Besiktas – at the border of Europe and Asia

The European district of Istanbul – Besiktas is separated from the Asian part of the city - Uskudar only with the Bosphorus strait.

The district’s history

Besiktas district is located in the European part of Istanbul, on the bank of the Bosphorus strait, which separates it from the ancient district Uskudar on the opposite bank of the strait. Its name can be translated from Turkish as “Cradle stone”. In the olden times there was a dense forest at this area, Byzantines eradicated it and founded a settlement, named “Diplokionion”, later it was renamed into “Arheyon”. Today Besiktas district is considered an important commercial and cultural area of Istanbul.

The beauties of Besiktas

Among the sights of the district there are the palaces – Ciragan, Yildiz, and Dolmabahce, and mosques – Ortakoy and Sinan Pasa, Ihlamur kiosk. And these are just some of the monuments which make up the rich historical and cultural heritage of this district. In Besiktas district you can also see the recently built Barbarossa monument, shining at the sun, modern street Ihlamurdere, laying at the place where used to be the crease of the ancient river, which had streamed among the hills of Besiktas, the name of the street - “Ihlamur river” tells about it. The beauty of the district’s architecture is supplemented with the picturesque view to the Bosphorus with its ferries and boats, constantly running between Europe and Asia.