The Oldest Functioning Shipyard of the World

Halic Shipyard

Standing once where the Byzantium shipyard used stand, Halic Shipyard was built after Sultan Mehmet’s conquest of Istanbul. The shipyard that was formerly known as Tersane-i Amire, was built in 1455.

As once it was considered to be a maritime center of the world, today Halic Shipyard holds the record for being the oldest functioning shipyard with its three dry docks and maintenance facilities. Unfortunately the Shipyard is closed to the public. You can find more information on the Shipyard from City Ferry’s brochure here (only in Turkish), or from here.

While there are many rumored projects that aim to transform Halic Shipyard in the future, for us the best project would involve preserving the Shipyard and building a museum on its grounds that would deliver its history to future generations.  







Take care of yourselves,
Tracer of Istanbul

The Last Palace

Yildiz Palace - Besiktas

Situated alongside Ciragan Palace in what was formerly known as Kazancioglu Gardens, Yildiz Palace now stands where once sultans used as a hunting site. 

The first summer palace on the site was ordered to be built by Ahmet Ist. The palace was started to be called “Yildiz” (meaning star) after Selim IIIrd ordered a summer palace to be built on these grounds for his mother. 

Throughout years and reigns of different sultans, more and more additions were made to the palace; and during Abdulhamit IInd’s reign it started to be used as the primary palace for the ruler.

After belonging to the military between the years 1922 and 1978, the palace was then transferred under the custodianship of Culture and Tourism Ministry.

Unfortunately it is forbidden to take photos inside Yildiz Palace; however you can get detailed information, pictures and a 3D tour of the palace from here.

If you are there to visit Yildiz Palace do not pass by Yildiz Park. Though quite crowded, Istanbul Tulip Festival (held in April) is a beautiful event that will give you the opportunity to experience the pleasantness of this park. You can get Tulip Festival’s information from this link. But the upcoming dates are not announced yet.

Take care of yourselves,

Tracer of Istanbul

The Building that Awaited its Music

Sureyya Opera House - Kadikoy

  

In order to talk about Sureyya Opera House, you must first learn about Sureyya Ilmen himself. Founder of the aviation organization and a textile factory, Ilmen not only served as a member of the parliament but also donated most of his wealth to charities and different causes. As such, the opera house was built with his donations and he was the founder of the Sureyya Opera Group. 

We found information on the history of the opera house in Katoglu, Gursel and Aydemir’s book that they’ve written for Kadıkoy Municipiality.  The architecture of the opera house was created through incorporating three different foreign design esthetics (one of them being Champs-Elysées of Paris is known only). 

Having being incomplete, the opera house was started to be used as a movie theater in 1927, while the Sureyya Opera Group continued showing in Beyoglu French Theater and Kadıkoy Apollon (Hale) Theater.

After Kadıkoy Municipality’s restoration of the building in 2006, the opera house finally started fulfilling its purpose and is still hosting the Sureyya Opera Performances. As Istanbulites, we think you will be missing out a lot if you don’t go and experience the beauty and power of opera here. You can find the program here, and take the 360° virtual tour of the building- although it can never compare to the real deal!

Russian painter Nikolai Kalmukov, whom later moved to Turkey and changed his name to Naci Kalmukoglu, created the ceiling frescos and wall panels. You can find more information (only Turkish) on him and pictures of his paintings in a video through  this link from an exhibition that took place in Izmir last year.

The statues that adorn the exterior of the building as well as the columns around the stage were made by the first Turkish sculptor Ihsan Ozsoy. You can find more information on the artist here.

This week we took you to Sureyya Opera House that waited 80 years to be reunited with its music. Life is better with music, so why don’t you play a tune you like right now and be reunited it with it immediately. 

Take care of yourselves,

Tracer of Istanbul

The Begrudging Visitor

Arap Izzet Pasha (Iliasko) Manor

  

Iliasko Manor in Buyukada (Prinkipo) was commissioned to be built by Konstantinos Iliasko, who at the time was the head manager of Athens Bank in Galata region. At the start of the 20^th century, Iliasko Manor alongside its neighbouring manor came under Arap Izzet (Holo) Pasha’s ownership. Arap Izzet Pasha was known for his close relationship with Sultan Abdulhamit II, and both of these manors from this time started to be called after his name.

 

Perhaps the most interesting fact about the manor is that between the years 1929 and 1931, famous Soviet Revolutionist Lev Trotsky lived here in exile. You can get more information on Trotsky here. You can also watch a six-episode documentary on Trotsky’s life on the island from this link.

The original Iliasko Manor was demolished in 1980s and was reconstructed by Architect Erdem Hamami. 

After the manor was damaged from a fire in 1931, Trotsky respectively stayed at the Savoy Hotel, a manor in Kadıkoy and the Yanaros Manor on Buyukada until he left Turkey in 1939. You can find pictures of the Yanaros Manor form a former exhibition about it through this link.

While it is impossible to visit these historical landmarks since they are privately owned, we recommend you take a little break and visit either Buyukada or one of the other islands before it starts to get overcrowded with tourists in the summer.

