Top 10 Interesting Facts about Eminonu

Eminönü by Omer Unlu from Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Eminonu

One of Istanbul’s oldest districts, Eminönü is situated in the heart of the Old City district. Byzantium was formed in Eminonu, which is located in the centre of Constantine, a fortified city. Eminonu is the focal point and epicentre of a remarkably rich past.

Galata Bridge, the Golden Horn, the Topkap Palace, the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii), and Hagia Sophia are all located around Eminonu (Aya Sofya). In this enormous metropolis, almost every neighbourhood is a unique universe unto itself. In modern fiction about Turkey, its liminal location between the two continents serves as the setting for the expression of cultural identities.

Keep reading to see 10 interesting facts about Eminönü.

1. Eminönü is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Istanbul 

One of Istanbul’s oldest districts, Eminönü is situated in the heart of the Old City district. In April 2008, it was one of the 32 main districts of the city. As of April 2008, there are 39 districts in the city, and Eminonu is no longer one of them; it is now only a neighbourhood within the Fatih district.

2. Since Byzantine times, Eminönü has been an important location

Golden horn evening by Murat Beşbudak from Wikimedia Commons

From the Byzantine era till the present, Eminönü has been a significant location. It was the centre of ancient Constantinople and is located at the mouth of the Golden Horn, the old seaport close to the Sea of Marmara.

A number of the city’s oldest districts, including Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Karaköy, Süleymaniye, Cagaloglu, Cemberlitas, Beyazit, and Kumkapi, are still found close to Eminonu today because here is where the city’s growth began.

3. The neighbourhood’s name dates back to the Ottoman era

Mustashfa sultans by Ranbar from Wikimedia Commons

When there were several Maritime Customs and the Customs Superintendent offices (Emin in Turkish) in the area, the neighbourhood got its name during the Ottoman era. Furthermore, “önü” means “in front of,” indicating that there was a community with courts and traditions.

4. There are many historical tourist sites

Eminönü is home to several tourist attractions, including mosques, palaces, ancient bazaars, cathedrals, and numerous museums that date back to the Ottoman Empire.

Within its boundaries, there are several significant historical and touristic sites, including Sultanahmet Square, the former Hippodrome, with the Serpentine Column, Stone Obelisk, and Egyptian Obelisk, Bayezit Square, the Byzantine-era Forum Theodosii, Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene Church, Little St. Sophia, the former S. Sergius and Bacchus Church, the Basilica Cistern (currently known as Yerebatan).

5. One of Istanbul’s busiest districts in Eminönü

Galata Bridge by Bjørn Christian Tørrissen from Wikimedia Commons

Roads were enlarged, a sizable square was created, the Galata Bridge was replaced with a larger one, the Spice Market was reorganized, and a tram line was constructed during the Republic period.

The bazaars and other historical landmarks in Eminönü, one of Istanbul’s busiest districts today, draw both visitors and residents. Although there are just 55,000 people living there, there are up to 2 million throughout the day.

5. One of the masterpieces of the sultans is the Eminonu New Mosque

New Mosque by Till Niermann from Wikimedia Commons

It is situated in Istanbul’s busiest district, Eminonu Square in the Fatih Municipality; Eminonu New Mosque sees a massive crossing every day for locals and visitors from all over the world.

The Sultan’s Mother’s Mosque or the Sultana’s Mother’s Mosque are other names for the Eminonu New Mosque. Safiya Sultan, the mother of Sultan Muhammad III, gave the construction of it the go-ahead in 1597. Construction of the mosque was put on hold because Muhammad III’s successors were hesitant to finish the task and for other factors.

Sultan Hatice Turhan, the mother of Sultan Mohammed IV, noticed the devastation and destruction caused by the mosque during the great fire in Istanbul in 1660 while passing by. As a result, she oversaw its completion in 1663.

6. Eminonu’s  park was used to grow flowers for the palace

Gulhane park Istanbul by Gryffindor from Wikimedia Commons

Without a doubt, one of the most well-known often frequented, and well-known parks close to Eminonu Istanbul is Gulhane Park. With its gorgeous gardens, lovely flowers, ponds, and leisure spaces, Gulhane Park is the focus of attention.

During the Ottoman era, roses were grown there for the magnificent Topkapi Palace. The beautiful Museum of Islamic Science and Technology History is located in Gulhane Park.

7. There’s a museum that displays all the economic developments that took place

Ziraat Bank Museum by Celal Erdogdu from Wikimedia Commons

Turkey Is Bank Museum, which opened in 1898, is located in the ideal spot between the New Mosque and the post office structure. The museum first welcomed visitors on November 14, 2007.

All of the economic progress that has occurred since Turkey Is Bank was founded up to the present is on exhibit at the museum, along with organizational structure-related papers.

Every day, excluding Monday, the first days of Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, and the first of January, it is open from 10:00 AM to 18:00 PM. Entry to the museum is free for everyone.

8. They have one of the oldest spice bazaar’s

Bazaar in Istanbul by Miomir Magdevski from Wikimedia Commons

The so-called Spice Market, also known as the Historical Egyptian Spice Bazaar (Misir Carsisi), is a vibrant and airy covered spice market surrounded by spice vendors on the Eminonu shore, next to the Yeni Mosque, in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul. In addition, together with the renowned Grand Bazaar, it is one of the most visited covered marketplaces in the world.

Nearly all varieties of herbs and spices may be found in the market, along with supplies for cookery, Turkish delight, and Turkish coffee.

9. The busiest ferry crossings are at Eminönü

Sea of Marmara car ferry by Jan Derk Remmers from Wikimedia Commons

The busiest Bosphorus and Marmara Sea ferry crossings, as well as the vehicle ferry that travels over the Bosphorus to Harem, are located at Eminönü.

Nearby lies the Sirkeci Railway Station, from which trains may be taken to Bucharest. Eminönü is also traversed by the T1 tram that runs from Kabataş to Baclar.

10. During the day around 2 million people visit Eminönü

The neighbourhood is crowded during the day with businesses and their clients, throngs of shoppers, and many visitors. Add to this a number of significant government structures, such as the governor’s office and Istanbul University’s main campus in Beyazit. It is eerily silent at night.

Eminönü has some residences, but the majority of the structures are offices, businesses, and workshops. If you happen to visit in the evening, the contrast with the daylight is unsettling and slightly ominous. Even though Eminönü has 2,000,000 residents throughout the day, the district only has 30,000 people living there. The few residents of Eminönü are conservative and from the working class.

The Eminonu area has an incredible tapestry of history in every corner, if you happen to be in Istanbul we would strongly recommend that you visit this historic city.