Sisli
Encyclopedia
Şişli (ˈʃiʃli) is one of 39 districts of Istanbul
, Turkey
. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş
to the east, Sarıyer
to the north, Eyüp
and Kağıthane
to the west, and Beyoğlu
to the south. In 2009, Şişli had a population of 316.058.
and the early years of the Republic (the late 19th-early 20th centuries). French culture had a great influence in this period and the big avenues of Şişli had a European look; big stone buildings with high ceilings and art nouveau wrought-iron balconies, little elevators on wires in the middle of the stairway and so on. This trading middle-class was composed of Jews, Greeks and Armenians as well as Turks, many built homes in Şişli after a large fire in the district of Beyoğlu
in 1870. Still today many of Istanbul
's Armenians
live in the Kurtuluş
area of Şişli. The area was alslo popular with the Levantine trading families of this period and as the Ottoman empire contracted Şişli attracted migrants from the former lands in Greece and the Balkans. In the late 19th century Şişli was one of the first areas supplied with tramlines, electricity and a gas supply. The orphanage of Darülaceze and the large Şişli Etfal hospital were built here in this period, also the prominent French schools of St. Michel and Notre Dame de Sion.
Following the founding of the Turkish Republic in the 1920s, larger and larger buildings were put up along wide avenues such as Halaskargazi Caddesi, the main road that runs through the middle of Şişli, with its little arcades of shops below tall buildings of apartments and offices. In the republic the area was still the residence of the middle-class, as well as traders there were now writers and poets and Şişli acquired theatres, cafes and other cultural amenities. The Hilton Hotel was built here in the 1950s and many others followed.
From the 1950s onwards people from Anatolia began to migrate to Istanbul in search of work. In most cases they illegally built themselves squatters on unclaimed or government-owned land (see gecekondu
). Some of these people settled in parts of Şişli in the 1950s and 1960s, especially at the northern sections of the district, around Mecidiyeköy
.
In the 'gecekondu' (shanty town) districts life is harder, while some neighbourhoods remain very attractive indeed - (see section on individual neighbourhoods below).
Being a central area well-served with public-transport and other infrastructure, Şişli is a center of trade and shopping. The main road through Şişli up to the skyscrapers of Mecidiyeköy, Gayrettepe, Levent
and beyond is now lined with office blocks. Europe's largest and the world's second largest (urban-area) shopping mall, Cevahir İstanbul
, is situated here. Due to Şişli's middle-class past and the enduring quality of some neighbourhoods the area is home to many upmarket shops mainly in the stylish and charming Nişantaşı
area. Parking is an enduring problem, especially in the narrow side-streets.
People also come to Şişli for schooling; this city-centre area has some well-known high schools and a great number of dersane (preparatory courses for the annual university entrance exams), evening and weekend schools where people come to cram for university or high school entrance examinations, or to learn English.
There are many well-established cafes and restaurants, including fast-food for the students and shoppers.
, formerly a member of the Democratic Left Party (DSP)
(centre-left), and currently the leader of the Movement for Change in Turkey (TDH). Under the slogan 'Smiling Happy Şişli', he has launched a campaign to get the once glamorous area smartened up again, like Nişantaşı is today. He is on the board of Galatasaray
football club, whose Ali Sami Yem stadium was in the Şişli neighbourhood of Mecidiyeköy. The deputy mayor is Vasken Barın of Armenian descent
.
Sport venues:
Entertainment venues:
Religious buildings:
Shopping malls:
Tall buildings:
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. Located on the European side of the city, it is bordered by Beşiktaş
Besiktas
Beşiktaş is a municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu, and on the east by the Bosphorus...
to the east, Sarıyer
Sariyer
Sarıyer is the northernmost district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European side of the city. With a long shore along the water, the district boasts both a beautiful coastline and a lush forest. The Sarıyer district is a huge area consisting of the villages on the European side of the Bosphorus from...
to the north, Eyüp
Eyüp
-External links:* * * * *...
and Kağıthane
Kagithane
Kağıthane is a working class district of the city of Istanbul, Turkey, in a valley inland from the upmarket Etiler. Built along a stream that runs into the Golden Horn. The mayor is Fazlı Kılıç .-History:...
to the west, and Beyoğlu
Beyoglu
Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn...
to the south. In 2009, Şişli had a population of 316.058.
