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Nestled under the shadow of the Bosphorus Bridge is Ortakoy an attractive neighbourhood of narrow cobbled streets lined with cafes and shops which, across the busy road, heads upwards to a more residential area of apartments and houses. Here we spent a pleasant hour or so strolling around losing ourselves among the houses and glimpsing views across to the Bosphorus Bridge all under the watchful eye of the many neighbourhood cats.
The main square of Ortakoy, Iskele Meydani, is on the waterfront and, like the warren of streets leading to it, contains a number of cafes and restaurants, quiet on the rather damp October morning when we visited but, I imagine, bustling in the evening oron a warm summer day.
At the side of the square and jutting into the water is the Mecidiye Mosque built in 1854 for Sultan Abdul Mecit. The architect was Nikogos Balyan who with his father designed the Dolmabache Palace. Unfortunately the mosque was not open so we couldn’t view inside but its square doom-topped shape and two slender minarets are extremely attractive. It is also interesting to counterpoint this with the modern architecture of the Bosphorous – or Ataturk - Bridge, completed on 29th October 1973 the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. The two do seem to complement each other, the profile of the suspension tower of the bridge echoing the minarets of the Mosque, another example of the Istanbul’s melding of ancient and modern.
Buses 22, 22R, 25E and 30D go from Eminonu to Ortakoy
Updated Mar 26, 2007
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In Ortaköy, artists gather every Sunday to exhibit their works in a streetside gallery. The variety of people create a lively scene; sample a delicious bite from one of the street vendors. In Ortaköy, there is a church, mosque and a synagogue that have existed side by side for hundreds of years - a tribute to Turkish secularism and tolerance. Overshadowing Istanbul's traditional architecture is the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the world's largest suspension bridges linking Europe and Asia.
Updated May 25, 2005
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Don't miss a visit to Ortaköy. Used to be a separate village, now it's part of the city of Istanbul. Here you'll find picturesque, colourful, houses and a busy night life with cafés, restaurants and clubs.
Shown here is the local mosque, just next to the Ortaköy Bridge.
Updated Mar 28, 2005
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Ortaköy is the suburb just below the Bosphorus Bridge, on the European side.
When I visited late a Sunday afternoon there was really many people there. All cafes were ful of people, there were people sitting by the waterfront and walking around the streets were there was a market.
I wanted to take the bus from Ortaköy to Eminönu but the traffic almost stood still. As many others I walked (the traffic was not much faster) and not until I had reached Besiktas it came a bus to Eminönu.
Going with the Bosphorus ferry you will probably see Buyuk Mecidiye Camii. It is a mosque built by the same architect as Dolmabahce palace.
Updated Aug 11, 2004
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Ortakoy is a rather popular quarter between Ciragan Palace and the Bosphorus Bridge. It has a lot of terraces facing the Bosphorus and a cool ambiance at night and in weekends. I went there for a couple of beers with Beatle74, we had a nice time watching the people pass by? There is an artcrafts market on sundays too.
To get there take a taxi from Taksim or a ferry.
Written May 27, 2003
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At Ortakoy, the next stop,artists gather every sunday to exhibit their works in a streetside
galery.
In Ortakoy,there is a church , a mosque and a synagogue that have exited side by side for hundreds of years - a tribute to Turkish tolerance at the grass roots level.
Its is overshadowing Istanbul's traditional architecture is one of the world's largest suspension bridge, the Bosphorus Bridge,
linking Europe and Asia..
there is heaps of cafe and wine house around, you would love to sip your tea oe wine ,on the foot of Bosphorus.
Written Feb 25, 2003
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Ortakoy is on the shores of the bosphorus very close to the first bridge to the Asian side.
You can boat from there or just enjoy the Ortakoy Mosque , Dolmabahce palace.
Written Jul 26, 2005
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Write a ReviewOrtakoy is on the shores of the bosphorus very close to the first bridge to the Asian side.You can boat from there or just enjoy the Ortakoy Mosque , Dolmabahce...
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