Istanbul / Galata Sights

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view of the Galata Tower from across the Golden Horn

• Galata Whirling Dervish Hall (Galata Mevlevihanesi) www.mekder.org, Galipdede Caddesi, very near the lower end of Istiklal Caddesi (near Tünel's Galata station). A dancing hall of the mystical Mevlevi order, shut down in 1925 along with all other 'reactionary' movements in Turkey. Today the building houses the Museum of Divan Literature, but the best time to come is Sundays between 3 to 5PM when sema dervish ceremonies are staged (buy tickets in advance, as space is limited). Also check out the small graveyard next door, where the carved fez perched upon the gravestone indicates the occupant's rank in the dervish hierarchy.

• Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi), (between Karaköy/Galata and the lower end of Istiklal St), ☎ +90 212 293 81 80 (info@galatatower.net, fax: +90 212 245 21 33), www.galatatower.net/eng/index.php. It was built by the Genoese on the city walls of Galata, then a western (Genoese/Venetian) stronghold beside eastern (Byzantine/Ottoman) Constantinople. Ride an elevator to the top, then walk the parapet for a 360 degree view of Istanbul, including the entire Sultanahmet peninsula: crowned by Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. A beautiful spot worthy of a lot of pictures. Also houses a restaurant.

• Pera Museum (Pera Müzesi), Meşrutiyet Caddesi 65, Tepebaşı-Beyoğlu (close to Istiklal Avenue), ☎ +90 212 334-99-00 (info@peramuzesi.org.tr, fax: +90 212 245-95-11), www.peramuzesi.org.tr. T-S 10AM-7PM, Su noon-6PM. A private museum with a large painting collection and archaeological collections of measurement units and tools used in Asia Minor since antiquity and faiences of Kütahya. 7 TL (students 3 TL Th-T, free W).

View of S. Antonio di Padova Catholic Church.

• S. Antonio di Padova Catholic Church, (A few meters down the street from Galatasaray Square). Although not at the size of Hagia Sophia, this is the largest church (still used for religious activities) in Turkey. It’s directly on Istiklal St, but somewhat hidden from view by its yard portal. Masses in Italian, Turkish, and English (in different days of the week). Free.

• Cezayir Street (Cezayir Sokağı), (behind Galatasaray Lisesi, walk the downhill street from Galatasaray Square). Better known as Fransız Sokağı or La Rue Française, i.e. "French Street", is an alley of statues and geraniums hanging from windows, featuring France-themed restaurants, cafes, and pubs housed in renovated and brightly-painted neo-classical buildings. Upon its inauguration in its present form in 2005, there was a brief debate on how political correct it is to rename the street from Cezayir (Algeria) to Fransız, who fought a bitter war against Algerian indepence in 1960s, which led the city council to abandon the idea of officially renaming the street.

• Crimean Memorial Church (Kırım Kilisesi), Kumbaracıbaşı Yokuşu (on one of the downhill alleys to your left when walking towards the southern end of Istiklal Avenue in Tünel Square, look for street sign). A neo-gothic anglican cathedral which would not be out of place in northwestern Europe, Crimean Memorial Church was built for the protestant community of the city by Britain in late 1800s. It was named in honour of the soldiers died in Crimean War of 1856, which was fought against Russia by the allied Ottoman and British Empires. Still open for religious purposes, its congregation today is mostly consisted of Anglican East Asians and Sri Lankans residing in Istanbul.

• İstanbul Modern, Meclis-i Mebusan Cad. Liman İşletmeleri Sahası Antrepo No: 4, Karaköy (tram: Tophane), www.istanbulmodern.org/en/f_index.html. 10AM-6PM, Thursday until 8PM, Closed Monday. A nice, organized museum with contemporary installations. Including a cafe with a top notch menu and view. 7 TL/3 TL students (free for all on Thursday).

• www.mekder.org
• www.galatatower.net/eng/index.php
• www.peramuzesi.org.tr
• www.istanbulmodern.org/en/f_index.html