Istanbul’s unknown neighbourhoods

Istanbul, which stretches between the continents of Asia and Europe with its historical and cultural roots, it is considered one of the most beautiful tourist cities in Turkey, as it contains more than 40 different places and tourist attractions in addition to its famous neighbourhoods such as Sultan Ahmed, Taksim, Escudar and Besiktas.

There are neighbourhoods and historical streets in Istanbul that did not take their right to fame, including:

Cihangir neighbourhood

Cihangir neighbourhood is located in Beyoglu, near Taksim Square in Istanbul, on the European side, on a small hill overlooking the Bosphorus, through the narrow side street which heading down as if descending towards the Bosphorus in a very wonderful view in addition to the spread of green trees.

There is a saying that says if you want to feel like you are in Paris, go to Cihangir in Istanbul,

  Cihangir neighbourhood is dominated by the western character and colourful buildings in addition to the narrow side streets and the old buildings of European design dating back to the nineteenth century,

The Cihangir neighbourhood is a place of residence for many artists, writers, actors and musicians from the Turks and foreigners residing in Istanbul, where in the neighbourhood there is the home of the famous Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk near the museum that has the name of his famous novel The Museum of Innocence.

The neighbourhood also includes a number of beautiful cafes, restaurants, shops and international brands of clothing, shoes and cosmetics, in addition to antiques and artefacts.

 The neighbourhood was named after the son of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman Al- qanuni  Cihangir, who died at the age of twenty after suffering from diseases. After his death, Sultan Suleiman asked the famous architect Sinan Agha to build a mosque bearing the name of his son in the neighbourhood which he liked to play in it in his childhood.

Balat and Fanar neighbourhood in Al-Fateh

The Balat neighbourhood is located in the Al-Fateh area, west of the Aminunu region between Iwan and Fanar. The Balat neighbourhood is considered one of the historical neighbourhoods, which is famous for its colourful old buildings dating back to the fifteenth century AD, where the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II devoted it to immigrant Jews from Spain as evidence of religious tolerance during the Ottoman Caliphate.

Balat still maintains its archaeological features from Jewish symbols like the Star of David in addition to many Jewish temples and churches, among the most famous archaeological monuments in the Balat neighbourhood in Istanbul:

Chora Museum: The Chora Museum in Istanbul was built during the era of the Byzantine Empire. It was an Orthodox church and then converted into a mosque and then into a museum. The museum is distinguished by its architectural design that is dominated by the Byzantine character.

The museum contains relics from the Byzantine period in addition to a number of wonderful mosaic paintings that reflect the splendour and beauty of Byzantine art.

Farook gedhade Mosque: It is located in the Balat neighbourhood in the Al-Fateh region, it is an Ottoman mosque built during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman Al-qanunui   in the sixteenth century under the supervision of the famous architect Sinan Agha. The mosque is distinguished by its distinctive architectural style that reflects the architecture of Ottoman architecture.

The Ahrida Temple: Located in the Balat neighbourhood in Al-Fateh, the Temple of Ahrida is one of the oldest Jewish temples in Istanbul that was built during the era of the Roman Empire. It is distinguished by its unique design as its exterior looks like a ship and includes inside it many holdings and designs dating back to the fifteenth century

If you want to visit the Ahrida Temple, you must obtain previous permission from the rabbi who works on it

The Fanar neighbourhood is located in the Al-Fateh area, west of the Amenono region between Iwan and Balat. The Fanar neighbourhood is full of historical palaces, Christian churches, and Jewish temples dating back to the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.