The grand past
Until 1800 Şişli was open countryside, used for hunting, agriculture and as the city's burial ground, and there are still a number of cemeteries here. It was developed as a middle class residential district during the last years of the Ottoman EmpireOttoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and the early years of the Republic (the late 19th-early 20th centuries). French culture had a great influence in this period and the big avenues of Şişli had a European look; big stone buildings with high ceilings and art nouveau wrought-iron balconies, little elevators on wires in the middle of the stairway and so on. This trading middle-class was composed of Jews, Greeks and Armenians as well as Turks, many built homes in Şişli after a large fire in the district of Beyoğlu
Beyoglu
Beyoğlu is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city by the Golden Horn...
in 1870. Still today many of Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
's Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
live in the Kurtuluş
Kurtulus
Kurtuluş, formerly known as Tatavla , is a cosmopolitan neighborhood of Şişli whose population consists of Turks, Greeks , Armenians , Kurds , and Jews...
area of Şişli. The area was alslo popular with the Levantine trading families of this period and as the Ottoman empire contracted Şişli attracted migrants from the former lands in Greece and the Balkans. In the late 19th century Şişli was one of the first areas supplied with tramlines, electricity and a gas supply. The orphanage of Darülaceze and the large Şişli Etfal hospital were built here in this period, also the prominent French schools of St. Michel and Notre Dame de Sion.
Following the founding of the Turkish Republic in the 1920s, larger and larger buildings were put up along wide avenues such as Halaskargazi Caddesi, the main road that runs through the middle of Şişli, with its little arcades of shops below tall buildings of apartments and offices. In the republic the area was still the residence of the middle-class, as well as traders there were now writers and poets and Şişli acquired theatres, cafes and other cultural amenities. The Hilton Hotel was built here in the 1950s and many others followed.
From the 1950s onwards people from Anatolia began to migrate to Istanbul in search of work. In most cases they illegally built themselves squatters on unclaimed or government-owned land (see gecekondu
Gecekondu
Gecekondu is a Turkish word meaning a house put up quickly without proper permissions, a squatter's house, and by extension, a shanty or shack...
). Some of these people settled in parts of Şişli in the 1950s and 1960s, especially at the northern sections of the district, around Mecidiyeköy
Mecidiyeköy
Mecidiyeköy is a neighbourhood located in the Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is also one of the prominent business quarters of Istanbul. It is situated between Fulya, Kuştepe, Gültepe, Esentepe, and Gülbahar neighbourhoods...
.
The centre of Şişli today
Now that the wealthy elite of central Şişli have moved further out of the city, the large buildings on the grand avenues are occupied by offices, banks, and big shops. Since the 1970s most older buildings have been pulled down and replaced with newer, and perhaps less remarkable, multistory structures. The back streets are still residential, and many working-class families and students have settled here. As in most parts of Istanbul, the number of people living and working in these blocks challenges the existing infrastructure; for example, competition for parking spaces is intense, and traffic during peak hours can come to a standstill. But for the residents of Şişli, there are plenty of shops, cafés, pubs, and other amenities and these make life in Şişli still manageable. Additionally, Şişli's central location to other important areas of Istanbul adds to its desirability.In the 'gecekondu' (shanty town) districts life is harder, while some neighbourhoods remain very attractive indeed - (see section on individual neighbourhoods below).
Business and shopping
Levent
Levent is a neighbourhood and one of the main business districts of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European side of the city. It is a part of the municipality of Beşiktaş which is situated to the north of the Golden Horn, at the western shore of the Bosporus strait.Levent is in direct...
and beyond is now lined with office blocks. Europe's largest and the world's second largest (urban-area) shopping mall, Cevahir İstanbul
Cevahir Mall
Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre, opened on 15 October 2005, is a modern shopping and entertainment centre located in the Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey. Called also Şişli Kültür ve Ticaret Merkezi...
, is situated here. Due to Şişli's middle-class past and the enduring quality of some neighbourhoods the area is home to many upmarket shops mainly in the stylish and charming Nişantaşı
Nisantasi
Nişantaşı is a quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, comprising neighbourhoods like Teşvikiye, Osmanbey, Maçka and Pangaltı. It includes the stores of world famous brands and has many popular cafés, pubs, restaurants and night clubs. It is a part of the Şişli district...
area. Parking is an enduring problem, especially in the narrow side-streets.
