Galatasaray Island
Encyclopedia
The Galatasaray Islet is a small island on the Bosphorus strait off Kuruçeşme neighborhood in Istanbul
, Turkey
, which is owned by Galatasaray Sports Club.
Its location just north of the Bosphorus Bridge
, with the view of the Bosphorus, makes it an attractive facility that houses bars, 6 restaurants and two swimming pools. Only 165 m (541.3 ft) far from the European coast, the islet is reachable by free ferry service.
In Autumn 2002, construction has started to turn the Galatasaray Islet into one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. Totally rebuilt, it serves since July 2007 the Galatasaray community and Istanbulers as an entertainment and recreation center.
A fire broke out in the kitchen chimney on October 4, 2007 that burnt down two restaurants and damaged four other premises on the islet
.
In 1872, Ottoman
sultan Abdülaziz
(reigned 1861–1876) granted the islet to the court architect Sarkis Balyan (1835–1899), who erected a three-story house on it as his own residence. In 1874, during one of his several visits to Istanbul, Russia
n painter Ivan Aivazovsky
stayed in the mansion of Sarkis on the islet, and made here a number of paintings commissioned by the sultan for the Dolmabahçe Palace
.
Called as the "Sarkis Bey Islet" during his lifetime, it was rented out by his legal heirs after the World War I
to "Şirket-i Hayriye", the company operating passenger ferries in Istanbul, and was used for a long time as a coal depot.
In 1957, Galatasaray S.K.
purchased the islet and constructed premises and sports facilities on it. The swimming pool on the islet served home to the water polo team from 1957 to 1968.
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, which is owned by Galatasaray Sports Club.
Its location just north of the Bosphorus Bridge
Bosphorus Bridge
The Bosphorus Bridge, also called the First Bosphorus Bridge is one of the two bridges in Istanbul, Turkey, spanning the Bosphorus strait and thus connecting Europe and Asia The bridge is located between Ortaköy and Beylerbeyi The Bosphorus Bridge, also called the First Bosphorus Bridge is...
, with the view of the Bosphorus, makes it an attractive facility that houses bars, 6 restaurants and two swimming pools. Only 165 m (541.3 ft) far from the European coast, the islet is reachable by free ferry service.
In Autumn 2002, construction has started to turn the Galatasaray Islet into one of the most prominent landmarks of the city. Totally rebuilt, it serves since July 2007 the Galatasaray community and Istanbulers as an entertainment and recreation center.
A fire broke out in the kitchen chimney on October 4, 2007 that burnt down two restaurants and damaged four other premises on the islet
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
.
History
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
sultan Abdülaziz
Abdülâziz
Abdülaziz I or Abd Al-Aziz, His Imperial Majesty was the 32nd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned between 25 June 1861 and 30 May 1876...
(reigned 1861–1876) granted the islet to the court architect Sarkis Balyan (1835–1899), who erected a three-story house on it as his own residence. In 1874, during one of his several visits to Istanbul, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n painter Ivan Aivazovsky
Ivan Aivazovsky
Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky July 29, 1817 – May 5, 1900) was a Russian world-renowned painter of Armenian descent living and working in Crimea, most famous for his seascapes, which constitute more than half of his paintings...
stayed in the mansion of Sarkis on the islet, and made here a number of paintings commissioned by the sultan for the Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace
Dolmabahçe Palace located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coastline of the Bosphorus strait, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a 22-year interval in which Yıldız Palace was used.- History :Dolmabahçe Palace...
.
Called as the "Sarkis Bey Islet" during his lifetime, it was rented out by his legal heirs after the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
to "Şirket-i Hayriye", the company operating passenger ferries in Istanbul, and was used for a long time as a coal depot.
In 1957, Galatasaray S.K.
Galatasaray S.K.
Galatasaray Spor Kulübü is a Turkish sports club based in Istanbul, most notable for its football section, also known as Galatasaray S.K.. It also fields teams in Athletics, Basketball, Wheelchair basketball, Volleyball, Water polo, Swimming, Rowing, Sailing, Judo, Bridge, Equestrian, Handball,...
purchased the islet and constructed premises and sports facilities on it. The swimming pool on the islet served home to the water polo team from 1957 to 1968.