Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( Kabataş, then funicular to Taksim) Named after the 18th-century stone taksim (water stor-
age unit) on its western side, this busy square is the symbolic heart of modern İstanbul.
Hardly a triumph of urban design, it is home to a chaotic bus terminus, a cultural centre,
the upmarket Marmara Hotel and an often-overlooked monument to the founding of the
Republic.
The Atatürk Cultural Centre was designed by Hayati Tabanlioğlu in 1956-57 and ap-
pears to best advantage at night, when its elegant steel mesh is illuminated. It is currently
undergoing long-overdue restoration works.
The Republic Monument OFFLINE MAP (Cumhuriyet Anıtı ) was created by Canonica, an
Italian sculptor, in 1928. This features Atatürk, his assistant and successor, İsmet İnönü,
and other revolutionary leaders.
When this topic went to print, İstanbul's newspapers were full of heated debate about
the future of the square after the mayor of Beyoğlu, Ahmet Misbah Demircan, announced
plans to redevelop the public park behind the bus terminal on the northeast side of the
square as a shopping mall. Local activists cited it as one of many current instances of pub-
lic space being sold off to private developers without proper public consultation or ap-
proval. The site, which has been a park since the early 1940s, was previousy occupied by
an Ottoman military barracks.
NİŞANTAŞI
If you're a dab hand at air-kissing and striking a pose over a caffe latte, you'll feel totally at home in
Nişantaşı. Serious shoppers, visiting celebs, PR professionals and the city's gilded youth gravitate to-
wards this upmarket enclave, which is located about 2km north of Taksim Meydanı and is accessed
via the metro (Osmanbey stop). Bars, restaurants, boutique hotels and international fashion and
design shops are found in the streets surrounding the main artery, Teşvikiye Caddesi, prompting
some locals to refer to that area as Teşvikiye.
If you decide to spend a day or half-day shopping here, consider taking a break and eating at
Hünkar (
212-225 4665; www.hunkar1950.com ; Mim Kemal Öke Caddesi 21; portions
14-22;
noon-10.30pm;
Osmanbey) , one of the best lokantas (restaurants serving ready made
212-232 4201; www.borsarestaurant.com ; Lütfi Kırdar Congress
food) in the city; Borsa (
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