Zeyrek | |
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  Zeyrek Location in Turkey Show map of Turkey Zeyrek Zeyrek (Istanbul) Show map of Istanbul | |
| Coordinates:41°1′11″N28°57′26″E / 41.01972°N 28.95722°E /41.01972; 28.95722 | |
| Country | Turkey |
| Province | Istanbul |
| District | Fatih |
| Population (2022) | 12,863 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (TRT) |
Zeyrek is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district ofFatih,Istanbul Province,Turkey.[1] Its population is 12,863 (2022).[2] It is a picturesque but poor neighbourhood. It takes its name from the huge and prominentZeyrek Mosque which started life as aByzantine church and sits on a plateau, overlooking theGolden Horn.[3]
Busy Atatürk Bulvarı runs along the south side of Zeyrek which sits above the Cibali neighbourhood. To its north is theFatih neighbourhood. Fevzi Paşa Caddesi runs along the western side of Zeyrek.
The centre of Zeyrek forms part of theHistoric Areas of IstanbulWorld Heritage Site. Some of the old wooden houses here were restored in the early 21st century.[4]
The closest tram stop to Zeyrek is Cibali on the T5 tram line. The closest Metro stop is Vezneciler on the M2 line. Many buses lough up and down Atatürk Bulvarı.
Zeyrek Mosque started life as theMonastery of the Pantokrator as built by Empress Eirene between 1118 and ii24. It consisted originally of a church , a hospital and a library. Between 1120 and 1136 Emperor John II Comnenus added a second church to the complex. Later a funerary chapel was built between the two churches as a burial place for the Comneni family. A clue to how grand the complex was in its heyday is shown by the Pala d'Oro in theBasilica of St Mark which was stolen by theFourth Crusaders in 1204 and carried away to adornVenice. After theConquest of Istanbul in 1453 the complex was converted into Zeyrek Mosque; its ancillary buildings served as medreses until the hugeFatih Mosque complex was completed. Extensive and sometimes controversial restoration of the complex took place in the 2000s and 2010s. It is now open to visitors again as a mosque with its fine opus sectile floor hidden under carpet.[5]
Beneath the Zeyrek Mosque, along busy Atatürk Bulvarı (pushed through the area by the French town plannerHenri Prost in the 1950s), a large brickcistern with niches along its facade can be seen, but although it has been restored it is not open to the public. Also along the main road are buildings of theSSK department that were designed by the architectSedad Hakki Eldem and won anAga Khan award for architecture in 1986.
The smallŞeyh Süleyman Mosque, also of Byzantine origin, may have been a library associated with the Monastery of the Pantokrator although this is not certain.[6]
TheEski Imaret Mosque also started life as a Byzantine religious structure, this time the Convent of the Pantepoptes, built in around 1185 for Empress Anna Delessena who was co-regent with her sonAlexios I Comnenos for twenty years before retiring here. It became animaret (soup kitchen) after theConquest of Istanbul in 1453 until a purpose-built soup kitchen was incorporated into the brand-newFatih Mosque.[7]
To the west of Zeyrek Mosque sits the rectangular area around the Hüsambey Tezgahçılar Mosque. It is ringed with food shops and restaurants serving the cuisine ofSiirt in southeastern Turkey, in particularbüryan kebab, lamb baked in pit ovens, andperde pilav, a risotto of chicken, grapes and almonds baked in a fez-shaped pastry case. Traditionally known as the Kadinlar Pazarı (Women's Bazaar), it is more usually called Fatih Pazarı (Fatih Bazaar) now. It is also known popularly as Little Siirt.[8]
Framing the bazaar area are the remains of theAqueduct of Valens, AKA as Bozdoğan Kemeri (Bozdoğan Aqueduct), constructed in 375 by theEmperor Valens reusing stones taken from ancientChalcedon that used to exist on the site now filled byKadıköy on the Asian side of the city. The aqueduct was used to bring water fromThrace (Trakya) intoConstantinople for distribution around the city.
Also pressed up against the aqueduct is theGazanfer Agha Medrese, built at the very end of the 16th century for the last Chief of the White Eunuchs ofTopkapı Palace. For many years it contained a Cartoon Museum which has now closed.
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Media related toZeyrek at Wikimedia Commons
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