Kuzguncuk: The Province of Nostalgia in Istanbul

Kuzguncuk is one of the most nostalgic places that one could ask for in Istanbul. It is located in the Anatolian part of Istanbul and it definitely should be seen if someone would like to digest the history of Istanbul. In fact, it is one of the places which is relatively more peaceful and quiet than other parts of the city. In addition to this, this is a place where varied ethnicities left their mark on the town and brought cultural diversity to the town. This writing will explain the brief history of Kuzguncuk and give information for places that can be visited in Kuzguncuk.

Firstly, The name kuzguncuk means either a little raven or barred window of a prison door in Turkish (Wikipedia, 2021). The name is claimed to derive from Kuzgun Baba who lived in this town during the time of Mehmet the Conqueror, who was an Ottoman sultan. Before he conquered Istanbul, Byzantine Empire was governing Istanbul. During Byzantine time, this area was being called as Khrysokeramos (Hrisokeramos) which means golden tile since there was a church in Kuzguncuk with a gilded roof (Wikipedia, 2021). Besides this, Kuzguncuk was also known for its cultural diversity. Jews, Greeks, Armenians and Turks used to live here together and they left their cultural imprint on the town by building monuments and churches, mosques as well as synagogues. For instance, Jews who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in the 15th century started to settle in Kuzguncuk and also in other parts of Ottoman Empire (Wikipedia, 2021). The earliest evidence of Jewish presence in the neighborhood is a tombstone that dates back to 1562 (Wikipedia, 2021). Moreover, Armenians also began to move in Kuzguncuk in the 18th century and they became a sizeable group by the 19th century (Wikipedia, 2021). In 1835, they built their first church in the town (Wikipedia, 2021). However, there are very few non-muslims residing in the Kuzguncuk today which can be stated that cultural diversity has diminished over the years (Wikipedia, 2021).

On top of that, there are two synagogues in Kuzguncuk: Bet Yaakov Synagogue which was built in 1878, and Bet Nissim Synagogue which was built in 1840. There is also a Jewish Nakkaştepe (Wikipedia, 2021). Bet Yaakov Synagogue is currently the only synagogue that still functions in Kuzguncuk (Arsiya, 2017). In addition to this, the churches in the town are Surp Krikor Lusavoriç Armenian Church, Ayios Georgios Greek Orthodox Church, Ayios Panteleimon Greek Orthodox Church, and Ayios Ioannis also known as Saint John Greek Orthodox Sanctuary (Wikipedia, 2021). Ayios Panteleimon Greek Orthodox Church is one of the oldest churches that is still in use in Istanbul (Arsiya, 2017). Furthermore, there is Kuzguncuk Mosque which was built in the courtyard of the Armenian Church and the Üryanizade Mosque (Wikipedia, 2021).

In Kuzguncuk, there are some places that one can go and explore. At first, It can be started with visiting churches, synagogues, and mosques mentioned above. Apart from that, Kuzguncuk is renowned for its colorful houses located in various parts of the town. Thus, those houses definitely there for being taken pictures and uploading them on Instagram. Moreover, the Nail Bookshop (Nail Kırtasiye) which is located in Icadiye Street in Kuzguncuk is also a hot spot for bookworms and coffee enthusiasts. This kind of bookstore concept combines a duo of coffee and books which is indeed a meditative activity for a person. Nail bookstore is also a venue where literary conversations are held on a regular basis (Arsiya, 2017).

Beside this, Kuzguncuk is also famous for its local businesses and home cooking restaurants (Arsiya, 2017). For example, Masum Kitchen is one of the examples of these local businesses. Masum Kitchen is an outstanding option for vegetarians and healthy eating gurus in Istanbul because it offers vegan options, unsweetened desserts, and gluten-free meals (Arsiya, 2017). Furthermore, Chocolatier Aziz Bey is also a modest chocolate shop where in the winter season there are loads of variety in hot chocolate, yet in summer, cold chocolate and seasonal fruits are presented with their delicious chocolate desserts (Arsiya, 2017). What is more, in Chocolatier Aziz Bey, customers are allowed to personalize their drinks with flavors such as lavender, cinnamon, lemon, hazelnut, pistachio, coffee, and almond (Arsiya, 2017).

In conclusion, Kuzguncuk is a town where one can explore the remnants of cultural diversity that existed in the time of Ottoman Empire. In addition to this, it has now relatively more modern entities in which some people are able to explore. It is the place that represents old and new Istanbul which is indigenous to Kuzguncuk. If one day you consider to visit Istanbul, Kuzguncuk definitely ought to be on the go-to list.

WORK CITED

Arsiya, İ. (2017, August 5). Kuzguncuk: Nostalgic neighborhood with history of peaceful coexistence. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/travel/2017/08/05/kuzguncuk-nostalgic-neighborhood-with-history-of-peaceful-coexistence

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, January 28). Kuzguncuk. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuzguncuk