mülayim, 2005) , transportation from Çamlıca to the other neighborhoods of the city has been facilitated. As a consequence of these developments, the Big Çamlıca was actually included in the city life (at the time, Small Çamlıca retained the feature of being private property). This transportation convenience rendered not only Çamlıca, but also neighborhoods such as Acıbadem, Koşuyolu, Tophanelioğlu, Bağlarbaşı at its feet, as areas demanded for a “change of atmosphere”, “change of place” (i.e. a sort of tourism activity). The elite, other than the palace members, have started to have manors built on Çamlıca and its feet during the Mahmoud II (1808-1831) period. The aforesaid sultan also used to go out to Çamlıca for excursions and hunting. As a matter of fact, upon the progress of his disease, his doctors have advised him to rest at the resort in Çamlıca for a “change of atmosphere” and the sultan has spent his last days in Çamlıca (Beydilli, 2003: 356) . This demonstrates that the significance of Çamlıca with respect to health tourism, which is a sub-branch of tourism, had already been comprehended two centuries before our day. The primary feature of Çamlıca in tourism, especially Big Çamlıca, is that it is the spot that best overlooks both the Marmara Sea and the Bosphorus, and in the meantime a substantial part of the Golden Horn and the historical peninsula (İstanbul peninsula) between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea. Meanwhile we, as two academic members teaching tourism geography, recommend guides to take the tourists who have come to İstanbul for the first time, up to Çamlıca first, and show and tell them about İstanbul and the natural beauties and historical monuments of İstanbul from there, and then take them on a tour of the city.

Yet, there also are other spots to have a good view of İstanbul: the Pierre Loti coffee house on the Eyüp slopes is one of the best view spots overlooking the Golden Horn and the İstanbul peninsula. However, it cannot overlook the İstanbul peninsula as completely and in full glory as Çamlıca. An eye looking from Çamlıca is able to distinguish how well the historical monuments on this peninsula fits the geographical structure of the peninsula (Tuncel, 2001: 239) , how the historical monuments have been positioned on the famous seven hills of İstanbul (4 of these hills may be easily seen from Çamlıca: the first hill of 45 m
on which the Topkapı Palace is located, the second hill almost of the same height on which the Nuruosmaniye Mosque has settled, the 60 m high third hill where the Beyazid Mosque is located and the Fatih Hill, also 60 m tall, separated from these with the pass at Saraçhane), and the renowned “Istanbul silhouette” admired so much by Western travelers, has been formed.

Another significance of Çamlıca with respect to tourism geography is that the route of the large bodied birds migrating to Africa passes from Çamlıca, and that the fall migration of eagles, falcons, buzzards, storks and various hawk species among such birds may be watched from here by ornithologists and tourists interested in birds.

As a scientific requirement, we sadly would like to announce that we have to show the base stations observed on Çamlıca, beauties of which we have emphasized so far, and the hideous and unfit urbanization views on its skirts, as an example of disfigurement unfit for Çamlıca.

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Polonezkoy - Adampol

 ... For breathing outside the metropolis in the company of nature and birds, you may experience both the natural environment and culture in this unique corner of paradise, Istanbul's back garden...

Polonezkoy, formerly known as Adampol is a Polish village located in Istanbul, TURKEY... It was founded by Adam Czartoryski (Chairman of National Uprising Government and the Leader of a Political Emigration Party) in 1842.

The word "Polonez" is related with Polish in Turkish language, and "köy" means "village", which gives a meaning of "Polish Village". The former name of "Adampol" stands for the founder Adam Czartoryski

