Flower Passage

Brief History of Flower Passage

Historical Flower Passage is located at the place connecting Istiklal Street and Sahne Street. What makes this passage special is that it is lined with rows of historical cafes, warehouses, and restaurants. However, it was not planned that way when it was originally built. Flower passage was first occupied by the Naum Theater, which was severely damaged in the Pera Fire in 1870. During the Tanzimat period, Sultan Abdulhamid and Sultan Abdulaziz used to come to the famous Naum Theater. However, After the fire of 1870, the theater was purchased by Ottoman Greek banker Hristaki Zoğrafos Efendi, and architect Kleanthis Zannos designed the current building. Under the building, the construction of which was completed in 1876, there were 24 shops arranged in Parisian style, which was fashionable at that time, and 18 luxury apartments above it.

The first place that opens in the passage is Yorgo’s Winehouse still exists, so you can visit this fantastic place. In addition to this place, there were Acemyan’s tobacco shop, Maison Parret, Vallaury’s patisserie, Japanese store, Natural florist, Pandelis’ flower shop, Schumacher’s bakery, Papadopoulos’ bookbinding shop, Keserciyan’s tailor shop when the passage was opened.

In 1908, after the ownership of the building passed to the Grand Vizier Said Pasha, the passage was named Sait Pasha Pass. During the 1940 Armistice years, florists began to settle in the small shops of the passage. After the October Revolution, the Russian women, baronesses, and duchesses who fled became flower sellers here. When Cite de Pera started to be used as a flower auction place for a while, the florists in Beyoglu gathered in the passage, that’s why the passage’s name was changed to “Flower Passage.” Although the florists left the passage because the beers and taverns opened in the 1940s, this nostalgic name remained.

The passage did not receive any care and maintenance until 1988. However, the Municipality wanted this historical passage to be revived. Therefore, the project was started under “Association for the Survival and Beautification of the Flower Passage.” The aim was to put the passage back into service. After completing the ongoing project for Flower Passage, it started to operate again in 2005.

How to Go There?

There are many options for those who want to see the Historical Flower passage. Here are these options: You can use the nostalgic tram. The nearest stop to the gate is the nostalgic tram stop. The last line is the Beyoğlu-Taksim line.

Places to See Around

Here are the closest places to Eminönü Historical Flower Passage that you can visit:

The Majestic Cinema

What makes Majestic Cinema special is that it is a modern cinema with a vintage touch. It offers you the refreshing feel of cinema. The venue rooms are smaller than a traditional cinema, and in its vision, it shows films in Turkish and English.

Pandora Bookstore

Travel books, stationery, and more than a bookstore can offer, here you can find international bestsellers of famous works in Turkish and English. The main feature of this bookstore is that it has an extensive collection of books on Ottoman and Turkish history. Therefore, if you want to get a clear idea about the history of Istanbul, you should definitely see it.

Ride a Vintage Red Tram

Considered one of the fixtures of Istiklal Street, these nostalgic trams have been carrying shoppers and tourists up and down the lively street for many years.

Pera Museum

This museum is an art museum. Located in the Tepebaşı quarter of the Pera district in Istanbul. This place is considered a cultural center in the heart of the city. There are 3 permanent collections in this art gallery, namely Orientalist Paintings, Anatolian Weights and Measures, and Kütahya Tiles and Ceramics.

Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

The Wax museum and entertainment center is located on 2 thousand square meters in the Grand Pera building on Istiklal Street. This is a fun place, especially for families with kids.

Historical Galatasaray Hamam (Turkish Bath)

Located in the side street going down from Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage), the Galatasaray Hamam was built by Sultan Beyazıt in 1481 and had been operating for centuries. When you come to Istanbul, it is a great place to experience the 500-year-old traditional Turkish bath culture of the Ottoman Empire