People also come to Şişli for schooling; this city-centre area has some well-known high schools and a great number of dersane (preparatory courses for the annual university entrance exams), evening and weekend schools where people come to cram for university or high school entrance examinations, or to learn English.
There are many well-established cafes and restaurants, including fast-food for the students and shoppers.
Neighbourhoods
- KurtuluşKurtulusKurtuluş, formerly known as Tatavla , is a cosmopolitan neighborhood of Şişli whose population consists of Turks, Greeks , Armenians , Kurds , and Jews...
– known as Tatavla in the Ottoman period, was home to a GreekGreeks in TurkeyThe Greeks in Turkey constitute a population of Greek and Greek-speaking Eastern Orthodox Christians who mostly live in Istanbul, including its district Princes' Islands, as well as on the two islands of the western entrance to the Dardanelles: Imbros and Tenedos .They are the remnants of the...
and later ArmenianArmenians in TurkeyArmenians in Turkey have an estimated population of 40,000 to 70,000 . Most are concentrated around Istanbul. The Armenians support their own newspapers and schools...
community. The district had mostly wooden houses until 207 houses went up in flames in a huge fire on April 13, 1929. After the fire, it was rebuilt in narrow stone streets and, over time, concrete buildings, lined with cafés, patisseries, and shops. This cosmopolitan district has a long history, and has been home to many singers, artists, and actors. There are a small number of attractive old apartment buildings, but most of those built since the 1960s are ugly and crammed together. After the riots of 1955Istanbul PogromThe Istanbul riots , were mob attacks directed primarily at Istanbul's Greek minority on 6–7 September 1955. The riots were orchestrated by the Turkish government under Adnan Menderes. The events were triggered by the false news that the Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki, north Greece—the...
, the Greek community left the area; however, their churches are open on religious holidays. Recently the district, like many other historic neighbourhoods in Istanbul, is being revitalized with mass restoration projects, in which historic buildings are repaired and painted, while the "modern" (characterless) concrete façades are restyled to look more in line with historic architectural characteristics. - TeşvikiyeTesvikiyeTeşvikiye is a neighbourhood of Şişli district in Istanbul, Turkey. According to the 2000 census, population of the neighbourhood is 11,598. It is actually a part of the Nişantaşı quarter, one of the wealthiest quarters of Istanbul.-References:...
– uphill from BeşiktaşBesiktasBeşiktaş is a municipality of Istanbul, Turkey, located on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It is bordered on the north by Sarıyer and Şişli, on the west by Kağıthane and Şişli, on the south by Beyoğlu, and on the east by the Bosphorus...
, an old-established smart area with many classic European-style buildings as well as a busy high-class shopping district, Teşvikiye is one of the most attractive residential neighbourhoods in Istanbul. Since the 19th century, Teşvikiye has been home to many writers (including journalist Abdi IpekçiAbdi IpekçiAbdi İpekçi was a Turkish journalist, intellectual and an activist for human rights. He was murdered while editor-in-chief of the Turkish daily newspaper Milliyet.-Biography:...
, who was assassinated here in 1979), politicians and a great number of prominent business families and still holds a well-established middle-class, including some descendants of Levantine and Jewish families that built many of the beautiful stone apartment buildings of Teşvikiye in the Ottoman periodOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. Prominent buildings include the Milli Reasürans building (this one does not have an ornate 19th century stonework façade but is one of Istanbul's best examples of modernism) and the ornate neo-BaroqueNeo-BaroqueNeo-Baroque may refer to:*Neo-Baroque music*Neo-Baroque painting*Baroque Revival architecture...
Teşvikiye MosqueTesvikiye MosqueThe Teşvikiye Mosque is a neo-baroque structure located in the Teşvikiye neighbourhood of Şişli district in Istanbul, Turkey. It was originally commissioned in 1794 by Sultan Selim III, but most of the current mosque that stands today was completed in 1854 during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecit I...
