BOSPHORUS

During the Byzantine period, when the villages along the Bosphorus strait had no roads linking them to each other, the people earned their living from fishing and gardening. The Ottoman sultans later had several palaces and villas built on these shores. 

European side: Dolmabahce Palace with its eclectic structure reflecting western architectural styles, was built on the Bosphorus in the19th century.  Next is the Besiktas area where stands the statue and tomb of Captain Barbaros Hayrettin in front of the Naval Museum and near the Museum of Fine Arts. On this side of the Bosphorus are many buildings by the Balyan family of architects, the most significant of which is the Çiragan Palace.This palace suffered great damage by fire in the late 19th century and lay in ruin until recently when it was restored and made into a hotel. The seaside gateway of the Yildiz Palace and Gardens is also here.

Further along the shore are the Feriye palaces, then Ortaköy Square and Ortaköy mosque, an attractive location where one feels the texture of the city at its best. Next, passing under the great columns of the Bosphorus Bridge, you pass by Kuruçesme, Arnavutköy, Bebek, Rumelihisari (fortress), Emirgan, Üstinye, Yeniköy, Tarabya, Kirecburnu, Büyükdere and Sariyer, finally reaching the end of the European side of the Bosphorus at Rumeli Kavagi, last point before the entrance of the Black Sea.

Asian side: Opposite Rumeli Kavagi is Anadolu Kavagi on the Asian side of the mouth of the Bosphorus. South along the shore past Yusa Hill is Beykoz. Though it is quite a distance from city center, Istanbul residents usually go to eat the best fish at Beykoz. Next is Pasabahçe famous for its glass and bottle factories as well as liquor factories of the state monopoly.
After Pasabahce are Çubuklu and Anadoluhisar (Anatolian Fortress) famed for the good quality of clay on the shores of the Göksu and Küçüksu, freshwater rivers that flow into the Bosphorus.

Hence the development of pottery making in the area. Next is a bay between Vaniköy and Çengelköy where stands the Kuleli Military Academy. After Çengelköy comes Beylerbeyi and its famous Beylerbeyi Palace.
Coming to the sea just past Kuzguncuk is today's Üsküdar, known in Byzantine times as the "Golden City." Today this neighborhood is adorned with the Mihrimah, the Semsi Pasha and Yeni Valide mosques built by the great architect Sinan, and the famous Selimiye barracks. At the meeting point of Kadiköy and Üsküdar stands the Haydarpasa Railway Station, last train stop in Asia. Kadiköy (ancient Calchedon)  is one of the oldest inhabited districts of the city. Today it has luxury bayside neighborhoods, including Moda and  Fenerbahce.

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