THE HOLIEST GROUNDS OF ISTANBUL: EYUP
EYUP is the place just beyond the land walls along the shores of the Halic and houses the mosques, tombs and cemeteries of some significant personage of the Islamic religion. The holy character of EYUP was established hundreds of years ago. During the Byzantine Period there were monastery churches on the grounds, none of which has survived.
One of the reasons they disappeared lies in the fact that those areas out of the city walls were devastated during each siege the city was subjected to and military battles that devastated any building in the vicinity. After the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul, Eyup was rebuilt and it eventually took on its present aspect.
If you proceed from the land walls towards Eyup the first place to visit is DEFTERDAR MAHMUT EFENDI MOSQUE, which is situated on Dfterdar Street. The main buildings of a religious bear the symbols of that region. Just as a church has a cross on top of the bell tower, so in the same manner, a minaret is normally topped with a crescent moon representing Islam.
However, over the minaret of this mosque, a pen and an inkpot were placed to give the message that literacy is the best way of enlightenment and modernization. The original inkpot and pen were destroyed in successive earthquakes; however, recently a new set has been installed.
If you continue on the DEFTERDAR STREET, along the shores of the Golden Horn you will come across a red building. This is the FESHANE ( FEZ FACTORY), founded in 1835 to meet the increased demand for he fez, a type of red hat, as well as the production of uniforms for the Ottoman Imperial Army.
It is one of the oldest factories in Turkey. After a long service life, Feshane no serves as an exhibition and conference hall and as an entertainment center during the festivities of Ramadan. From the pier of Feshane you can take boat trips aboard a replica of royal boats that were once used by Ottoman Sultans to across the Istanbul straits.
Across Feshane and next to the Municipality Building, stands the first museum f Eyup, the NEZIH ELDEM CITY MUSEUM. The building was actually the Military Cadet School, commissioned in 1884.The museum exhibits documents related to the history of Eyup. Just behind the museum is the CEZERI KASIM MOSQUE. Curiously, another mosque in a different part of the city, situated across the Cagaloglu Hammam (public bath) in Divanyolu, has the same name.
ZAL MAHMUT PASHA COMPLEX
It is also on the same route and it was designed by Mimar Sinan. There you can visit the handicrafts workshops manufacturing the traditional wooden toys identified with Eyup.
EYUP TOYMAKERS:
Children who were starting primary school or who were to be circumcised were brought to visit Eyup and this custom still continues. It is believed that visiting this holy place would make them more successful in life and that they would not face any hardship. One of the unintended consequences of the children’s visit was the creation of a toy making industry in Eyup as early as the 17th century. Even the these toys and today the same wooden toys are manufactured with traditional techniques and sold locally As a memento of your visit to Eyup , why not buy one ? Who knows, maybe the magic will work for you!
The district is named after Eyup Sultan and the MOSQUE AND TOMB OF EYUP SULTAN are considered as the holiest place in Istanbul. Eyup Ensari was a companion of the Prophet Mohammed, died during the siege of Istanbul by Arabs in 674-678 and was buried here. Following the conquest of Istanbul, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror found the grave of EYUP Ensari and built a tomb over it, then a mosque and religious complex nearby. The complex was the first to be built in Istanbul.
The district of EYUP gradually took shape around the complex commissioned by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. Many Sultans after Mehmet built religious buildings in EYUP and continued to develop it, so today there are many buildings in close proximity that reflect the different periods of Ottoman architecture. As EYUP came to be considered a holy place, many from the higher echelons of Ottoman society as well as ordinary people chose Eyup as their everlasting place of rest. And today the cemeteries of Eyup contain various styles of funeral architecture, including intricately carved headstones.
At some distance from the Eyup Cemetery, up on the hill is the PIERRE LOTI CAFÉ , which can be reached by road or by cable car departing from the shore. It is famous for the best panoramic view of the Golden Horn and Eyup.
PIERRE LOTI (LOUIS MARIE JULIEN VIAUD) was a renowned French writer and traveller who lived between 1850 and 1923 and he was so impressed with Istanbul that he settled there. The café was his favourite haunt. Gazing at the silhouette o Istanbul he must have dreamed about his imaginary love, Aziyade and called her name but loud to the other shore of the Golden Horn. As the time went by, the café took the name of Pierre Loti. The best way to end your pleasure trip to Eyup is with a pot of tea at the Pierre Loti Cafe where you can take in the view and also buy some souvenirs.
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