, built by Sultan Abdulhamid II, who established the neighbourhood by building this mosque and the nearby historic Teşvikiye Police Station, encouraging citizens of Istanbul to settle in this new district (hence the name Teşvikiye, which means encouragement in Turkish.) Among the shops of Teşvikiye lies Gerekli Şeyler, Turkey's specialist importer of fantasy and gaming publications including Star WarsStar WarsStar Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, Marvel ComicsMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
. Pretty, narrow streets of 19th and early-20th century buildings housing expensive boutiques, parfumeries, art galleries and cafés. Some of these buildings are architectural masterpieces; one of them, the historic Maçka Palas, houses Istanbul's GucciGucciThe House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
and Armani stores as well as Armani Café. Nişantaşı also has many stylish pubs and restaurants. Abdi İpekçi Avenue, Turkey's most expensive street in terms of lease prices, is located here. There are a number of well-known schools here too, including some buildings of Marmara UniversityMarmara UniversityMarmara University is a public university in Turkey. Situated in Istanbul, Marmara University has succeeded in becoming the second largest university in the whole country...
and Işık Lisesi. Parking is a problem. - NişantaşıNisantasiNişantaşı is a quarter of Istanbul, Turkey, comprising neighbourhoods like Teşvikiye, Osmanbey, Maçka and Pangaltı. It includes the stores of world famous brands and has many popular cafés, pubs, restaurants and night clubs. It is a part of the Şişli district...
– neighbourhood encompassing Teşvikiye, famous for its many Art NouveauArt NouveauArt Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
apartment buildings. The American Hospital, one of the city's best hospitals, is also located here. - MecidiyeköyMecidiyeköyMecidiyeköy is a neighbourhood located in the Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is also one of the prominent business quarters of Istanbul. It is situated between Fulya, Kuştepe, Gültepe, Esentepe, and Gülbahar neighbourhoods...
– Business and shopping district north of Şişli; Istanbul's main market for computer equipment. Narrow streets of tall office buildings. A major intersection and bus terminal underneath a huge flyover, very noisy. Home of GalatasarayGalatasaray S.K. (football team)Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
football club's Ali Sami Yen StadiumAli Sami Yen StadiumAli Sami Yen Stadium was the home of the football club Galatasaray SK in Istanbul, Turkey, from 1964 to 2010. It is named after the founder of the club, Ali Sami Yen...
. The Profilo Shopping CenterProfilo Shopping CenterProfilo Shopping Center, opened in 1997, is a modern shopping mall located in the business quarter of Mecidiyeköy in Istanbul, Turkey. The building was used as a refrigerator production facility by the Profilo company, a subsidiary of Profilo Group, before renovation and conversion.The shopping...
, cinema and bowling alley is here, its food court a popular eatery in the area. Mecidiyeköy Antikacılar Çarşısı (Mecidiyeköy Antiques Bazaar), a large multi-storey building with dozens of antiques shops (the largest of its kind in Istanbul) is located between Mecidiyeköy and Kuştepe. - OkmeydanıOkmeydaniOkmeydanı is a neighbourhood connected to Kağıthane and Şişli provinces of Istanbul, Turkey. It was named after the archery area and archery lodge built by Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire. Streets nearby have targeting stones to define the distances of the arrows...
– north of Şişli, home to some large hospitals. This was the archery practice ground of the Ottoman armies (which is the meaning of its name in Turkish), and an Ottoman mosque was built here. Later the land was planted with fruit trees, and in the 1960s turned over to developers for building as the city expanded. Darülaceze, the Ottoman-period orphanage, is here, built in 1896. - Kuştepe – a gecekonduGecekonduGecekondu is a Turkish word meaning a house put up quickly without proper permissions, a squatter's house, and by extension, a shanty or shack...
(illegally built) district of poor housing traditionally occupied by the Roma community and recent migrants from the countryside. Bilgi University has a campus here.
Politics
The mayor of Şişli is Mustafa SarıgülMustafa Sarigül
Mustafa Sarıgül , is the mayor of the Şişli district in Istanbul, where he was elected as the candidate of Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi for the past two terms....
, formerly a member of the Democratic Left Party (DSP)
Democratic Left Party (Turkey)
The Democratic Left Party is a Turkish political party founded on November 14, 1985, by Rahşan Ecevit.-1985-1999:The DSP, a social democratic oriented party, was registered on November 14, 1985 by Rahşan Ecevit, wife of Bülent Ecevit, as he was banned from political life after the 1980 coup...
