Visit Balat Istanbul!

Editor Istanbul

May 18 1069 read

Visit Balat Istanbul!

Balat is a place between Ayvansaray and Fener on the shore of the Golden Horn in Istanbul. The name Balat comes from the word palation which means a palace in Greek. The district was known by this name because of its proximity to the Blaherna Palace on the city walls. The Jews came here with the invitation of Bayezid the 2nd. Since the 15th century, the Jewish community of Istanbul has resided in Balat and Hasköy which is opposite the Golden Horn. The surviving examples of Jewish houses proliferate into the inner part of the neighborhood. These are generally three-story buildings with narrow facades, with projections like bay windows on the second and third floors. When you enter through the old Balat gate, there is the Yanbol Synagogue on the right and also there is Ahrida Synagogue built by the Jews from the town of Ohrid in Macedonia. Balat's oldest synagogue is thought to be here; however, today's structure dates from the mid-19th century. First, Greek architecture draws attention. As Greeks lived in this region before, the place carries the Greek culture predominantly. Fener Greek High School and Orthodox Patriarchate are among the must-see places when visiting Balat. It is also possible to have tea and travel to the past in the small cafes opening to the old buildings of Balat.

Some places to visit in Balat

Atölye Kafası (Workshop Head)

It is both a wood design workshop and a shop where the produced products are sold. It is also an alternative place for your Sunday breakfasts, a cafe where you can take a break during your Balat tour, and an event area with acoustic concerts, cinema screenings, workshops, and yoga sessions. As you pass by the door, the wooden designs that overflow from chair to table, from saucer to cheese cutting board are so appealing that you suddenly find yourself inside.

1200 Degree Glass Workshop

1200 Degree Glass Workshop is both a glass workshop where you can do work with an open flame, listen to the story of glass, and learn about glass-making techniques, as well as a glass workshop where you can take a coffee break.

Balat Art House

It is one of the first workshops in Balat where hand-made ceramic objects are made. The owner of the workshop named Beyhan also gives courses to the participants. From the versions that can be hung on the wall to magnets, those who are doing these things usually take an example classic Balat houses as one-to-one models.

Balat Monologues Museum

The Monologues Museum, which used to be in Yuvakimyon Girls' High School but later moved to its new location on Mürselpaşa Street, is a wonderful work that has brought a new breath to Istanbul theater and performance art scene in recent years. Don't be fooled by the name, this is not a museum. It is a theater hall created by restoring a three-story Balat house with a bay window. A separate 15-minute monologue is performed on each floor, in each room. There are 7 games in total and they all start over four times. With a guide on the game and the players in your hand, you are watching the monologues by walking from rooms to rooms, sitting on the floor, or leaning against the wall. Whether you stay in a room from the beginning to the end of the monologue, or step in and out in all 7 monologues. However, you only have a total of 1 hour for this. So you don't have enough time to watch all 7 monologues from start to finish. You need to determine four of them. Each monologue is staged on different subjects and by different actors. But the common point of all of them is Balat. Themes such as Balat's past, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural structure, migration, and identity are the subjects of monologues. Some sessions of the Museum of Monologues are held by candlelight at night.

The shop that makes you smile

It is a natural and local products shop where you can find various food products from vinegar, jams, tarhanas to cut noodles. It is a socially responsible business as well as responsible for the environment and human body. A part of the income from the sales of the products is given to the social aid activities of the Disabled People Foundation.

The beauty of Istanbul: Balat

Istanbul’s one of the most beautiful places in Istanbul is Balat and you should visit there without any doubt about wasting your time in your mind. With the help of I Am Istanbul, you can discover resources about everything that belongs to Balat. Also, you can figure out what you can buy to your lovers via this website with one click.