Beşiktaş

Beşiktaş () is a district and municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus strait. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu, and on the east by the Bosphorus. Directly across the Bosphorus is the district of Üsküdar.

The district includes a number of important sites along the European shore of the Bosphorus, from Dolmabahçe Palace in the south to the Bebek area in the north. It is also home to many inland (and relatively expensive, upper-middle class) neighborhoods such as Levent and Etiler. Some of its other well-known neighborhoods include Yıldız, Kuruçeşme, Ortaköy, and Arnavutköy.

Beşiktaş' historic commercial centre is the quarter and Çarşı (literally, "marketplace"), which adjoins the small Abbasağa Park. Running in the north–south direction, Barbaros Boulevard is a major feeder road for the inner-city motorway and the Bosphorus Bridge, terminating at the important public transport hub of Zincirlikuyu. Büyükdere Avenue also runs through the district.

Although it is a relatively small district of Istanbul, both in terms of population and area, Beşiktaş is one of the city's most important areas due to its business and shopping areas, historic sites, universities, scenic views of the Bosphorus strait, and feeder roads for the Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges passing through it. The district is also the leading financial center of Turkey.

In a 2013 ranking of Turkish districts, Beşiktaş placed first overall due to its high quality of life, prosperity, and cultural level. Beşiktaş is also the highest ranking Turkish district in terms of the Human Development Index, with an HDI of 0.864, while also ranking first in the individual indexes for income and education. The municipality is taking part in the Cities4Europe campaign and has qualified as a "European 12 Star City".

Name

The district takes its name from the Beşiktaş quarter located in the modern-day Sinanpaşa neighborhood. Along with Çarşı, this historic center is sometimes referred to as ''Köyiçi'' (roughly "inner village") by locals.

The word ''beşik'' means "cradle" in Turkish, while ''taş'' means " stone".

According to one story, there was a Byzantine church in modern-day Beşiktaş with the name Kounopetra, Greek for "stone cradle". The church was built to honor a relic, a stone reportedly taken from the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. This stone was later relocated to Hagia Sophia and disappeared during the Fourth Crusade, possibly to be sold in Europe's relics market.

Another story states that a cleric from a Saint Menas (Aya Menas) Church where Beşiktaş now is returned from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem with a cradle-shaped stone used in the baptism of Jesus and placed it in the church.

One other explanation is that the name is a corruption of ''beş taş'', Turkish for "five stones", referring to the five stone pillars built to moor ships by Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha.

History

The Bosphorus has been settled for a long time, and there are many places of historical interest in Beşiktaş. The area is believed to have been settled by Constantine the Great during his reign (306–337 CE). This stretch of the Bosphorus shore is somewhat sheltered from the strong northeasterly winds that bring storms to Istanbul, and thus it forms an ideal mooring place for ships.

In Byzantine times, the area was called ''Diplokionion'', meaning "double pillar" in Greek, as it was the location of a set of twin pillars marking a key entry from the water into Constantinople. These columns would later provide the model for the twin pillars at the water's edge in Venice.

In ancient times the villages on the Bosphorus shore were isolated communities in the forest that lined the water-side. The Bosphorus, however, was prominent in the history and mythology of the ancient Greeks, and villages like Beşiktaş would have had their place in traditional tales such as '' Jason and the Argonauts''. In the Byzantine, era churches and a monastery were built and the tradition of having a summer palace on the Bosphorus was begun by the Byzantines with their Ayios Mamas palace complex.
The Bosphorus settlements, however, being outside the city walls, were vulnerable to raiders from the Black Sea coasts, and little of this architecture or the statuary that would have decorated it so gloriously has survived.

In the Ottoman period, once the Sultans had established control of the Black Sea coasts, the Ottoman navy was docked in the Bosphorus and the Bosphorus villages became safe and attractive again. One man, in particular, the sailor Barbarossa Hayreddin, built his palace and mosque in Beşiktaş, making it his home. By now Beşiktaş was an established Bosphorus crossing for caravans trading across Anatolia and along the Silk Road, and for Ottoman armies.