The existence of "Polonezkoy-Adampol" within Istanbul is a cultural and historical event that has never before been seen in the world. This village was established in Istanbul, Turkey after Poland was invaded by its neighbors Russia, Austria and Prussia in 1775.  The Ottoman Empire was against the idea of this invasion. The Empire supported Poland and Polish immigrants by giving them this heavenly place for settlement. Michał Czajkowski was the representative of Adam Czartoryski for the settlement. Michał Czajkowski, after converting to Islam in 1850, took the name of Mehmet Sadik Pasha. He bought forest land from the Lazarist Priests for the future establishment of the town. The emigrants from the rebellions in Poland and Hungary (1831-1863) and the Crimean War in 1853, have found a reliable environment here in Turkish lands under the wings of the Ottoman Empire. On the 18th of February 1842, there were only four inhabitants of the village, but years later the population increased to hundreds. The inhabitants also took Turkish citizenship in 1938. Eventually Polonezkoy became a tourist place and a popular holiday town. There have been many famous visitors since the establishment of the town. French Liszt in 1847, Gustave Flaubert in 1850, founder of Turkey Mustafa Kemal ATATURK, Pope 23rd Jean, former President Kenan EVREN and Polish President Lech WALESA and author Pierre Loti were some of the famous visitors. The village had a great affect on its visitors. Czech author Karel Droz says in his novel "Even this is a fairy tale, it is very real. Far away from the motherland, inside somewhere by the Anatolian hills covered with forests lies a hidden Polish village." He describes the view of the village as "a smile of a corner from heaven". Nowadays, Polonezkoy is one of the most famous villages in the world. About 80 Poles still live here and keep their own culture and history. The village is also the one and only place close to the center of Istanbul as a holiday town. People prefer to spend their weekends at Polonezkoy's Club Hotels, Pensions and taste the local food in its famous restaurants. There are many hotels, pensions, restaurants and garden barbecue places within Polonezkoy-Adampol. Polonezkoy… A brand new stairway to heaven inside Istanbul; a privilege, a life style… There are souvenir shops selling village's famous honey, jams, cherries in summer and traditional hand made items. Horses are ready to be hired for a joyful short trip. After a small walk around the village, you'd realize the village's heavenly formation. Forests of pine, oak, hornbeam, fir, and chestnut trees embrace the village and your eyes get refreshed and relaxed with each tone of the green.. Istanbul... Turkey... Polonezkoy is your pit stop taking you away from the chaotic, crowded and boring city life and purifies your soul. For all seasons you may taste Polonezkoy's charming nature and local food. Polonezkoy is very ideal for your various activities like weekend holidays, daily trips, picnics, dinners at famous restaurants, weddings, meetings, pools for the hot summer times, parties. They speak Polish with each other and carry out their fathers' religious believes without any change. Poland lives through the buildings of the village, people's life style, spare time activities and wedding ceremonies at the same time. For the ones who want to taste the nature, silence and special activities in a heavenly place for all seasons... All and more in this sweet and lovely Polish village, 20 km. nearby Istanbul; Polonezkoy-Adampol awaits you!!! Attractions and Things to Do Places to See around Polonezkoy (Adampol) include; "House of the Memory of Zofia Ryży" where the village's history and photographs are exhibited; "Częstochowa's Church" which was built during the years 1900-1914; "Polish Cemetery"; "Polonezkoy Culture House"; "Open air exhibition center of wooden carving art"; "Apiculture Museum and Souvenir Shops"; "BMX Bicycle Track" and "5 kilometer walking and jogging track" are the places of interest. Polonezkoy is one of the most popular & famous villages in the world. About 100 Polish people still live here and keep their own culture and history. The village is also the one and only place close to the center of Istanbul as a holiday town. People prefer to spend their weekends at Polonezkoy's Club Hotels, Pensions and taste the local food in its famous restaurants. There are many hotels, pensions, restaurants and garden barbecue places within Polonezkoy-Adampol. For each season you may taste Polonezkoy's charming nature and local food. Polonezkoy is very ideal for your various activities like weekend holidays, daily trips, picnics, dinners at the luxury restaurants, weddings, meetings, pools for the hot summer times, and parties... Shopping-What to Buy  Life in Polonezkoy is very active especially at the weekends. You will see local goods and Polish textile products exhibited at the center square. Souvenir shops also worth visiting. Polish style ornaments and dresses are very sweet... Polonezkoy is also famous with its organic honey, jam and honey products. There is an Apiculture Museum at the center square. It is highly recommended for the visitors... While you are on the way through Polonezkoy especially in spring times, you will see a lot of fresh vegetable and fruit stands nearby the road. It worth taking a look and buy. Also cherry, which is Polonezkoy's famous product, worth tasting and buying in June.. How to Get There The easiest and comfortable option for getting to Polonezkoy is; using the new Riva highway after the Kavacik turn of Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. After the Kavacik turn, go straight ahead along the new highway, and you will see Polonezkoy signs on the way. Follow the signs and you will easily get to Polonezkoy after a 13-14 kilometers of way. You will see lots of signs on your way. Second option along the TEM highway is; Exit from TEM's "Umraniye/Sarigazi" turn. After passing Carrefour and getting to Kocatepe Cemetery, take the Cavusbasi direction from the upper passage on the right. Following the signs, you may get to Polonezkoy in 15 minutes. Third option via Beykoz is; Through Beykoz to Toygar, and then to Mahmut Sevket Pasa, and then heading south through Ucpinarlar you may get to Polonezkoy. By www.polenezkoy.com