EMİNÖNÜ – SİRKECİ – KARAKÖY

The New Mosque in Eminönü bears the characteristics of 17th century Ottoman architecture. It consists of a külliye, a mosque, a school, a public fountain, hünkar kasrı (the place sultans rest between religious services), a bazaar, and a tomb.

Eminönü is a district behind the city walls of İstanbul that is called “the Historical Peninsula”.
There was a building in this district called Gümrük Eminliği (a customs office) in the Ottoman Era and the district got its name from this office. İstanbul was first established in this district. The district is the most crowded area for business life in the afternoon.
Yenicamii Külliyesi
The mosque  located in the center of the külliye is the most magnificent sultan
mosque near the shore. The construction of the mosque was started by Mimar Davud Ağa in 1597 in the name of Safiye Sultan, the mother of Sultan Mehmed III and the wife of Sultan Murad III.  Dalgıç Ahmed Ağa took over as the architect after 1599.  After 1603 the construction was interrupted when Sultan Ahmed I ascended to the throne. As it was left incomplete and stood useless between Jewish houses for more than half a century, it was publicly called “Zulmiyye” (Tortured). The construction was restarted upon the order of the mother of Sultan Mehmed IV, Hatice Turhan Sultan, in 1661 and was completed in 1663 by Mustafa Ağa as the architect. The külliye consists of a mosque, a school, a public fountain, hünkar kasrı, and a tomb. The school has not survived up to now. As the roads around the mosque were widened later on, the outer courtyard disappeared. There was a beautiful fountain in the direction of the Spice Bazaar in the middle of the interior courtyard which had 18 pillars, 21 domes and three gates. There are two minarets to the right and to the left with three
minaret symbols. The mosque is planned as a square structure and it can be entered through three gates. The altar and pulpit are made of white marble and there isa  mosaic panel decorated with precious stones to the left of the altar. The hünkar kasrı, which is said to have been built for Turhan Sultan, is a magnificent structure that bears all the characteristics of the classical Turkish house. Its position allows the viewer to see one of the most beautiful panoramas of İstanbul. It has three rooms and one sitting room. The walls are covered with
embroideries and precious glazed İznik tiles. Its wooden pieces are embossed with mother of pearl and ivory. The tomb of Hatice Turhan Sultan, which is included in the külliye, is the biggest burial place of the Ottoman famil,y with the graves of five sultans and many other members of the family.
Ziftli Kestane Kazıklar
Very important natural harbor is Golden Horn that has a effective role on development of I˙stanbul.  The southern side of the Golden Horn is Eminönü and northern side is
Karaköy are the city’s main commercial centers.  However, because of the alluviums, Kag˘thane was not suitable to the building.  Floor was reinforced to built with bituminous chestnut tree stakes. In 16 century, Yeni Cami in
Eminönü, buildings in Karaköy coast, and first building on right corner from exit of Galata Bridge and the building 100m. to seaside is Elçi Han that Paradise Restaurant located on are historical artifact built with this building technics.

