Travel Istanbul

Besiktas is one of the oldest neighborhoods in İstanbul. It’s located in the Rumeli side of the Bosporus, between Ortaköy and Tophane. It’s neighbor to Sisli in the West, Beyoglu in the south, and Sarıyer in the north.

According to the written sources about past, its original name is “Beştaş”. This name is coming from five-stone columns Barbaros Hayreddin Pahsa set up to connect the ships to the coast. “Beştaş” name has evolved to Besiktas over in time.

Besiktas district, consists of 23 neighborhoods which are Abbasağa, Akatlar, Arnavutköy, Balmumcu, Bebek, Cihannüma, Obelisk, Etiler, Gayrettepe, Mansions, Kuruçeşme, Kültür, Levazim, Levent, Mecidiye, Ortaköy, Muradiye, Nispetiye, Sinanpaşa, Türkali, Ulus, Yıldız and Vişnezade.

Besiktas was the major settlement along the shores of the Bosphorus in Byzantine period. In Byzantine period (4th century -15. century) Beşiktaş coast was known as three important structures called Ayios Mihael Church in “Auaplus” (upstream), Ayios Mamas palace the summer residence of emperors, and the Phocas monastery complex. Ayios Mihael was built in 305-337 and was a famous pilgrimage center.

Besiktas won its identity of a living place in the Ottoman period. During the Byzantine period, destruction of predators especially coming from the Black Sea blocked the development of settlements out of the walls.

Besiktas has gained importance especially in terms of maritime because of Kaptan-ı Derya Barbaros Hayreddin. He lived here and was buried here after his death.