The pier in Sirkeci, which serves ferries carrying passengers and cars between Sirkeci and Harem districts since 1961, has become an unforgettable spot for particularly Generation ‘78 as the pier where farewells were bid to revolutionaries killed in the anti-fascist struggle and being sent to their homes for burial. Sirkeci… Read More
One of Istanbul’s historic commercial buildings in Bahçekapı neighborhood of Sirkeci, Sanasaryan Han was constructed by Architect Hovsep Aznavur in 1895 for merchant Mıgırdiç Ağa Sanasaryan. The building was known as “Sanasaryan Han” when it was built and its revenues were donated to The Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople to be… Read More
The former Institution of Forensic Sciences – Mortuary, situated across Gülhane Park, was a place which revolutionary students frequently went to pick up the bodies of their friends who were killed between 1975 and 1985. This ancient photo shows the “Soğukçeşme Military Junior High School” building which was used… Read More
Constructed by Architect Alexandre Vallauri in 1897, the building previously belonged to Düyun-u Umumiye (Ottoman State Public Debts Agency) and today it is used as İstanbul High School for Boys. On the other hand, the school’s history dates back to the opening of Numune-i Terakki in 1884, whose name… Read More
Turkish Chamber of Physicians was set up in Istanbul in 1953. Istanbul Chamber of Physicians was one of the 23 chambers active across the country at the time. The building where it is based today was built in 1975. The chamber’s administration also changed during this year of growing… Read More
Sınırlı Sorumlu Yazar ve Çevirmenler Yayın Üretim Kooperatifi (Turkish Writers and Translators Publishing and Production Cooperative) (YAZKO) was established on April 22, 1980, as Turkey’s first and only cooperative of writers and translators. YAZKO was a fresh outlet in the field of culture and arts in the aftermath of… Read More
The Historical Sultanahmet Meatball Restaurant which has been serving as a restaurant of Turkish-style grilled meatballs in Sultanahmet since 1920, overlooking the Sultanahmet Square, is one of the places frequently visited by workers and students. Although other restaurants using the same name were later opened, “Selim Usta’s” shop is known… Read More
The history of the building and school known as Istanbul Academy of Economics and Commercial Sciences, located at the end of the Sultanahmet Square dates back to 1883. The structure was constructed by Architect Raimondo D’Aronco as the “Ministry of Agriculture” building and later used as Hamidiye Ticaret Mekteb-i… Read More
Sultanahmet Prison, located next to Topkapı Palace in Sultanahmet, has been serving as the Four Seasons Hotel since 1996. Sultanahmet Prison was constructed in 1918 and 1919 between the streets of Tevkifhane and Kutlugün, whose names were derived from the prison itself. The architect of the building, which was opened… Read More
The famous square of the district situated at the tip of Istanbul’s Historic Peninsula and taking its name from the “Sultanahmet Mosque,” was called the “Hippodrome” during the Byzantium era, “Horse Square” during the Ottoman period, and “Sultanahmet Square” during the Republican Era. The square is almost an open museum… Read More
Sultanahmet Courthouse on İmran Öktem Avenue on the way to Sultanahmet Square was used as the “Judiciary Center of Istanbul” between 1955 and 2012. The building which burned in a fire in 1939, was reconstructed by Sedat Hakkı Eldem and Professor Emin Halid Onat in 1955. When the judiciary… Read More
During the 1970s, the building numbered 21 on Piyerloti Avenue served as headquarters of the Workers’ Party of Turkey (TİP) and its Istanbul Provincial Organization as well as the office of the Union of Writers at one stage. Huzur Coffeehouse on Piyerloti Avenue’s Dostluk Street is also known as a… Read More
Located at the entrance of Piyerloti Street, Balıkesir Dormitory housed revolutionary students between the 1960s and 1980s. It has suffered many attacks because of its central location. Niyazi Tekin, a revolutionary student, was killed in the dorm during a Grey Wolves raid in 1971. Being another critical location of… Read More
The complex which stands on the main street in Çarşıkapı district was built between 1707 and 1709 on Sadrazam (Grand Vizier, the government head) Çorlulu Ali Pasha’s order. The Madrasa within the complex was repaired in 1910 and 1965. Famous for the hookah place in its courtyard, the madrasa… Read More