Arab Mosque
This was built originally as a church in the 6th century and then was replace in its current Gothic style in the 13th century. In the 15th century it was assigned to the Muslims fleeing the inquisition in Spain– thus the name the Arab Mosque. The bell tower was converted to a minaret.
With its rectangular plan and wood ceiling, it is the biggest mosque in Galata.
Sirkeci Railroad Station
Sirkeci Railroad Station was built on the European side of İstanbul during the reign of Abdülhamit II. It is one of the two main stations of TCDD (Railroads of the State of the Turkish Republic) in İstanbul, along with the Haydarpaşa Railroad Station.
Granite, marble, and other stone brought from Aden in Marsilia were used in the construction of the railroad station building whose plan was drawn by the German architect, August Jachmund. Construction of the railway station started in 1888 and
was completed in 1890. Müşir Ahmet Paşa conducted the opening of the building on behalf of Abdülhamit II.
There are two clock towers on the front façade of the Sirkeci Railroad Station. The date when the station was put into service was written on the lateral façade of the building in accordance with both the Julian calendar and the Georgian calendar.  The Sirkeci Railroad Station was close to the sea when it was built but its surroundings went through a lot of changes over time. The restaurant of the station became the meeting point for  writers, journalists and other famous people in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The Orient Express that started its journey from Paris stopped and accepted passengers at this station for many years.
Namlı Gourmet
With meat and cheese products, Namli (since 1929)
sells 6 thousand products, including traditional white Trakya cheese made from sheep and goat milk, not very porous, odour free, and fatty. People say zine cheese is the most ideal cheese.  On the other hand, ka?ar, a different kind of cheese should be more porous.
In Karaköy Namli Gourmet offers 22 kinds of olives and more than 50 kinds of cheese. Along with traditional cheeses, they offer olive oil and olives blended with dried tomatoes, peppers, and oregano.Walnut Bodrum olives also provide a special flavour.

Rüstem Paşa Mosque
This beautiful mosque is in the Straw Weavers Bazaar in Tahtakale in Eminönü. It is situated on a high platform. The area of the mosque has been one of the liveliest areas of the city since the Roman era. The mosque is one of the most famous works of Mimar Sinan. It was ordered by the Grand Vizier Rüstem Paşa, the son-in-law of Sultan Süleyman. In 1561 after the death of Rustem Pasa, the completion of the mosque was ordered by Mihrimah Sultan, his wife. It was damaged in the fire of 1666 and the earthquake of 1776. The big dome in the middle is supported by four semi-domes. The arches of the big dome, which has 24 windows, are supported by eight octagonal elephant feet. The altar and the pulpit are made of marble. The main hall has six pillars and five domes. The original minaret with one minaret sign was destroyed but was reconstructed later.

The Big Post Office 
This building is in Sirkeci on Big Post Office Avenue. The construction of the building, built as the Post and Telegraph office, started in 1905 and was completed four years later. Its architect was Vedat Tek.  The entrance of the building is elevated with stairs.  Both corners of the front façade are highlighted, elevated and covered with a dome. Inside the building is a rectangular middle section that rises for four floors
with rooms surrounding it. Radio İstanbul operated in this building between 1927 and 1936.
Sepetçiler Palace 
Kennedy Caddesi Sarayburnu
Tel: 212 511 63 86
This building is in Sarayburnu in Eminönü. It used to be inside the Topkapı Palace grounds. It was commissioned by Sultan İbrahim in 1643 and it was renovated by Sultan Mahmud I in 1739. The boats of the sultans would be tied to this place and sultans would watch their
navies go on and return from expeditions. The place was used for medical military storage in the Republic era and it was not used for any
purpose before its restoration. After the restoration carried out by the General Directorate of Foundations in 1980, it was used as the International Press Center by the General Directorate of Press and Media.
Various services like restaurants and bars are offered in the building, which is situated on the sea today. Sepetçiler Palace is a good alternative to other places with its terraces with views of the Bosporus and its fireplace in winter.
Doğubank Office Block
The heart of the world of electronics beats here. All kinds of new electronics can be found in Doğubank.
New Galata Bridge
The first Galata Bridge was ordered in 1845 by Bezm-i Alem Valide Sultan, the mother of Sultan Abdülmecid.
A fee for crossing the bridge was adopted on the 25th of October 1845. The bridge was also called ‘Cisr-i Cedid’, ‘Mother’s Bridge’, ‘The New Bridge’, ‘The Great Bridge’, ‘The Bridge of the New Mosque’, and ‘Pigeon Bridge’. It is known only as the Galata Bridge today. The original Galata Bridge, which was restored in 1863, 1875 and 1912, burnt down in 1992. After it was repaired and restored it was moved to a place between Balat and Hasköy and a modern bridge was built between Karaköy and Eminönü.