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Friday 1 April 2016

Beyazit: Historical Neigbourhood With a Politically Active University Campus



Beyazit is a special neigbourhood for me, because my university, Istanbul University, is here. When I am on a tram, tourists always ask me "How can I go to Istanbul University?" Then I thought that this article can help you.

Beyazit is one of the names of Ottoman sultans. It is a neighbourhood of Fatih district. Beyazit is very close to Sultanahmet. If you have time, you can add it to your plan. One of the gates of the Grand Bazaar is at Beyazit, so, you can also add it to your plan, especially if you are eager to walk.

Sights


Beyazit Square: It is in the middle of the Historical Peninsula. It was the biggest square of the Byzantine times. Today, Beyazit Mosque, an entrance of the Grand Bazaar, Istanbul University Arts and Literature Faculty, and many other buildings are in this square.

Bayezid Mosque: Sultan Bayezid II ordered this mosque to be built. It is one of the early period works of Ottoman architecture. The architect is unknown. The tomb of Sultan Bayezid II rests at a forbidden place in the mosque.

Bayezid Madrasah: Sultan Bayezid ordered this madrasah to be built as a part of the mosque. It was built in 1506-1508. There is a pool in the middle of it. It was destroyed severely at 1509 earthquake, but it was renovated. When Rebuplic was founded, it began to be used as a library. Then the library was carried to Taksim (You can visit is as Ataturk Library today). Since 1984, the madrasah is used as the Museum of Turkish Foundation Caligraphic Arts.

Beyazit Tower: It is built in 1749, in order to watch for the fires and report them. It is 85 m high and has 180 stairs to the top. The tower was first wooden, but it burned in 1756. The new tower reburned at janissary revolt in 1826. It was built for the third time at the reign of Sultan Mahmut II in 1828. Along with reporting fires, it was lighted with different colours to report the weather to the Istanbulites. Today it is in the confines of the central campus of Istanbul University.

Istanbul University campus: The first and only university of 1933, Istanbul University, is a direct continuation of Ottoman university system. Some units of the university dates back to the day after the conquest of Istanbul, 30 May 1453, when Sultan Mehmet II ordered Sahn-i Seman madrasahs.

You may not be able to enter the university building, but you can see the historical gate that originally a part of Ottoman Ministry of War. It became the ministry of defence, after the republic is founded. Then the former ministry was liquidated.

Food and drink


There are many traditional restaurants at Beyazit where you can find traditional foods, drinks and desserts. If you are in a hurry, you can just stop by the souvenir shops that sell Turkish delight and other beautiful things. Bigger shops have usually fixed prices, but you may need to bargain at smaller shops.

How to get to Beyazit


You can go to Beyazit with tram. Kabatas-Bagcilar tram has a Beyazit stop. Haciosman-Yenikapi metro line has a Vezneciler stop which is about ten-minute-walk away from Beyazit Square. The distances are legitimate from Sultanahmet, Eminonu, Sirkeci and Karakoy, so you may prefer to walk around the Historical Peninsula, including Beyazit.

Where to stay at Beyazit


Beyazit hotels, along with Suleymaniye hotels, are some of the most preferred hotels by the tourists. There are many hotels with different styles and prices. Four star and five star hotels give quality service. There are also B&B hotels that will provide you enough comfort.
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