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Bright Sun
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Beyazıt Square (officially
named Hürriyet
Meydanı, "Freedom Square," but
no one uses that name except some
cartographers) is the spacious plaza
in front of Istanbul
University's main
gate, and next to the Grand
Bazaar and the Old Book
Bazaar (Sahaflar Çarşısı)(map).
Though the Romans called
it the Forum
Tauri, the Byzantines expanded
it and renamed it the Forum of
Theodosius. It's now the stone-paved
stage for the dramatic backdrop of
the university gates.
The walled Istanbul
University campus was built
as the Ottoman Ministry
of War, which
accounts for its martial, fortress-like
aspect.
The Mosque
of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (Süleymaniye
Camii), Istanbul's
largest, is just behind the university
enclosure.
The area just east of the square is
known as Çarşıkapı (CHAHR-shuh-kah-puh, "Door
to the Market") because of a main
entrance to the Grand
Bazaar.
If you'd like to stay in this section
of Istanbul, near the University,
the
Grand
Bazaar and the Süleymaniye mosque
(and only a two tram-stop ride from
Sultanahmet), have a look at my recommended
Beyazıt
hotels. More...
At Çarşıkapı you
can catch the Eminönü/Kabataş
tram eastward
for Sultanahmet, Sirkeci
Station and Eminönü (Egyptian
[Spice] Market, Galata
Bridge).
A great way to explore Istanbul's
markets is to take a walking
tour from Beyazıt and
the Grand
Bazaar north along Uzunçarşı
Caddesi ("Longmarket Street")
through the Tahtakale market
district to the Rüstem
Pasha Mosque and
the Egyptian
(Spice) Bazaar on the
Golden
Horn.
Going west, you catch the Bağcılar-Kabataş
tram at either the Çarşıkapı or Universite stops
for Aksaray, Millet Caddesi, Topkapı
gate and Zeytinburnu, where you can
transfer to the Metro.
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Above, Istanbul
University main gate.
Below, the Beyazıt
Mosque on the east side
of Beyazıt Square, Istanbul.
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