Ortaköy (literally
Middle Village in Turkish)
is a neighbourhood, formerly a small village, within the Beşiktaş
district of Istanbul
, located in
the middle of the European bank of the
Bosphorus
.
Ortaköy is a cosmopolitan area, with communities of
Turks,
Greeks,
Armenians and
Jews. The
neighbourhood hosts many different religious (
Muslim,
Jewish,
Orthodox, and other
Christian) structures. It is also a popular
spot for locals and tourists alike, with its art galleries, night
clubs, cafés, bars, and restaurants.
The
Neo-Baroque style Ortaköy
Mosque
is a beautifully ornate structure, right on the
jetty of Ortaköy, bordering the waters of the Bosphorus, and thus
highly visible from the passing boats.
Several
reputable schools, such as Kabataş Erkek Lisesi
and Galatasaray University
, are located in Ortaköy. The European pylon of
the Bosphorus
Bridge
, one of the two bridges that connect the European
and Asian banks of İstanbul, is also situated in this
neighbourhood.
Ortaköy was the site of
George W.
Bush's speech during the NATO
Summit of
2004, which he delivered at Galatasaray University.
History
Ortaköy has had an important place in the daily life of the city
during both the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Turks, Jews, Greeks
and Armenians still live there peacefully, side by side. In the
16th century, the Ottoman Sultan
Suleiman the Magnificent encouraged
the Turks to move to Ortaköy and live there, which marked the
beginning of the Turkish presence in the neighbourhood. One of the
oldest buildings in Ortaköy is the Turkish Bath built by the famous
Ottoman architect
Sinan in 1556.
The famous
Ortaköy
Mosque, located on the coastal pier square, was originally
built in the 18th century. Later, in the 19th century, the
current mosque, ordered by Sultan
Abdülmecid and designed by architects
(father and son)
Garabet Amira Balyan and
Nigoğayos Balyan
in
Neo-Baroque style, was edificed
between 1854 and 1856.
In 1871,
Sultan Abdülaziz built the Çırağan
Palace
in Ortaköy, where he lived for some time.
Çırağan Palace was also used as the Ottoman Parliament building
until it was severely damaged by a fire in 1910. The palace was
repaired and restored in the 1980s and is known today as the
Çırağan Palace Kempinski Hotel, one of the most luxurious
hotels in Istanbul.
Sports
The sporting club of the neighbourhood is
Ortaköy Spor Kulübü.No
one from this area really is familiar with the sporting club.
References and notes
- The Marmara Hotels: The Marmara Esma Sultan Events
Venue
External links
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