Taksim Square

Taksim Square, located on the northeast side of İstiklal Caddesi in Beyoğlu, is the heart of modern Istanbul, built in the late 1800s near a taksim (junction) in the city's water distribution system. At the beginning of İstiklal Caddesi, you can still see the Ottoman taksim and the brand new mosque under construction behind it.

The Independence Monument (İstiklal Anıtı), located in a circle at the southern end of the square, commemorates the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal Atatürk, as both a military commander and a statesman. Designed by Pietro Canonica, it was erected in 1928 in defiance of Islam's ban on images of living creatures.

The ceiling to the east was once a water reservoir. The Atatürk Cultural Center, which dominated the eastern end of the square for half a century, has been demolished.

To the north, Taksim Gezi Park replaced a huge Ottoman artillery barracks demolished in 1940. On May 28, 2013, a small group of people opposed the removal of trees from the park and the commercial development of one of Istanbul's very few open barracks. green space, set up a camp in the park as a protest.

Cumhuriyet Caddesi (Avenue of the Republic) runs north from the square on the west side of Gezi Park to the upmarket areas of Elmadağ, Harbiye, Nişantaşı and Şişli.

West of Taksim Gezi Park across Cumhuriyet Caddes was the Ottoman barracks parade ground called Talimhane. After the Second World War, this large, flat and open area with a network of streets was developed and more than a dozen medium-sized four-star hotels were recently built there.

One long block north of Elmadağ Square are three of the city's best luxury hotels - Divan Oteli, Ceylan InterContinental and Hyatt Regency Istanbul. The Hilton Istanbul is a few blocks further north.

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/Sights/Beyoglu/Taksim.html

Photo: David Berkowitz