Taksim Square - İstanbul
https://travelfood4all.blogspot.com/2014/07/taksim-square-istanbul.html
Taksim Square is the most known and popular city center of Istanbul. Many hotels and restaurants are in or nearby the Square and on Istiklal Street and there is the main subway station. Istiklal street has many bars, night clubs and movie theaters so that it's always busy with young people almost for 24 hours a day.The Square is also the meeting place to celebrate New Year's Eve, public concerts and other shows.
On the other side of the Square, there is a huge building which is Atatürk Cultural Center. Known as AKM in Turkish, several national and international concerts, operas, meetings, exhibitions and premiers are held in AKM, especially performances of Istanbul State Theaters, State Opera and Ballet, State Symphony Orchestra, State Turkish Classic Music Chorus, and International Istanbul Festivalattract many spectators. Nowadays it's being rennovated again.
Beyoglu next to the Taksim Square is an important part of modern Istanbul, it's a great way to get away from the old city and enjoy modern Istanbul as the local people do. There is so much going on in the approximately 2,5 kilometers, long street between Taksim Square and the Tünel funicular stop near Galata Tower where you can spend a whole day here. You can find a different kind of Istanbul in every corner, there is a hidden story of the city everywhere. Religions, languages and ethnic groups live brotherly around here, it's the center of art and culture, many national, international and local activities reach art lovers through the neighborhood.
Many exquisite boutiques, music and bookstores, libraries, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, cafes, bars, restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, patisseries, chocolateries, and technological centers are lined on Istiklal Street.
The Galatasaray Square is almost at the halfway of the Avenue and houses one of the oldest educational institutions established in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire; todays Galatasaray Lisesi (high school) where the Galatasaray football team was founded in 1905.
Across Galatasaray Square there are some historic buildings such as the Çiçek Pasaji (The Flower Courtyard) with many small restaurants and taverns, and Balik Pazari (Fish Market) where you can find some fresh fish and vegetables.
To the end of this İstiklal street towards Galata, there is Tunnel, the world's second-oldest subway, connecting Pera district with Karaköy district on the Golden Horn. Just before Tunnel you can visit Divan Literature Museum which is called as Galata Mevlevihane belonging to Mevlevi order founded by Mevlana, where Whirling Dervish ceremonies are performed that you can visit.
Old Galata and Pera neighborhoods were inhabited since the Byzantine Empire. During the 19th century Ottoman Empire, the street was known as Grande Rue de Pera and the district became a center for foreigners, Levantines, Ottoman intellectuals and western culture admirers. After 1923 the street's name was changed to Istiklal (Independence in Turkish) to commemorate the War of Independence led by Atatürk.
On the other side of the Square, there is a huge building which is Atatürk Cultural Center. Known as AKM in Turkish, several national and international concerts, operas, meetings, exhibitions and premiers are held in AKM, especially performances of Istanbul State Theaters, State Opera and Ballet, State Symphony Orchestra, State Turkish Classic Music Chorus, and International Istanbul Festivalattract many spectators. Nowadays it's being rennovated again.
Beyoglu next to the Taksim Square is an important part of modern Istanbul, it's a great way to get away from the old city and enjoy modern Istanbul as the local people do. There is so much going on in the approximately 2,5 kilometers, long street between Taksim Square and the Tünel funicular stop near Galata Tower where you can spend a whole day here. You can find a different kind of Istanbul in every corner, there is a hidden story of the city everywhere. Religions, languages and ethnic groups live brotherly around here, it's the center of art and culture, many national, international and local activities reach art lovers through the neighborhood.
Many exquisite boutiques, music and bookstores, libraries, art galleries, cinemas, theaters, cafes, bars, restaurants, pubs, coffee houses, patisseries, chocolateries, and technological centers are lined on Istiklal Street.
The Galatasaray Square is almost at the halfway of the Avenue and houses one of the oldest educational institutions established in Turkey during the Ottoman Empire; todays Galatasaray Lisesi (high school) where the Galatasaray football team was founded in 1905.
Across Galatasaray Square there are some historic buildings such as the Çiçek Pasaji (The Flower Courtyard) with many small restaurants and taverns, and Balik Pazari (Fish Market) where you can find some fresh fish and vegetables.
To the end of this İstiklal street towards Galata, there is Tunnel, the world's second-oldest subway, connecting Pera district with Karaköy district on the Golden Horn. Just before Tunnel you can visit Divan Literature Museum which is called as Galata Mevlevihane belonging to Mevlevi order founded by Mevlana, where Whirling Dervish ceremonies are performed that you can visit.
Old Galata and Pera neighborhoods were inhabited since the Byzantine Empire. During the 19th century Ottoman Empire, the street was known as Grande Rue de Pera and the district became a center for foreigners, Levantines, Ottoman intellectuals and western culture admirers. After 1923 the street's name was changed to Istiklal (Independence in Turkish) to commemorate the War of Independence led by Atatürk.
