Travel Photography Blog by Nisa Maier and Ulli Maier. » Galata

Street Art In Istanbul, Turkey.

Nisa — Mon, 20 May 2013 04:45:42 +0000

Galata’s most distinctive landmark north of the Golden Horn, is the conical-capped Galata Tower. From there, you not only have an amazing 360° panorama view of the city, but I’d also suggest to start wandering along the streets to feel the flair of Istanbul’s hippest part. When strolling the streets of the Galata Quarter (commonly known as Beyoğlu), you’ll come across some pretty amazing street art – especially graffiti.

For example the yellow fists by Berlin based Graffiti Writer Kripoea. The fists are a sign for rebellion, anarchy, and can be found pretty much everywhere in the city, also at places you might not expect…

Street Art in the Galata Quarter in Istanbul, Turkey.

Exploring The Galata Quarter In Istanbul, Turkey.

Nisa — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 11:17:05 +0000

Galata, or better Beyoğlu as it’s called today, has been our home for the last four days. Our apartment was about 25 meters next to the famous Galata Tower, one of the most important historical monuments of Istanbul. Up from the tower you have an amazing view of the city, but be prepared … you’ll need to wait at least 30-45 minutes to get up there, since there’s always a line. We were lucky, because our apartment also had a terrace from which we got a 360° view of the entire city. It wasn’t quite as high as the tower, but I was more than happy with what we got…

The view of our 360° terrace – In front: Galata Bridge & New Mosque, Istanbul.

The Galata Tower & its Quarter, Istanbul.

Galata is a great place to relax, wander the streets, discover, take pictures and enjoy the city. This part of town is hip, stylish, trendy & young. You’ll come across many local shops – from gift shops to cool shoe shops, vintage boutiques to Turkish designer’s showrooms – great cafés and cosy restaurants. The architecture is also worth seeing; it’s a mixture between run down buildings, old-fashioned wooded houses and modern façades.

A super cute little retro shop in Galata, Istanbul.

A run down building in Galata, Istanbul.

A man sitting in the doorway of a house in Galata, Istanbul.

Street Art.

I only took about 500 photos of all the different street art in the Galata quarter, therefore I’d only like to share a couple in this post, and keep the rest for a separate article. When wandering the side streets, you’ll come across some pretty awesome street art…

Panda Bear Graffiti in Galata, Istanbul.

Graffiti in the Galata Quarter of Istanbul.

What I liked most about Galata is the neighbourhoods energy, crowded by young people and many foreigners, who roam the streets at any given hour of the day. It’s definitely worth exploring, so take your time when coming to this part of Istanbul.

Istanbul, Here We Come!

Nisa — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:53:52 +0000

It’s been almost 15 years since the last time we visited Istanbul. Far to long if you ask me!

Although Istanbul isn’t the capital, it’s the largest city in Turkey and the leading industrial, commercial, historical, and cultural center. Not only because of the diversity of people, but also geologically; Istanbul is the only major city world-wide that lies on two continents, Asia & Europe. I heard that it’s supposed to be one of the most fascinating places and therefore, I can’t wait to to dive into the “Soul of Turkey” in less than two weeks!

We booked ourselves into a fantastic historical flat right next to the Galata Tower with a 360° roof top terrace, which I desperately need for “bird view” photo opportunities – whether day or night.

Things we want to see:

Hagia Sophia
One of Istanbul’s illustrious landmark, the Hagia Sofia was a former church, mosque and now a museum. It is the most important achievement of Byzantine architecture.

Topkapi Palace
This palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans. Today it’s a museum. The Treasury of the Museum is considered one of the most celebrated treasuries in the world.

Blue Mosque
Although popularly known as the Blue Mosque, its real name is Sultan Ahmet Mosque. It is famous for the beautiful blue tiles and glass work ornamenting its walls.

Grand Bazaar
We love markets, so this is a definite must! Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world. It’s situated in the heart of the city. Inside the Grand Bazaar you can enjoy shopping and find great bargains in 3.000 shops.

Galata Tower
It was called the Christea Turris by the Genoese and the Megalos Pyrgos by the Byzantines. It has a modern restaurant and cafe on its upper floors with a stunning view of Istanbul. The Galata Quarter is also the trendiest area in Istanbul…

Suleymaniye Mosque
This mosque is the largest and most imposing. It’s an architectural masterpiece. The aesthetic supremacy of its interior and exterior and its perfect proportions have been captivating visitors for centuries.

Old City Walls of Istanbul
Old Constantinople was surrounded by walls described as land walls and sea walls. These walls were considered to be the largest fortress ever constructed in the Christian era. With the numerous towers, it’s a magnificent sight.

As you can see, the fours day we have there are packed. But I’m always open to even more suggestions, especially the ones a tourist would never find. So, any Istanbul insider tips?