November 3, 1839 was the beginning of a new period in istanbul. with the ottoman sultan’s firman of reforms, announced by being read to public in gülhane garden of topkapı palace, the process of westernization gained pace. in this period, lots of innovations took place in istanbul, from architecture to way of life, and from educational institutions to industrial organizations.
In parallel to the enlargement of the city, a hectic constructional activity was in progress. On one hand sultans, on the other hand statesmen, non-Muslim wealthy people and foreign embassies built villas and mansions. Dolmabahçe, Çırağan and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Ihlamur and Küçüksu Pavillons, Ayazağa, Alemdağ, İcadiye and Mecidiye Villas were built in this period. Also in this period, many state-owned buildings called “mebain-i emriyye” were built. These include postal administration offices in many districts, Tophane, Maçka Arsenals, Harbiye Ministry and Pangaltı Harbiye Buildings.
This rapid westernization activity left its traces in architecture as well. In this period, classical Ottoman architecture was abandoned and new buildings were made in western styles such as baroque, rococo, neogothic and ampire. Indeed, this change in style penetrated into the architecture of mosques as well.
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In those years, there were notable improvements in infrastructure and urban services. These include the building of a bridge over Golden Horn, tunnel (subway), Rumelian Rail, launch of Şirket-i Hayriye that administered in-city sea transport, establishment of other state offices of Şehremaneti (Municipality), hauling of the first telegraph line, establishing of Police Force Directorate and the police stations under its control, servicing of Vakıf Gureba Hospital and Horse-Drawn Tram Company.
A great importance was given to the opening of modern educational institutions that would nourish the process of westernization. Darülfünun, the foundation of today’s University of Istanbul, men’s and girl’s high schools, School of Architecture, School of Telegraph Information, College of Education, Teachers High School, School of Forestry, School of Nursery and Midwifery, Mekteb-i Sultani (Lycee of Galatasaray), School of Industry and School of Medicine and State Administration were the schools which started their education period then.
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Istanbul Airport (IST, IGA) is the main airport in the city. Located on the European side of Istanbul. The second, “minor” airport of the city, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, is located on the Asian side. The Istanbul Airport is operational for only a couple of years, having served more than 40 million passengers. In its final phase, approximately by 2025, the airport will be able to handle up to 200 million passengers annually, becoming the biggest airport worldwide in terms of passenger traffic.
Eminönü is located in the west of Istanbul. According to sources, Eminönü is one of the places where Byzantium was first established. It is known that the Eminönü coast was ultimately a harbor during the Byzantine period. This historical place is one of the most frequented spots by tourists. The heart of trade beats in the region, which was first the capital of the Eastern Roman and Byzantine Empires, and then the center of the Ottoman Empire. Historical inns, which have been the center of uninterrupted trade and shopping for 1500 years, prove how much they were used in the past, although they are not used today.
Sometimes staying for long time makes us tired, and create that urge inside our soul and body to get some fresh air. istanbul is a very big colored and sometimes a crowded city. so, if you are planning for a quite calm weekend away from the city allow me to introduce you to some istanbul’s near places that you can get some fresh air in and believe me it will be worth it.
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As we all know istanbul is so diverse, because of its huge area and the different view that it overlooks, it has an amazing view on the bosphorus as we know, a huge sea shore on the marmara sea, and from the north it has a coast on the black sea too. the black sea is around 35 km away from taksim square in average, because there are some close places to istanbul to the black sea, and more far away places too!
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