Take care of yourselves,

Tracer of Istanbul

This is Just the Beginning

Hagia Sophia 

Considered to be the most significant example of Byzantine architecture, Hagia Sophia was built on the grounds of two former churches. The remains of these older churches were extracted during an archeological excavation in 1935 and the findings are currently exhibited in the museum’s garden. While it is presumed that there are more artifacts from this time under the church, these excavations were cancelled in fear of damaging the church’s foundation.

 

After being used as a church for 916 years, the church was converted into a mosque after Constantinople was conquered in 1453. Perhaps it was tolerance, an interest in cultural heritage, or respect for other beliefs, but the church’s conversion into a mosque shied away from destroying Christian artifacts.  Instead, the Christian mosaics, drawings and icons were preserved through either removing them into storage or covering them up. Used as a mosque until 1935, Hagia Sophia now stands as a museum and an evidence of two religions coexisting in one space.  

As the museum is one of the most popular tourist attractions in town, we recommend you visit Hagia Sophia early in the morning. Covered in interesting details (even within stone walls), the museum also has its own celebrity living on the grounds: The Hagia Sophia cat! You can check out the famous cat’s blog here, and also take a look at the beautiful pictures of the museum. One other famous spot in the museum is the “wishing stone”, in which you can insert your thumb and rotate it a full round to make a wish.  

There is much to see outside Hagia Sophia too: Sultan mausoleums (Sultan Mustafa Ist’s and Sultan Ibrahim’s were converted from baptisteries), an Ottoman elementary school, fountain and many more, alongside a little café where you can take a little break.

You can learn more about Hagia Sophia from here.

We also recommend Murat Belge’s Istanbul Travel Guide (İstanbul Gezi Rehberi) - if you can manage to find an English copy- to continue learning interesting details about the city.

With the latest excavation findings, and knowing that the ruins of two former churches still lay under it, Hagia Sophia stands as an archeological giving tree, which makes us think that what we have found so far is just the beginning. 

Take care of yourselves,

Tracer of Istanbul

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Beylerbeyi Palace - Beylerbeyi

When you decide to tour around this magnificent building, you first have to pass through a tunnel that was built in Mahmut II’s reign.  At the end of the tunnel lies the gardens of Beylerbeyi Palace, and the whole walk makes you feel like you have traveled back in time. Make sure you don’t pass by the fountain while in the tunnel, which was also built in the same era.

While this neighborhood’s establishment dates back to Byzantium Empire, the name –according to traveler İnciciyan- comes from Beylerbeyi Mehmet Pasha’s villa that was built in the 16^th century. Built where a church used to stand, Abduallah Aga Mosque (formerly known as Cross Mosque) in this neighborhood stands as a remainder of that era.

A popular summer getaway for many Sultans, in 1829 Mahmut II orders for a palace to be built here. After the fire in 1851, Sultan Abdülaziz orders architect Sarkis Balyan to rebuild the palace.

The palace in which many kings and presidents were received, is also where Abdülhamit II lived for six years until his death, after being dethroned in 1909. The palace was restored by architect Vedat Tek in 1909.

After 1923, the palace continued receiving heads of states, and in 1936 it was the home of the Balkan Games Festival. The last guest of the Palace, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, spent a night in this building during the Festival.

Photography is not allowed inside the palace, but you can find information on it here, alongside 3D view here. If you choose not to go in the building, you can tour around the gardens for a small fee (1 Turkish Lira). There is also a small café here if you wish to stop and rest a little.

The statues in the gardens were made by Pierre Louis Rouillard in 1864 after Sultan Abdülaziz’ order. You can find more information on the sculptor here, and take a look at his work from here.

While most of Rouillard’s pieces are in this garden, you can find more of his work in Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace. His famous Ramping Horse statue is in Sabancı Museum and his famous Bull statue is in Kadıköy Square.

Closed on Mondays and Thursdays, the palace is open from 9 am to 5 pm every other day.

 Now, it is your turn to time travel through the tunnel…

Take care of yourselves,

Tracer of Istanbul

Folksongs and Chansons

Istanbul Radio House

Initially located in the Grand Post Office building, Istanbul Radio Station started its broadcasting through playing music out to the street by a loud speaker. In 1949 the station moved to this magnificent building. 

Through this link, we learned that the architects of the building were Doğan Erginbaş, Ömer Güney and İsmail Utkular. Their design for the building was selected after they’ve submitted to the competition that the Station started when it was looking for a new home.

While some may think that the location of the building is highly profitable in terms of urban transformation, Istanbul Radio holds a special place in Istanbulites’ hearts.

The station archive that contains thousands of music and broadcast records is unfortunately not open to public. However, we strongly encourage you to stop by at the little store inside the building where you can buy replicas of these records alongside precious souvenirs. 

You can also watch one of the “concert broadcasts” that takes place in the Mes’ud Cemil Studio. You can follow their events through their Facebook page, from here, or simply by calling 0212 232 12 00.

We end this week’s entry with a TRT broadcast (Tanıdınız mı; Did you recognize?) hosted by Tarık Gürcan and music preformed by Şerif İçli. The guest of the broadcast is the winner of Istanbul Radio’s music contest in 1950: Zeki Müren. We reminisce the golden era of the radio…

Şerif İçli : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWORAKdCwKc

Tanıdınız mı? : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgUWFWTecGc

Take care of yourselves,

Tracer of Isanbul