There are many districts in Istanbul. The most interesting is the color of the streets and old places. Today we will walk to Beyoglu.
The district is located on the northern coast hill of the Golden Horn in parts of Europe. The Galata Bridge connects Beyoglu and Fatih areas. We will only touch a small part of the Beyoglu around the port of Karakoy and the Galata tower. Karakoy enters Beyoglu district.
Beyoğlu / Beyoglu - in his son's translation
The Galata Tower can be seen from different parts of Istanbul. Its diameter is 9 meters, height of 61 meters. Surprisingly, the thickness of the tower walls is 3.5 meters. The Galata Tower is Istanbul's oldest symbol. The people around him are always great. This tower brings people even at night. There is a nightclub on the 9th floor. Tower Museum is open from 9 am to 8 pm.
Our goal is to walk along the old streets and visit the old Wall Street in Istanbul. Then go to the Galata tower neighborhood. Let's see what buildings are in Karakoy harbor area. I am very interested in this path. Let's start with the square seen on the Galata Bridge. To the right is an Ottoman-style office building. In order to walk more calmly, you should be out at 8:00 am in the morning. Currently the residents of Istanbul have breakfast, and many tourists are still sleeping. Inside the picture there is a bicycle rental. At eight o'clock in the morning there was not a single bike.
From Bereketzade street all the way to Galata Tower. The building in the photo is the hotel "Purl" 4 stars. Located 220 meters from Galata Tower. The most beautiful architectural structure in Ottoman style. On the balcony there is a group of children sculptures. From the hotel window you can see the Bosphorus and Golden Horn. It features a rooftop bar with magnificent views of Istanbul. Many choose the hotel because of its convenient location. All close, walking and happy. There is one minus for people who are "sensitive to the ear". Here there is a high-speed tram, sounding like when taking off from an airplane. During the holiday season, many discos are open. You can dance with music right at the hotel.
We're approaching the bank line. That here in the XIX century was a very large concentration of insurance companies and banks. It was the financial center of the Ottoman Empire. Now the people of Istanbul call the old Wall Street. Why old? Now in Istanbul, the district of Atashehir is the financial center. This is called the new Wall Street. About him too, I'll tell you. If you do not want to climb the steep slope to Galata Tower, then simply walk along the bank road. Nice and lots of buildings with interesting architecture.
Beyoglu District is outside the walls of Constantinople. After the capture of the city by Turkey, Sultan Mehmed II ensured peace and security for all settlements residing here. There are many churches, synagogues. The Sultan even retained some self-government from the settlements. Mostly stay here Genoa, Jewish, Catalans, Venetian. After the October Revolution of the seventeenth year, many emigrants from Russia were at Karakoy.
As soon as we entered the bank lane, a car column with camels on the roof appeared. To my shame, I do not know what kind of sect it is, but the machine is exactly the same, and all with camels.
Many of Istanbul's roads and trails are so narrow that I do not even know how you can leave the car. But everyone flies at such speed, as if the stadium is here. Buildings like beams. It is clear that they were built for centuries. We move forward. In the photo there is a line that is perpendicular to Bankovskiy Lane.
Pepelok as the waters of the Bosphorus, just zigzag. Apparently the architects are also very fond of the sea and the strait. You can not see another turn at the turn. It's even more interesting, especially when you first walk. The most visible is the contrast between Fatih and Beyoglu. It is necessary first to arouse appetite within the walls of Constantinople in the Fatih area, and then follow the Galata bridge toward the Galata tower. Contrast is amazing in architecture, in color and population differences.
Next time I look down the street among the houses. The interesting thing is interlacing times. Old houses, and the next new buildings, which are out of sync with each other. Formerly the residence of the Byzantine Emperor John II Comnenus (1087-1143) is located at the highest point of the Beyoglu hill. (Mosaic with his image is in St. Sophia's cathedral) Therefore, the name Beyoglu and translated as "son of lord".
From the Bankovskiy lane you can climb the beautiful Galata Tower with its beautiful historical ladder. This is not an old staircase in the area. But the architecture is very interesting and connected with the name of Count Kamondo. After fleeing Venice, Kamondo settled very comfortably in Istanbul. Business in business is growing. He is the sponsor of the first train in Turkey and not only. I leave my memory in the form of a bumpy staircase. On his initiative, the ladder appeared in 1860. Now he bears his name. Many jars around the stairs due to their unusual shape. Runaway from right angles and lines in construction like art nouveau style. Strange approach to natural form. In general, everything is bumpy: roads, houses and stairs ...
We turned our attention back to the old Turkish Wall Street. Solid buildings and small distances between them make the road a bit heavy.
The legendary monumental building of the Ottoman Empire. In the architecture of the building, the creator of this project, Alexander Walloury, wanted to show a close relationship between East and West. The building is intended for Imperial Ottoman Bank. The opening occurred in 1892. The structure is striking in its beauty. All the facades of the building are decorated in different styles. There is now a branch of the Turkish central bank. On the other - a research center and a museum of banks.
Such buildings I call thin or squeezed. When you come to Istanbul, many houses that have a small width are immediately visible. It seemed that all the empty space among the houses was quickly filled with such houses. The photo is an old building with very original architectural decor.
Looking on the route perpendicular to Bankovskomu, we see on the slopes here the old and interesting buildings are.
For the walls of old houses do not look boring, the artists try to give them a slightly rosy appearance. See how the houses are. At least the space is between homes. Average sink, it turns out the place ...
Very interested in such a plan for quarter planning. The main buildings resemble a ship. Looks good.
This is another quarter ship. It may have a practical part. First, with earthquakes, the buildings are more stable. Second, the division of quarters does not make the streets worse visually. We have left Bankovskiy pereulok, at the same time there is a difference. On the left there are many new homes. In the right and in the center are still preserved old buildings. It should be noted that the rich always stay on bank lines.
Hold to the right after our Bankovy Lane approaches Galata Tower.
I photographed various aisles, came to the tower, to introduce you to local buildings. This is a quarter of Shakhkulu.
Step by step and we approached the famous Galata Tower. I will tell you more about the tower at another post. The story is interesting and entertaining. To think that in the fifth century there was already a tower here!
That morning is not an obstacle for visitors. There were so many of them so we decided not to wait. Let's go to the restaurant in the evening so you can take pictures of Istanbul from the height of the tower observation deck.
The cozy and attractive place near the tower is filled with tables. Visitors from very different countries vigorously discuss everything they see. Children from exhaustion sitting at the cafe table. It is a good choice not to forget your child.
So this looks like a cafe in the courtyard of the Galata tower. In Istanbul, old trams are often converted into cafes.
Near the alley near the Galata tower. A very colorful place. There are many bookstores, cafés and souvenir shops.
The road that takes the Galata tower closer to you is very clean. There are many people who lie here with different poses. So take a photo. It is very difficult (without anyone) to photograph Galata.
Mission achieved. We took a stroll from Karakoy harbor via Bankovskiy Pereulok to Galata. Considered local environment and architecture. I really love this area. Especially in the morning, when tourists and residents of Istanbul is still quite small. Then calmly and gladly you walk to places filled with history.
Thank you for your attention!