Kumkapı (meaning "sand gate" in
Turkish) is a
quarter in
Fatih
Fatih () is a municipality and district of Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its area is 15 km2, and its population is 368,227 (2022). It is home to almost all of the provincial authorities (including the mayor's office, police headquarters, metro ...
district of
Istanbul
Istanbul is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical heart. With Demographics of Istanbul, a population over , it is home to 18% of the Demographics ...
. It is located along the northern shore of
Marmara Sea
The Sea of Marmara, also known as the Sea of Marmora or the Marmara Sea, is a small inland sea entirely within the borders of Turkey. It links the Black Sea and the Aegean Sea via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits, separating Turkey's E ...
. Up to recent times, Kumkapı is the center of the
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
community of the city, boasting a school and several churches. It is also where the seat of the
Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
is located. The quarter is famous for its many fish restaurants; therefore attracting many local and foreign tourists round the year.
History
In the Byzantine period, the area was known in
Greek
Greek may refer to:
Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe:
*Greeks, an ethnic group
*Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family
**Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
as
Kontoskàlion.
During the British
bombing of İstanbul, the area was damaged in 18 October 1918.
Notable buildings in Kumkapı
*
Surp Asdvadzadzin Patriarchal Church
*
*
*
Transportation
Kumkapı used to be served by a station on the
Sirkeci suburban until 2013, when the station was indefinitely closed as a part of the
Marmaray
Marmaray () is a commuter rail line located in Istanbul, Turkey. The line runs from Halkalı, on the European side, to Gebze, on the Asian side, along the north shore of the Sea of Marmara. Mostly using the right-of-way of two existing com ...
project. The
Kumkapı
Kumkapı (meaning "sand gate" in Turkish) is a quarter in Fatih district of Istanbul. It is located along the northern shore of Marmara Sea. Up to recent times, Kumkapı is the center of the Armenian community of the city, boasting a school and ...
station is now served by the
T6 line inaugurated in February 2024. Kumkapı is also easily accessible by sea.
See also
*
Kum Kapu demonstration
*
List of restaurant districts and streets
This is a list of restaurant districts and streets. Restaurant districts and streets are sometimes referred to as "restaurant row".Armenians in Turkey
Armenians in Turkey (; or , ), one of the indigenous peoples of Turkey, have an estimated population of 40,000 to 50,000 today, down from a population of over 2 million Armenians between the years 1914 and 1921. Today, the overwhelming majority ...
*
List of Armenian ethnic enclaves
This is a list of Armenian ethnic enclaves, containing cities, districts, and neighborhoods with predominantly Armenian population, or are associated with Armenian culture, either currently or historically. Most numbers are estimates by various o ...
References
Armenians in Istanbul
Armenian communities in Turkey
Quarters of Fatih
Restaurant districts and streets in Turkey
Fishing communities in Turkey
Fatih
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