Having hosted revolutionary students since the 1960s, the Kadırga Dormitory also played a significant part in the organization of the left movement thanks to the seminars and forums taking place there between 1974 and 1980. During that time the dormitory had been attacked and bombed countless times, while the… Read More
Historical Çemberlitaş Pudding Shop was located in the building known as Darüşşafaka Passage or Çemberlitaş Passage between the 1970s and 1980s. Along with İpek and Şafak cinemas, which were also located in the same passage, the pudding shop is among the go to places of the student community. The passage… Read More
The Academy of Finance and Accounting was also a prominent base for the student movement with mostly revolutionary students and their resistance against the assaults between 1975 and 1980. Established by the students, the Finance and Accounting Research Association (MAMAD) was a gathering spot not only for the Academy… Read More
In the development of the revolutionary student movement, dormitories played a major role. Some of the dormitories that were abandoned after the 1971 Military Memorandum had been occupied by the Grey Wolves. Between 1974 and 1980 there were repeated attacks on the dormitories where revolutionary students stayed in. Denizli Dormitory,… Read More
Facing Beyazıt Square, the Küllük Coffeehouse had been a popular gathering place for the Grey Wolves from the 1970s to the 1980s. Even though the coffeehouse was closed, the Grey Wolves did not leave the neighborhood and settled in other venues in its vicinity like the Platin Pool Hall,… Read More
With its history dating back to Darülfünun-i Osmanî (the first Ottoman higher education institution with a modern curriculum), Istanbul University Faculty of Science started its academic operation initially in the Zeynep Hanım Mansion, which completely burned down in a fire in 1942. Education continued in the Faculty of Sciences… Read More
Just like the Faculty of Sciences, Istanbul University Faculty of Letters started its academic operation in the Zeynep Hanım Mansion in 1933, and from 1952 up to this day has continued in its own building. Mostly renowned for the boycotts held in 1968, the Faculty of Letters had been… Read More
Opened in 1955, Vezneciler Site Student Dormitory is one of the older dormitory buildings that survived to this day. As the main base of the revolutionary student movement in the region since 1968, the dormitory also became one of the most important centers for the movement near Beyazıt for hosting… Read More
Known as Tiryaki Bazaar, the row of adjacent stores across the Süleymaniye Complex consists of (traditional) bean dish serving restaurants and coffeehouses. Running since 1924, Erzincanlı Ali Baba Beans Shop stands at the entrance of the bazaar where university students and Süleymaniye Complex visitors usually come for a bite… Read More
Built in 1961, İstanbul University Medico-Social Center not only provided the university students with basic health and cultural services but also had served as a place for the cultural and artistic activities of the revolutionary student movement for long years. From 1974 until the 1980 Coup, the revolutionary students had… Read More
Serving booklovers since the 15th century, the Second-Hand Book Bazaar is one of the oldest bazaars of Istanbul. Second-hand booksellers started operating within the Grand Bazaar which was built in 1460, then after the 1894 earthquake, they moved to their current location which was called Hakkaklar Bazaar back then. The… Read More
Beyazıt Square is not only famous for the Beyazıt Mosque and Istanbul University, but also for the Beyazıt State Library, coffeehouses, and the Secondhand Book Bazaar which are all vivid hubs. Taking their names from the plane (Çınar) trees that encircle the Beyazıt Mosque, the Çınaraltı (“under the Çınar… Read More
Although the foundation of Istanbul University is claimed to date back to 1453 based on the common thought that it was an extension of “Sahn-ı Seman Madrasa” built on Fatih Sultan Mehmed’s order in 1453, the university was actually built in 1933 as the first and only university of… Read More
Beyazıt Square was built to be the largest square of the city during Emperor Theodosius’ time in 393. Called the Forum of Theodosius in Byzantine times, the square got severely damaged during Latin occupation like the rest of the city, turning into a wreck. On the north side of… Read More
