BALAT - COLORFUL OLD TOWN
Balat is the traditional Jewish quarter of the Fatih district, located on the European side of Istanbul, just west of the Golden Horn. Istanbul also has another Jewish quarter, Kuzguncuk, which is located on the Asian side, unlike Balat.
The name Balat is originally derived from the Greek name“palation”,means "magnificent palace". The houses in Balat are built with traditional architecture, simple but beautiful, colorful. The people of Balat used to consider painting their houses colorful as a hobby and this brought a new breeze to the neighborhood.
Balat also has a rich history dating back to the Byzantine era. Here, visitors will be immersed in the colorful, labyrinthine streets with coffee shops nestled next to traditional tea gardens. It will be wonderful for tourists to enjoy traditional Javanese cuisine at Maison Balat restaurant or admire the cozy heirloom decorations in local households in the neighborhood.
Ortakoy old town
While Balat is a neighborhood associated with Jews, the old town of Ortakoy is located in a triangle area consisting of a mosque, a Catholic church and a synagogue, located right on the water's edge at the foot of the Bosphorus Bridge. Coming to the old town of Ortakoy, visitors can take photos with the modern Bosphorus Bridge looming in the distance, creating a beautiful blend of the classic and modern of Istanbul. Visitors can also easily blend in with the bustling and typical life of the locals when walking around street food stalls, markets selling handicrafts, souvenirs, cafes, etc.
In Turkish, Ortakoy means "middle-class village". In the past, during the Ottoman period and in the early days of the Turkish Republic, Ortakoy was a cosmopolitan area, a meeting place for Turkish, Greek, Armenian and Jewish communities. Today, the old town still retains many religious structures (Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox and other Christians).
Ortakoy is also a popular destination for locals and tourists, with art galleries, nightclubs, cafes, bars and restaurants. In Ortakoy, in addition to the famous Bosphorus Bridge, visitors can visit many other cultural sites such as: Galatasaray University, Kabataş Erkek Lisesi High School, the European Tower of the Bosphorus Bridge, and especially the Ortakoy Mosque, a splendid Neo-Baroque architectural work, located right next to Ortakoy Pier, bordering the Bosphorus Sea, where visitors can clearly see the ships passing by.
The Ortakoy Mosque is located next to Ortakoy Square, one of Istanbul's most famous landmarks. It was built in 1721 but was destroyed during the Patrona Halil civil war. The present-day mosque was built on the same site by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulmecid between 1854 and 1856, on the ruins of the Cantemir Palace. The famous architects Garus Amira Balyan and Nigogayos Balyan (who also designed the nearby Dolmabahce Palace and Dolmabahce Mosque) were in charge of the construction of the Ortakoy Mosque.
Ortakoy Mosque.
It can be said that the old quarters such as Balat and Ortakoy have contributed to the sparkling yet ancient appearance of Istanbul. In 2018, more than 16 million foreign tourists came to Istanbul. The city, which was honored to receive the title of "European Capital of Culture", has now become one of the attractive tourist destinations in the world and is completely worthy of being recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
