Have Fun in Istiklal Street

Etiya Res

Jun 28 906 read

Have Fun in Istiklal Street

Every day, 3 million people visit Istanbul's 1.4-kilometer Istiklal Street, which serves as the city's retail and nightlife center. Some work in businesses on and around Istiklal Street, while others come as visitors to enjoy the numerous attractions, which include theaters, libraries, art galleries, boutiques, music, and bookstores. Then there are the many restaurants that cater to hungry customers with a wide range of cuisines, including Turkish, foreign, and street food. Even though it is the center of new Istanbul and the city's contemporary side, many of the buildings along both sides of the street show a wide range of architectural styles, including Ottoman, art nouveau, Genoese, and Gothic.

The renowned Galata high school is also the country's oldest secondary school, although Istiklal Street is most known for the red tram that runs up and down it every day. During the Ottoman period, Istiklal Street was known as Grande Rue de Pera and was a popular hangout for consulate dignitaries and foreign intellectuals. After the Turkish battle of independence in 1923, the name Istiklal, which means "independence," was coined. Turkey's most renowned roadway, also known as Istiklal Avenue or Caddesi, was renovated in 2017 to modernize it and enhance sewage, gas, electricity, and drainage. The end effect is a nice welcome to Turkey's busiest street.

Galata Whirling Dervish Museum

The Galata Whirling Dervish Museum and House, which dates back to 1491, has regular nightly performances where you can purchase tickets to watch the whirling dervishes perform their mesmerizing Sema dance. The home also has a wonderful collection of antiquities and artifacts depicting life for members of this Islamic sect.

Art Galleries

Istiklal Street is home to two well-known art galleries. The tortoise trainer, by renowned ottoman artist Osman Bay Hamdi, is housed at the Pera Museum and is one of Turkey's most famous paintings. It's worth a whopping 3.5 million dollars. The Misir Apartment is also a new gallery that is attracting a lot of attention because to its modern art collections and exhibits. Close by, you'll discover the Pera Museum, which has some of the finest Turkish paintings ever created, as well as a slew of other art and exhibition galleries from which to explore Istanbul's art scene.

Church of Saint Anthony of Padua

Even if you are not a Roman Catholic, the Anthony of Padua church's magnificent Venetian neo-gothic architecture is worth seeing. After the original church, constructed in 1751, was destroyed, the architect Giulio Mongeri cleared the path for its completion in 1912.

The projected number of worshipers at the time of its completion was 40,000. Visitors entering via the gate are greeted with a monument of Pope John XXIII, who preached at the church for 10 years and earned the moniker "Turkish Pope" due to his affection for the country. On various days of the week, Mass is held in four distinct languages at this building, which is one of the top churches.

Flower Passage

This boulevard, which goes back to 1870 and was renowned for Russian flower vendors during the Bolshevik Revolution, is a significant sign for many Russian visitors. This street is known for its gorgeous and vibrant environment, as well as its magnificent restaurants and cafés offering raki, mezze, and gypsy music.