(centre-left), and currently the leader of the Movement for Change in Turkey (TDH). Under the slogan 'Smiling Happy Şişli', he has launched a campaign to get the once glamorous area smartened up again, like Nişantaşı is today. He is on the board of Galatasaray
Galatasaray S.K. (football team)
Galatasaray Anonim Şirketi is a Turkish football club, part of the Galatasaray S.K. multi-sport club of Istanbul. Galatasaray is a major sports club in Turkey, holding 17 Turkish Super League titles and the highest number of Turkish Cups....
football club, whose Ali Sami Yem stadium was in the Şişli neighbourhood of Mecidiyeköy. The deputy mayor is Vasken Barın of Armenian descent
Armenians in Turkey
Armenians in Turkey have an estimated population of 40,000 to 70,000 . Most are concentrated around Istanbul. The Armenians support their own newspapers and schools...
.
Places of interest
Museums and historical places:- Istanbul Military MuseumIstanbul Military MuseumIstanbul Military Museum is dedicated to one thousand years of Turkish military history. It is one of the leading museums of its kind in the world. The museum is open to the public everyday except Mondays and Tuesdays....
- Atatürk MuseumAtatürk MuseumAtatürk Museum ) is a national museum dedicated to the life of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Republic of Turkey. It is located in the district of Şişli, on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey....
- Ihlamur PalaceIhlamur PalaceIhlamur Palace , is a former imperial Ottoman summer palace located in Istanbul, Turkey. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid I . It is under the administration of the Turkish Department of National Palaces.- External links :...
- Monument of LibertyMonument of Liberty, IstanbulThe Monument of Liberty , located in the neighborhood of Çağlayan in Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey, is a memorial in honor of soldiers killed during the Radical Islamic attacks against the Ottoman Empire's House of Parliament....
Sport venues:
- Türk Telekom Arena
Entertainment venues:
- Cemal Reşit Rey Concert HallCemal Resit Rey Concert HallCemal Reşit Rey Concert Hall is a concert hall located in the Harbiye neighbourhood of Istanbul, Turkey. It is one of the country's major concert halls, being the first one designed for classical music. It is named after the great Turkish composer Cemal Reşit Rey, the hall is owned by the...
- Cemil Topuzlu Open-Air Theatre
Religious buildings:
- Şişli Mosque
- Teşvikiye MosqueTesvikiye MosqueThe Teşvikiye Mosque is a neo-baroque structure located in the Teşvikiye neighbourhood of Şişli district in Istanbul, Turkey. It was originally commissioned in 1794 by Sultan Selim III, but most of the current mosque that stands today was completed in 1854 during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecit I...
Shopping malls:
- Cevahir MallCevahir MallIstanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Centre, opened on 15 October 2005, is a modern shopping and entertainment centre located in the Şişli district of Istanbul, Turkey. Called also Şişli Kültür ve Ticaret Merkezi...
- The largest shopping mall in Europe - Kanyon Shopping MallKanyon Shopping Mall, IstanbulKanyon is a multi-purpose complex located at Büyükdere Avenue Nr. 185 in the Levent financial district of Istanbul, Turkey. Opened on 6 June 2006, it unites a 160-store shopping mall , a 30-floor office tower and a 22-floor residential block with 179 residential apartments into a complex...
- MetroCity AVM
- Profilo Shopping CenterProfilo Shopping CenterProfilo Shopping Center, opened in 1997, is a modern shopping mall located in the business quarter of Mecidiyeköy in Istanbul, Turkey. The building was used as a refrigerator production facility by the Profilo company, a subsidiary of Profilo Group, before renovation and conversion.The shopping...
Tall buildings:
- Diamond of IstanbulDiamond of IstanbulDiamond of Istanbul is the tallest building currently under construction in Istanbul, Turkey, being built in the city's Maslak central business district. It is also the country's first steel skyscraper...
- Istanbul Sapphire
- Sabancı CenterSabanci CenterSabancı Center is a complex of skyscrapers which consists of two skyscrapers in Istanbul, Turkey. The third one is approved. Current tallest skyscraper of that complex is Akbank Tower.-Special features of the project:...
- Şişli PlazaSisli PlazaŞişli Plaza is a tower in Istanbul, Turkey and has 40 residential floors, but rises above a 4-floor retail facility and has a 2-floor radio station on top; making an overall total of 46 floors above ground....
External links
- Şişli Municipality
- Official website of Mustafa Sarıgül, mayor of Şişli
- Atatürk Museum on Istanbul portal