According to Ottoman estimations of 1882, the district of Beşiktaş had a total population of 28.777, consisting of 10.753 Muslims, 9.248 Greeks, 4.897 Armenians, 3.057 Jews, 601 Catholics, 203 Bulgarians and 18 Latins.

This coast was very attractive to the Ottoman rulers, who built hunting lodges and then great palaces in the area, and the Beşiktaş district today contains some of the most important and attractive Ottoman buildings. The area was thus the scene of great intrigues of the late Ottoman period such as the dethronement of Sultan Abdülaziz at Dolmabahçe Palace in a coup in 1876, the announcement of the founding of the Ottoman parliament in 1908, and the deposing of Sultan Abdul Hamid II at Yıldız Palace in 1909.

Following the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the Ottoman ruling family was deported and the palaces and mansions along the coast were emptied. Some were given to new government ministries, some used as schools and other public buildings, others were demolished.

Today, it is widely accepted by the residents of the area that the most significant resident of Beşiktaş was Zübeyde Hanım, the mother of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who lived in the old quarter at the heart of Beşiktaş, literally right next to the then headquarters of Beşiktaş J.K.

Besides the more historic areas such as Yıldız, Ortaköy, Kuruçeşme, Arnavutköy, Bebek, many residential areas in the district started to form around the 1950s. For example, the foundations of Levent (named after the Levent Farm previously located there) were established in the 1950s when construction began on a prestigious suburban mass housing project. The Etiler, Konaklar, Akatlar, Nisbetiye, Levazım and Kültür neighborhoods followed soon after.

In 2016 and 2017, there were two terror attacks in the district. One was outside a stadium and the other was at a nightclub.

Climate

Beşiktaş experiences a humid subtropical climate (''Cfa/Cf'') according to both Köppen and Trewartha climate classifications, with cool winters and warm to hot summers. As its location in the middle of coastal Istanbul suggests, it has a transitional climate between the oceanic climate to the north, and the Mediterranean climate to the south, and is a good average of climates across Istanbul. It is classified as USDA hardiness zone 9a, and AHS heat zone 3.

Government

Beşiktaş is located on the European side of Istanbul Province. It became an independent district in 1930 after its separation from Beyoğlu, and the municipal government was founded in 1984. The district is composed of 23 neighborhoods.

Neighborhoods

*
*
* Arnavutköy
*
* Bebek
*
*
*Etiler
*
*
* Kuruçeşme
*
*
* Levent
*
*
*
* Ortaköy
*
*
*
* Vişnezade
* Yıldız

Local election results

Historic quarters

Arnavutköy: Located between Bebek and Kuruçeşme.

Aşiyan: Located between Bebek and Rumelihisarı.

: Located along Barboros Boulevard, between Yıldız and Zincirlikuyu junction.

Bebek: The origins for Bebek's name go back to the Conquest of Istanbul.

: One of Istanbul's oldest quarters and the origin of the district's name.

Kuruçeşme: Located along the Bosphorus and known for its mansions.

Ortaköy: Known today for its iconic mosque and square. Historically a multicultural area.

Yıldız: Located to the east of Barbaros Boulevard.

Places of interest

Beşiktaş is home to many historic and modern places of interest. Among the most notable are Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, Yıldız Palace, and Ortaköy Mosque.

The Levent neighborhood is home to many modern shopping malls and office buildings. Some of Turkey's tallest buildings are located in the area, along Büyükdere Avenue.

