The Golden Horn

During the Byzantine era, the Golden Horn was a perfect natural harbor for trade and communication in the city. Grains, produce, fish...everything was sold on these banks. These days, the tradition carries on in the form of the omnipresent stalls selling fried fish, grilled corn, and vegetables.

During the Ottoman era, the northern shore was an exclusive area of leisure and shopping. From that era, we still have the Analikavak Palace and various Greek mansions scattered among the parks.

Throughout the 20th century, the Golden Horn slowly fell into decay and lost some of its charm.

Of all the places I've visited, few have left such a lasting impression on me as the Golden Horn. There I was, standing at the foot of the Galata Bridge while the city lights began to dim and the calls to prayer sounded over the bustle of pedestrians, taxis, and ships.

The port area is a hive of people coming and going; it's as if every day the entire city acts out a huge choreographed dance under the watch of the Galata Tower and the minarets of the city's famous mosques.

This is a place where you can truly experience the essence of Istanbul: the busy Galata Bridge and its throngs of cane-pole fisherman, the non-stop boats passing below, the smell of fresh-cooked fish, and the calls to prayer from the New Mosque nearby.

The Golden Horn, Istanbul, has the largest number of buildings of cultural interest imaginable. From the bridge opposite the Galata Tower to the Museum of Archaeology are mosques, cathedrals and the world's most beautiful cisterns. Hagia Sophia (Christian architecture sprouting from a Muslim background), the Blue Mosque (6 minarets and spectacular colors) and the Roman cisterns (full of carved columns) are in themselves sufficient to justify a trip to Istanbul. A modern streetcar runs through the Golden Horn and restaurants surround the entire old city. But there are tourists/visitors at all times