How Neighborhoods Of Istanbul Got Their Names
Wearing its rich culture and historical past as a crown, the proud city of Istanbul has lots of interesting stories behind the names of its neighborhoods. Just like its streets, its neighborhoods also have a significant meaning behind them.
If you are planning to travel Turkey and looking for London Istanbul flights, then it will be an interesting read to find out how these popular neighborhoods got their names.
Eminonu
As soon as you cross the Galata Bridge, you will stumble upon Istanbul`s busiest neighborhood –Eminonu. The town which is famous for the New Mosque and Spice Bazaar has an amazing fact behind its name. During the Ottoman era, it was a center of trade and mainly inhabited by sailors and traders. The neighborhood had various custom houses to control the taxes, records and storage called Emins and thus the city got its name ‘Eminonu’, which means ‘in front of the custom houses’.
Kadikoy
The joy of Istanbul`s Asian side, Kadikoy is a small town which has begun to gain popularity amongst the visitors, especially the very young and cool Moda district. Kadikoy is Istanbul`s oldest settlements and its history dates back to around 675 BC when the Phoenicians ruled the area and called it ‘Carhadon’ and later ‘Chalcedon’. When Ottomans conquered Constantinople, the name was changed into ‘Kadikoy’.
Ferikoy
Ferikoy is an upmarket residential neighborhood where high-rise luxury apartments overlook the graveyards and historic churches that belong to a very different era. During the Ottoman era, the town was inhabited by the Greek Orthodox and received its name from a French merchant by the name of Monsieur Ferri. The town got its name due to 18th-century mansion that was built by Ferri, thus Ferikoy.
Tarabya
Located on the European side of the Bosphorus coast, Tarabya is another residential neighborhood which is famous for its fish restaurants and beautifully constructed historical churches. During the Byzantine era, the area was a complete natural landscape and thus considered as rehabilitation spot. The place was officially named ‘Therapia’, in the 5th century by Pattriarch Attikos, which translates to therapy in Greek. With time, the name was transformed into the Turkish version, Tarabya, but this neighborhood still reminds of its Greek influence.
Cemberlitas
Anyone who has visited the Grand Bazaar must be familiar with its famous honorific column – the Column of Constantine, which was built in the honor of the establishment of Constantinople. Constructed from porphyry blocks, which is found only in Egypt, the column was damaged due to multiple acts of vandalism and natural disasters. In the 19th century, the Ottoman Sultan Abdulhamid I had rings attached to the column for support, thus giving this town its name Cemberlitas, which literally translates to rock with hoops.
To read about interesting stories related to a city and its neighborhoods will make your visit to Turkey more interesting. If you are still looking for the best fares for your London Istanbul flights, then visit our website voguetravelhouse.co.uk and book your tickets now!