Historic

* Abbas Ağa Mosque
* Akaretler Row Houses
* Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha Memorial
* Bebek Mosque
* Çırağan Palace
* Dolmabahçe Palace
* Dolmabahçe Clock Tower
* Esma Sultan Mansion
* Feriye Palace
* Hatice Sultan Palace
* Istanbul Naval Museum
* Ihlamur Palace
* Makruhyan Armenian School
* Malta Kiosk
* Naime Sultan Mansion
* Orhaniye Barracks
* Ortaköy Mosque
* Ortaköy Kethuda Hammam
* Sinan Pasha Mosque
* Tomb of Hayreddin Barbarossa
* Yahya Efendi Lodge
* Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
* Yıldız Park
* Yıldız Porcelain Factory
* Yıldız Palace
* Yıldız Clock Tower

Modern

* Akmerkez
* Istanbul Sapphire
* İş Towers
* Kanyon
* MetroCity
* Sabancı Center
* Vodafone Park
* Zorlu Center

Economy

With the Ottoman dynasty's settlement in Dolmabahçe in the 17th century and many workers eventually settling in houses and mansions in Beşiktaş, many shopping places like Çarşı popped up, helping the area to be a developing economic center. But with the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, and the capital being moved to Ankara, Beşiktaş's economic development came to a halt.

In the 1950s with the birth of the Levent and Etiler neighborhoods, and the construction of Barbaros Boulevard. The district started growing back and eventually transportation levels in the neighborhoods rose, and with the construction of the Bosphorus Bridge in 1973, many businesses centers and shopping malls got constructed and the district became a business district and tourism, with many skyscrapers and hotels like the Sabancı Center and Isbank Towers eventually getting built.

Beşiktaş is home to İşbank, Garanti BBVA, Akbank, Yapı Kredi and Fibabanka's head offices and embassies of Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Denmark, Egypt, Israel, Northern Cyprus, South Africa, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates. The consulate of Saudi Arabia, formerly in Beşiktaş, was moved to a building in the Istinye neighborhood in Sarıyer district in September 2019, following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the building in 2018.

Sports

The area gives its name to Turkey's oldest sports club, Beşiktaş Jimnastik Kulübü (Beşiktaş Gymnastics Club), founded in 1903. The club's football team is one of the top three in Turkey, having won 16 Turkish Super League titles and participating regularly in the UEFA Champions League and Europa League. The team played their home games at the historic İnönü Stadium, which was demolished in 2013 and replaced on the same grounds by the 42,590 seat Vodafone Park. There are Besiktas Museum Turkey's largest sport museum located in the stadium. The stadium is near Dolmabahçe Palace at the shore of the Bosphorus. The football team wears black and white shirts and is nicknamed the Black Eagles. The club has earned notoriety for its faithful fans, who have broken volume records with 132 decibel cheers. BJK Akatlar Arena is the home of the basketball team. The club's most famous supporter group is called Çarşı, and is known for its involvement in social and political issues.

Besides Beşiktaş JK, the district is also home to the smaller yet historic Ortaköy SK. The Istanbul Specialized Swimming Club was the first specialized swimming club in the country. In addition, there are a number of other amateur sports clubs and Levent Tennis Club.

Many of the notable sporting facilities in the district belong to Beşiktaş JK; such as Vodafone Park, BJK Akatlar Arena, Süleyman Seba Sports Centre, Fulya Training Facilities and Çilekli Football Field.

Education and culture

Beşiktaş is arguably the most important educational center of Istanbul. The central campuses of some of Turkey's leading universities, such as Boğaziçi University, Galatasaray University, and Yıldız Technical University are located in the district. The Turkish War Academies and central parts of Beykent University, Kadir Has University, Istanbul Technical University, and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University can also be found here.

Many notable primary and secondary schools such as Robert College, Etiler Anadolu Lisesi, the Istanbul Japanese School, MEF International School, the Etiler campus of the British International School Istanbul, and the Etiler campus of the Tarabya British Schools, can be found in Beşiktaş. A total of 43 K-12 schools (12 private) are listed by the municipality.

Museums in the district include the Aşiyan Museum, the Beşiktaş JK Museum, Istanbul Naval Museum, Istanbul State Art and Sculpture Museum, Istanbul City Museum, Yıldız Palace Museum, and the Firefighting Museum.

As of 2018, there are 18 art galleries, 20 libraries, 12 theatre venues, and 8 movie theatres with numerous screens listed by the municipality. In addition, there are other notable performance venues such as Kuruçeşme Arena and Zorlu Performing Arts Center.

