Beyoğlu, Commercial district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey.
Beyoğlu is a district on the European shore of Istanbul that stretches from the Golden Horn up to Taksim Square. The main artery is Istiklal Street, a pedestrian zone lined with shops, restaurants and historic passages where a red tram runs through the middle.
Foreign embassies settled here from the 16th century onward and called the quarter Pera, meaning beyond in Greek. The area developed into a cosmopolitan hub where European traders and diplomats built grand mansions and cultural institutions that shaped its architecture.
The Galata Tower rises above winding lanes where street musicians and vendors line the sidewalks and locals gather in small tea houses. Side streets lead to old churches, synagogues and mosques that have stood side by side for centuries and are still used by different communities today.
The upper part around Taksim Square offers hotels and shopping centers, while the lower slopes toward Karaköy are more densely built with steep staircases leading downhill. The area is best explored on foot since many streets are pedestrian zones or carry heavy traffic.
On the walls of some side alleys you can still find old Greek inscriptions and house signs from when these neighborhoods were multilingual. Small bookshops in courtyards sell used editions in French, Italian and Armenian, remnants of a cosmopolitan past.
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