KUZGUNCUK
A good example of how
religious and nations may leave peacefully side by side can be found in
Kuzguncuk District on the Anatolian shores of Istanbul Strait in USKUDAR
COUNTY. 2 churches, a synagogue and a mosque have for many years stood side by
side here and the Surp Krikor Lusavoric Church and Kuzguncuk Mosque even share
the same courtyard. The Sephardic Jews who came from Spain, as well as Jews who
settled in Istanbul before the Turkish conquest, settled in Kuzguncuk.
Just
behind the church and mosque is a synagogue and next to that is the Ayios
Yeorgos Church . The cemeteries, not only th places of worship, are either side
by side or across the same street. At the Nakkastepe Cemetery 600 year old
Jewish graves lie alongside Muslim graves: opposite that cemetery is the
Orthodox Cemetery.
Other important buildings of
Kuzguncuk are the mansion houses lining the shores of Istanbul Strait, which
are known as Yali, together with kiosks which represent the finest civil
architect of the late Ottoman Period. Kuzguncuk is one the places of Istanbul
which was not overdeveloped and so it has retained some of its natural
features: the woods of Fethipasa give a breathing space for all.
As the Asian coast of Istanbul
served as summer residence, offering rest and recreation during Byzantine and
Ottoman periods, Beylerbeyi was also a favoured place. The most prominent
building is the BEYLERBEYI PALACE which was commissioned by Sultan Abdul Aziz
in 1865. Sultan used it as summer residence and it is believed that the present
building was constructed over an earlier timber framed and timber clad
structure that was demolished. Sultan Abdul Aziz was famous for his love of the
sea. Therefore, in addition to fine views of the Istanbul Strait the internal
decorations are
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