Beyoglu… Art, culture, business and entertainment center of Istanbul

BEYOGLU is one of the important and crowded districts of Istanbul and actually known as the heart of the city. It is mostly packed with crowds shopping/window shopping. This district which is currently a culture, art, business and entertainment center was a place covered with vineyards and gardens without any settlement, in the Byzantine period

The Byzantines on the Istanbul side (old city) of Golden Horn called it PERA meaning “the opposite side” (of Golden Horn). Since the Emperor Justinian built several buildings in GALATA at the time, it was also called Justinian, whereas Turks on the other hand called it Beyoğlu.

Venetians and Genoese who came to Istanbul for commercial purposes took advantage of the Byzantine inner chaos and settled here, building the Galata Tower in the 13th century. Galata was given to the Genoese merchants in the same century and it maintained its importance in trade for centuries.

When Mehmet the Conqueror (Ottoman Sultan) took Constantinople in 1453, he placed the people he brought from different parts of Anatolia in various parts of Istanbul (Constantinople). After he put an end to Greek Pontus State in Trabzon in 1461, the last emperor David Komennos and his family were brought to Istanbul. When Alexios, the son of Kalayanis Komennos adopted Islam, he was placed somewhere round TUNEL (neighborhood). After that, people began to call this region BEYOĞLU, meaning the place where “SON OF BEY” lives (bey meaning ruler, prince etc.)

Beyoglu is among the most popular districts that comes to mind, talking about Istanbul. Side streets, Istiklal Street, tram and the subway (called Tunel) are to be seen here with a lot reminding a colorful and rich history.

This district was a classy “center of life” crowded with a large number of minority citizens in the early years of the Republic. With the wealth tax and following the events of 6-7 September, it started to deteriorate with the minorities leaving the city. After 2000, the authority did quite a lot of work to restore historical places. Places to visit in Beyoğlu are Galata Mevlevihanesi, Tunel, Saint Antonio Church, Pera Palas Hotel, Cicek Passage, Pera Museum and Istiklal Street.

Istiklal Street is the symbol of Beyoglu and Istanbul. It is normally overcrowded and you need to be careful while walking round this place.