Let's take a stroll through the Old Town quarter of Besiktas, on the European coast of Istanbul. Besiktas is also the name of a famous Turkish soccer team, whose emblem is the majestic black eagle you can see here.
During the last century of the Ottoman Empire, Besiktas housed officials who worked in the Dolmabahce palace nearby. With them there was also the usual Ottoman mix of cosmopolitan Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Here are some houses from a random back street in the district, clearly showing influences of Greek neoclassicism.
Loads of churches still exist in Besiktas, more than thirteen according to one source. This is the Pananagia Greek Orthodox church...
...and its door, which remains closed for most of the year.
This is the Surp Asvadzadzin Armenian Catholic Church, again with closed doors.
I looked for a way to get inside to take more photos, but this was the closest I could get.
Although a little deserted and melancholic, the streets of Besiktas nevertheless hide a lot of historical surprises such as these. Perhaps I will tour there again in the future, and try to find the rest of the thirteen churces... of Besiktas!
Let's take a stroll through the Old Town quarter of Besiktas, on the European coast of Istanbul. Besiktas is also the name of a famous Turkish soccer team, whose emblem is the majestic black eagle you can see here.
During the last century of the Ottoman Empire, Besiktas housed officials who worked in the Dolmabahce palace nearby. With them there was also the usual Ottoman mix of cosmopolitan Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Here are some houses from a random back street in the district, clearly showing influences of Greek neoclassicism.
Loads of churches still exist in Besiktas, more than thirteen according to one source. This is the Pananagia Greek Orthodox church...
...and its door, which remains closed for most of the year.
This is the Surp Asvadzadzin Armenian Catholic Church, again with closed doors.
I looked for a way to get inside to take more photos, but this was the closest I could get.
Although a little deserted and melancholic, the streets of Besiktas nevertheless hide a lot of historical surprises such as these. Perhaps I will tour there again in the future, and try to find the rest of the thirteen churces... of Besiktas!
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