, founded in 1994 by Yılmaz Erdoğan and , is known nationwide for its theatre, cinema, and television productions.

File:GSUniversitesi.jpg, Galatasaray University
File:Bosphorus University.jpg, Boğaziçi University Faculty of Science and Letters building
File:Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi 10.jpg, Yıldız Technical University Faculty of Engineering
File:RobertCollegeGouldHall1.jpg, Robert College, Gould Hall

Transportation

Beşiktaş is an important transport hub with ferries going to the Asian side and dozens of buses departing from the area.

International relations

Involvement

The municipality is an associated partner of Eurocities and is involved in a number of working groups ranging from urban ageing to migration and integration. It is also a part of the Cities4Europe campaign.

Beşiktaş was awarded the '12 Star City' title for 2016 and 2017 by the Council of Europe.

Twin municipalities

* Brooklyn, New York City, United States, since 2005.
* Erlangen, Bavaria, Germany, since 2004.
* Güzelyurt, Northern Cyprus
* Lewisham, London, United Kingdom
* Shkodër, Albania
* Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
* Trenčín, Slovakia
* Xanthi, Greece

Gallery

File:Besiktas Square.jpg, Beşiktaş Square
File:Beşiktaş, March 2017 - Hayır campaign for Turkish referandum 2.jpg, Beşiktaş "Eagle Square"
File:Levent Çarşı 2011.jpg, A view from Levent Çarşı
File:İstanbul Bebek sahili 1934.JPG, The Bebek coast in 1934
File:İstanbul 5153.jpg, Sinan Pasha Mosque
File:IstanbulNavalMuseum37.JPG, Istanbul Naval Museum
File:Yildiz Park 02.jpg, Yıldız Park
File:Ihlamur Palace Ceremonial House 06.jpg, Ihlamur Palace
File:Istanbul asv2021-10 img15 Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque.jpg, Yıldız Hamidiye Mosque
File:Esma Sultan Yalısı.JPG, Esma Sultan Mansion
File:İstanbul - Bebek, Beşiktaş r6 - Şub 2013.JPG, Hıdiva Mansion
File:Besiktas ferry landing.JPG, Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha pier
File:Ortakoy husrev kethuda hamamı.jpg, Ortaköy Kethuda Hammam
File:Beşiktaş Belediyesi ve Kaymakamlığı.JPG, Beşiktaş Kaymakam and Municipality building
File:Yildiz Porcelain Factory 01.jpg, Yıldız Porcelain Factory
File:Saatkulesi.jpg, Dolmabahçe Clock Tower
File:Beşiktaş Mars 2013.jpg, Dolmabahçe Mosque and Dolmabahçe Palace
File:Akaretler, Beşiktaş.JPG, Akaretler Row Houses

Video gallery

File:İstanbul - Sinan Paşa Camii (Beşiktaş) - Şubat 2013.ogv, View of Sinan Pasha Mosque and surrounding area from the Bosphorus, Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha pier in foreground
File:İstanbul - Ortaköy & Büyük Mecidiye Camii - Şubat 2013.ogv, View of Ortaköy from the Bosphorus, Ortaköy Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge on the right
File:İstanbul - Arnavutköy, Beşiktaş & Akıntıburnu Deniz Feneri - Şubat 2013.ogv, View of Arnavutköy and the Akıntıburnu lighthouse
File:İstanbul - Aşiyan,Beşiktaş & Aşiyan Mezarlığı - Şubat 2013.ogv, View of the Aşiyan quarter and Aşiyan Asri Cemetery, with Rumelihisarı and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge on the right
File:İstanbul - Beşiktaş İskelesi - Şubat 2013.ogv, Barbarossa Hayreddin Pasha pier and surrounding area

References

Notes

External links

Official website of Kaymakam (district governor)


Official interactive map

Beşiktaş gallery at Fotopedia

{{DEFAULTSORT:Besiktas

Bosphorus
Districts of Istanbul Province
Populated places in Istanbul Province
Istanbul Central Business District