|
Tophane |
|
 Tophane,
which has been used as a harbor since the time of the Genoese,
used to be the first place where foreigners who came to the city
by sea touched land. Usually they traveled up from the harbor to
Beyoglu. For this reason, the climb up the hilly road attaching
Tophane to Cihangir and Galatasaray is today known as the
“Italian slope.”
Stablemen and their horses used to wait near Tophane wharf to
take them on their joumey. Thus Tophane served as an informal
reception area for these arriving foreigners, who upon their
first visit must have been impressed upon gazing at the
panoramic view, the centuries-old mosques, Ottoman women waiting
by the fountain to fill their jugs, street sellers and small
shops selling exotic goods. This characteristic of the district
lasted even into the early Republican years. However, the harbor
lost some of its allure due to the bonded warehouses built in
the region in the 1960s. Today, one of those warehouses is
Turkey's first modern art museum. |
|
|
Tophane is one of the oldest, distinctively Turkish districts in the
city. Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, before the city fell completely,
had chosen Tophane as the place to position cannons in order to
shoot the Byzantine city walls. In fact, the name "Tophane" means "cannon
foundry" and, as a result, the district became the place where the
military industry of the Ottoman state was established.
Due to the changes in the military order and multiple fires,
Tophane-i Amire was restored many times and added to by Sultan
Suleyman the Magnificent in the 16th century. The current 8-domed,
stone and brick compound building was constructed by Sultan Selim
III in 1803. |
|
|
 Tophane-i
Amire building was recently restored as the Culture and Arts Center
of Mimar Sinan Guzel Sanatlar Universitesi (Mimar Sinan Fine Arts
University), and has become one of the most significant exhibition
halls in İstanbul. An indispensable platform of the International
istanbul Biennal as well, the building is another monumental symbol
of Tophane.
Among the important historical structures in the area are Nusretiye
Mosque, built by famous architect Kirkor Balyan in 1826; Tophane
Kasri (Tophane Pavilion), which was built near the mosque by an
English architect on commission from Sultan Abdulmecid; Kilic Ali
Pasha Mosque and Kilic Ali Pasha hammam and madrasa; Tophane
Fountain built by Sultan Mahmud I in 1732; and the small mosque in
Tophane Park.
Distinct from Beyoglu, which lies directly above, in Tophane it is
possible to see the Turkish-Islamic influence in architecture.
|
Tophane Fountain |
 The Tophane Fountain which is in the middle of Tophane square was
built by Sultan Mahmut in 1732, and is one of the biggest
fountains of the city. This monumental structures with high walls
structure with high walls characterizes the transition to Western
architectural style. The fountain connected to the Taksim Water
System, was opened at the same time with the whole system. Sultan
Mahmut I attended the opening ceremony in which the first water was
released in Taksim. |
|
|
Nargile (Water Pipe) Places |
 Water
pipe cafes in Sali pazari are a reflection of the exotic side of
Tophane. The water pipe cafes, which put tables outside in warm
weather, offer traditional foods such aas gozleme kebabs and turkish
coffee. Backgammon, like in all Turkish coffee and tea houses, in
this indispensable game at water pipe places as well. |
|
|
|
Anatolian Kavak and Lighthouse