Although he lived only 49 years, Sultan Mehmet II left an indelible mark on history. As the seventh sultan of the Ottoman Empire, he ascended the throne at the age of 19 and earned the title “The Conqueror of Istanbul” with his extraordinary vision and achievements. Known in the West as “Grand Turco”, Mehmet II was a military genius, a …
In his famous poem “Üsküdar, Witness to the Conquest of Istanbul,” Yahya Kemal gives Üsküdar a mystical importance, writing: “It saw a hundred thousand angels flying toward Istanbul And kept this vision, secretly, in its memory for centuries.” Indeed, as you walk the streets, avenues, and coastline of this historic district, it’s impossible not to feel the spiritual aura that …
An Entire City Within a City: Welcome to Fatih Fatih is not just a district: it’s practically synonymous with Istanbul itself. Creating a travel guide for Fatih can easily turn into compiling a small book, given its deep historical roots and cultural layers. Even the select spots listed below are enough to show how much history and heritage this district …
Atatürk Arboretum is a lush green world in Istanbul… How about stepping into this world, where firs, lindens, magnolias, bamboos, weeping willows, black pines, and countless other trees provide a serene refuge? What is an Arboretum? First, let’s look at the meaning of a word we don’t encounter often in daily life: “arboretum.” Derived from Latin, it refers to a …
Straddling the continents of Asia and Europe and serving as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman Empires, Istanbul has been a major hub of trade and culture for centuries, with its islands, architecture, and natural beauty. The city’s impact on artists can be seen in countless works of art. In this article, you can explore Old Istanbul paintings …
For centuries, Istanbul has been not only a crossroads of trade and culture but also a meeting point for lovers of sweets. The refinement of the Ottoman palace kitchen, the craftsmanship of neighborhood confectioners, and the elegance of Levantine patisseries have all come together in this city. As you stroll through its historic streets, the confectionery shops you encounter are …
Istanbul… More than just a city; it is a magical stage where history, culture, and architecture intertwine. The waters of the Bosphorus, the legends of the Maiden’s Tower, the majesty of the Blue Mosque, the bustling Grand Bazaar… But among its many wonders, few capture the grandeur of the city as vividly as Istanbul palaces and pavilions. From the Ottoman Empire …
Located in Eyüpsultan, Istanbul, Rami Library was redesigned as a library in 2023, transforming into a massive center of knowledge. Spanning 220,000 square meters, it features a 36,000-square-meter indoor area, a 1,000-square-meter artificial pond, walking and cycling paths, and lush greenery. With over two million books, Rami Library not only caters to knowledge seekers but also provides a serene environment …
The Importance of Water in Istanbul’s Urban History Water is one of the primary indicators of whether a place has evolved into a proper city. Throughout history, settlements have typically formed near water sources. Though Istanbul lacks significant rivers, its unique geography necessitated innovative solutions to water supply. For centuries, water was brought to the city via aqueducts from as …
Few works in Turkish cultural history blur the boundary between scholarship and personal obsession as vividly as Reşad Ekrem Koçu’s İstanbul Ansiklopedisi (Encyclopedia of Istanbul). Begun in 1944 and left unfinished three decades later, the encyclopedia was envisioned as a definitive record of the city but grew into something far more eccentric: a mosaic of forgotten trades, neighborhood stories, eccentric …