30

City Tourism

Mainz- Dr. Ala Al-Hamarneha.al-hamarneh@geo.uni-mainz.de

Istanbul is the only city in the world that was a capital of two major empires: the Byzantine and the Ottoman. Thesimplistic idea that Istanbul is a city where "West" meets "East" does not take into account that two major

Mediterranean world cultures had their centers in the city. Istanbul is the "root" and the "authentic centre" ofmulticulturalism and hybridity. Only a few cities in the world may genuinely claim historical and cultural multi-layers:

Jerusalem and Damascus - although they are not on par with the Greek-Turkish Constantinople-Istanbul.

Istanbul Istanbul The Authentic Global City

�

Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

óªMCG ¿É£∏°ùdG ™eÉLThe Sultan Ahmet Mosque

32

City Tourism

The ancient quarter of Sultanahmet is anancient site of multiculturalism. It is home tothe Church-Mosque-Museum of Ayasofia(Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque) the SultanAhmet Mosque, the Roman Hippodrome, theOttoman Palace of Topkapi Saray and thehuge Roman Byzantine underground waterreservoir of Yerebatan. The modern quarterof Beyoglu, especially Taksim Square andIstiklal Street, symbolizes the cosmopolitansetting and the cultural openness of the city. The geographical landscape is a stagewhere multiculturalism plays and socio-historical hybridity is embedded. The waterspaces of the Golden Horn and Bosporusdivide and at the same time connect thethree major parts of the city. Waterfronts and

bridges shape the city’s atmosphere anddesign. The sea connects in Istanbul whereelsewhere it divides. The Bosporusconnects the Mediterranean with the BlackSea just as it connects the European andAsian parts of the city. When in Istanbul, it is impossible to accept thevarious theories that divide people intodifferent civilizations and confronting cultures.Istanbul means the continuity of commonhuman civilization and the common roots of itscultural modifications and reflections. Wheredo the Roman baths end and the Turkish onesstart? Are they not all a part of the humanneed to keep clean? Where do churches endand mosques begin? Are they not all part of apractice of belief and prayer? Where does

Europe end and Asia begin? Are not both apart of the geographical Eurasia and thecultural Mediterranean? To think about this inthe abstract is one thing, but seeing it "live" inIstanbul is something else again. Located inthe heart of the so-called "Old World", ahistorical "gate" for soldiers, traders,explorers, researchers, colonialists, dreamersand lovers, Istanbul, like no other city, showsthat "Orient" and "Occident" are justideological constructions with political aims.In the last 20 years, a lot has been done inthe city in terms of renovation andreconstruction of historical and culturalmonuments and quarters. Again, it is thequarter of Sultanahmet where the mainactivities have been taking place. Many �

Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

Small Charming Hotels in Sultanahmet óªMCG ¿É£∏°S ‘ á∏«ªL IÒ¨°U ¥OÉæa

Taksim - The Modern Center of Istanbul åjó◊G ∫ƒÑfÉà°SG õcôe -º«°ù≤J

Do You Need A Traditional Cold Drink? ?OQÉH …ó«∏≤J ÜGô°T ¤EG êÉà– πg

Galata Bridge and the Beyoglu Hill ƒ∏Zƒ«H πJh ÉJÓb ô°ùL

34

City Tourism

old houses have been transformed into smallhotels, cafes, restaurants and handcraftshops. Romantic settings have beenmushrooming, giving the area a new imageand flair. Some hundred meters to the East ofSultanahmet, the old fishermen’s quarter ofKumkapi has been transformed into apedestrian precinct with many charming andcozy fish restaurants. The Grand Bazaar inthe northern part of Sultanahmet and theEgyptian Bazaar in Eminonu are still the mostfamous traditional shopping areas in the city.The "oriental" bazaars have been attractingmillions of people from all over the world, butespecially from the neighboring Balkancountries, the Arab World, the Caucasus,Russia, Central Asia and Iran. The mixture ofnations and languages is particularly visiblein the beautiful and busy bathhouses of thecity. Many Hamams for men and womenoffer relaxation and pure enjoyment forthousands of daily local and foreign visitors.Trade, shipping and tourism shape thecosmopolitan setting in Istanbul in a uniqueway. The diversity of Turkish society itself interms of lifestyles and dress codes provides arich multicultural framework for tourists andmigrants. A mixture of an easy-goingatmosphere and tolerance dominates the city.This is a present-day reflection of diverseempires, ethnic groups and "histories". Turkey today presents a unique experimentin the Islamic world where the secular socialand political orders implemented by KamelAtaturk converge upon an elected pragmaticIslamic-oriented government. Theliberalization of the political and socialspheres in the country has reached theethnic minorities. The Kurdish language andculture, for example, are visible in Istanbul.Of course, the country still has a long way togo towards democracy and the change inIstanbul does not reflect the situation in thewhole country. Nevertheless, Turkey has animpressive record of improving human rightsand of social and political liberalization, inwhich the current government of TayebRajeb Erdogan has played a major role.The Turkish model of secular-Islamic co-existence has resulted in the country’sgrowing popularity and recognition both inEurope and the Arab World. The �

Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

óªMCG ¿É£∏°S ‘ ≈¡≤eCozy Cafes in Sultanahment

ƒfƒæ«eCG ‘ …ô°üŸG ¥ƒ°ùdG ‘At The Egyptian Bazar in Eminonu

¿Éµe πc ‘ ≥FGóMh »gÉ≤eCafes and Parks are Everywhere

36

�

City Tourism

is no place for a big country with a differentcultural background, namely a Muslimbackground, in the Union. It looks as thoughthe core of the ideologies of Europeanconservative circles regarding their Muslim

neighbors have not changed or becomeenlightened in the last ten centuries. Otherarguments about the economic situation andstandards of democracy lose creditability ifTurkey is compared with the Baltic States,Rumania and Slovenia. The pessimisticconservatives would do well to visit Istanbulas soon as possible in order to see andunderstand the transformations that aretaking place in the country.On the other hand, Muslims and Arabs arefascinated by Istanbul and often visit it. Theincreasing numbers of Arab and Iraniantourists in the streets and museums cannotbe overlooked. The Arabic and Persianlanguages, in addition to English andRussian, are most common in the citynowadays. Arab tourists enjoy the city’scultural sites, shopping and entertainmentfacilities. Advertisements for restaurants andshops are often written in Arabic. First-classrestaurants, where alcohol is not served, arelocated next to trendy discos and jazz clubs.Traditional Russian restaurants opened bymigrants in the 1920s after the BolshevikRevolution are located next to simple Turkish"lokantas". Istanbul caters for all tastes andpocketbooks, no matter how exclusive orexotic – it is a real global metropolis.

Islamic Tourism – Issue 20 – November-December / 2005 For more information, visit our website www.islamictourism.com

European Union is planning to startnegotiations with Turkey on possiblemembership despite the strong resistance ofEuropean conservative parties and lobbies.The European conservatives argue that there

Bridging the Continents ÚJQÉ≤dG ÚH ô°ùL

Dolmepahge Palace »éZÉÑŸhO ô°üb