Taksim Square Taksim Meydanı | |
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| Public square | |
.jpg) Taksim Square, Istanbul | |
| Features | Republic Monument Atatürk Cultural Center The Marmara Hotel Taksim Mosque Taksim Gezi Park |
| Owner | Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality |
| Location | Beyoğlu,Istanbul,Turkey Beyoğlu,Istanbul |
  Taksim Square | |
| Coordinates:41°02′13″N28°59′09″E / 41.03694°N 28.98583°E /41.03694; 28.98583 | |
Taksim Square (Turkish:Taksim Meydanı,IPA:[ˈtaksimˈmejdanɯ]), situated inBeyoğlu in theEuropean part ofIstanbul,Turkey, is a major tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops, and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of theIstanbul Metro network. Taksim Square is also the location of theRepublic Monument (Turkish:Cumhuriyet Anıtı) which was crafted byPietro Canonica and inaugurated in 1928. The monument commemorates the 5th anniversary of the foundation of theRepublic of Turkey in 1923, following theTurkish War of Independence.
The square is flanked to the south by The Marmara Hotel, to the east by theAtatürk Cultural Centre, to the north byGezi Park and to the west byTaksim Mosque. Several major roads converge on the square: Gümüşsuyu Caddesi, Cumhuriyet Caddesi, Tarlabaşı Bulvarı,İstiklal Caddesi and Sıraselviler Caddesi.
The word Taksim means "division" or "distribution" in Arabic. Taksim Square was originally the point where the main water lines from the north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other parts of the city (hence the name.) This use for the area was established by SultanMahmud I. The square takes its name from theOttoman era stonereservoir which is located along one side of the square.[citation needed]
Another significant building that once stood on the square was the 19th centuryTaksim Artillery Barracks (Taksim Kışlası, which later became theTaksim Stadium), but which was demolished in 1940 during the construction works in accordance with the plans ofFrench architect andcity plannerHenri Prost for Taksim Square andTaksim Gezi Park.[1]
Taksim Gezi Park is a small green park in the midst of the concrete expanse of central Istanbul. In 2013, the city municipality, wanting to rebuild the old barracks as a shopping venue on the site of the park, began forcefully removing protesters who had set up camp in the park. After news spread of thepolice brutality, thousands of people rallied in theOccupy Taksim movement, to stop the demolition of the park. As of 2013, the status of the demolition project was in limbo, theJustice and Development Party (AKP) government has thePolice stationed in and around Taksim Square ready withriot control equipment to deter any large demonstrations.[2][needs update]
Taksim is a main transportation hub and a popular destination for both tourists and residents of Istanbul.İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a long pedestrian shopping street, ends at this square, and a nostalgic tram runs from the square along the avenue, ending near theTünel (1875) which is the world's second-oldest subway line afterLondon's Underground (1863). In addition to serving as the main transfer point for the municipal bus system, Taksim Square is also the terminus of the Hacıosman-4. Levent-Taksim-Yenikapı subway line of theIstanbul Metro.[citation needed]
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Taksim's position was given an extra boost on June 29, 2006, when the newKabataş-Taksim Funicular line F1 connecting the Taksim Metro station with theKabataştramway station andSeabus port was opened, allowing people to ascend to Taksim in just 110 seconds.[3]
Surrounding Taksim Square are numerous travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and internationalfast food chains such asPizza Hut,McDonald's,Subway, andBurger King. It is also home to some of Istanbul's grandest hotels including theInterContinental, theDivan, and The Marmara Hotel. Taksim used to be a favourite location for public events such as parades, New Year celebrations, and other social gatherings, although since 2016 permission has rarely been given for such gatherings.[citation needed]
Atatürk Cultural Center (Atatürk Kültür Merkezi), a multi-purpose concert hall and cultural centre reopened after renovation in 2021, is also located in Taksim Square. It faces theTaksim Square Mosque which also opened 2021.[4][5]
The square used to be an important venue forpolitical protests.
Following many other violent incidents, all protests and demonstrations were banned and today police units maintain a round-the-clock presence to prevent any incidents. It is many years since either May Day or New Year's Day events were permitted to take place in the square, with much of the surrounding area usually fenced off for the day and the Metro station often closed to prevent people gathering.
In 2013,protests took place in Taksim in opposition to the reconstruction of the Ottoman eraTaksim Military Barracks (demolished in 1940 to createGezi Park) and ashopping centre on the site of Gezi Park.[8] In the early morning of May 31,police forces moved in on the demonstrators and people sleeping in tents, and tried to disperse them withtear gas,pepperspray andwater cannons.[9][10]
The demonstrators criticized Prime Minister(now President) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his uncompromising stance on this controversial issue and for the Turkish police's excessive use of force against the demonstrators.[11]
The large number of trees in the forests of northern Istanbul that were cut down to provide access to theYavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (Third Bosphorus Bridge) and the newIstanbul International Airport[12][13][14][15] (the world's largest airport)[12][14][16] were other factors that triggered theGezi Park protests. According to official Turkish government data, a total of 2,330,012[17][18] trees have been cut down to make way for the airport and its road connections; while a further 381,096[17][18] trees were cut down to make way for the highways leading to the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge.[18]
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