Istanbul Galata Photo Gallery

Past the fishermen and seafood restaurants, Galata was the commercial hub during the Ottoman Empire.

The neighbourhood rises along the hillsides, which are made accessible through steep roads and staircases such as this one.

Galata Tower was built in 528 and stands 61m high. Perched on the hillsides, the tower's observation deck offers a panoramic view of the Golden Horn all the way to the Asian side.

West

North

South

Satisfied with the view, I headed back downhill past unremarkable buildings to Voyvoda Caddesi.

Voyvoda Caddesi was the financial centre of Ottoman Istanbul. Even today, it is home to many banks.

Surprisingly, these streetside juice vendors offered better bargains than in rest stops and tourist locations elsewhere in the country. 1 lira for a fresh pomegranate juice is indeed a huge bargain.

The Camondo Staircase was built by a Jewish banker to facilitate his commute to work.

The Galata Mevlevi Lodge is a meeting place for the whirling dervishes. It now doubles as a museum of their artifacts, with a large ceremonial hall where performances are held.

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