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Where does the name of towns in Istanbul come from 1
Did you know Taksim means “shareout” in Turkish, which was the place containing a reservoir from which water is distributed to various parts of a city? We have made a list of the towns and neighbourhoods in Istanbul and translated...
Names of Istanbul in History
Istanbul is … one of the oldest cities in the world located in the heart of the East and the West, is a bridge, a gate opening to the East and West, a pot where the cultures meet and is cooked slowly, absurd and mystical as a fairy tale,...
Akide Candy, Famous Ottoman Taste
Akide Şekeri is a kind of candy that is one of the oldest products of the Ottoman cuisine. In the dictionary “akide” means faith, devotion and rule. In the Ottoman period Akide şekeri was used at the Sultan’s salary ceremony...
Timeline of Istanbul
7000 BC Neolithic fishing settlements in Kadıköy, Pendik and Yarımburgaz
750 BC Greeks sailed through the Bosphorus.
667 BC Byzantium was founded.
676 BC Greek colony of Chalcedon founded in Kadıköy today.
64 BC Pompeius captured...
Discovering Literature on Turkish History
If you wish to improve your knowledge of Turkish history, you may be surprised to learn that there is a substantial body of interesting literature available. As an introduction to Turkish history, try Feroz Ahmad’s The Making of Modern Turkey...
Flying Ottoman Brothers
Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi was an Ottoman scientist who is said to fly with the wings he made from Galata Tower to Üsküdar, whose story was told in the travelbook by famous Ottoman traveler, Evliya Celebi. Hezarfen Ahmet Celebi (1609-1940)...
The Historical Peninsula
Istanbul or Constantinople is the city center inside the walls called the historical peninsula or tarihi yarımada in Turkish. Below is a documentary about the history of the historical peninsula of Istanbul.
The Historical Peninsula of...
Maritime Accidents on the Bosphorus
People usually think the Bosphorus is a very nice place to go on a tour, enjoy raki-balik meal at the restaurants and cafes around and live along the coast. Is it always true? Apparently not for some, especially the crew on some of the ships...
Vordonisi, Lost in Istanbul
There are 9 islands (Prince’s Islands) on the southern coast of Istanbul: Büyükada (Prinkipo) Heybeliada (Khalki) Burgazada (Antigoni) Kınalıada (Proti) Sedef Adasi (Therebintos/Androvitha) Kasikadasi (Pita) Yassiada (Plati) Sivriada...
Biritish Cemetery
There are many non-muslim cemeteries for non-muslim Istanbulians but one of them, the English cemetery located in Kadikoy near Haydarpasa Train Station was reserved for the English soldiers wounded in the Crimean War (1853 – 1856) and...