Full-Day Private Istanbul Ecclectic Pera Tour

The Galata Tower is an old Genoese tower in the Galata part of the Beyoğlu district of Istanbul, Turkey. Built as a watchtower at the highest point of the (lost) Walls of Galata, the tower is now an exhibition space and museum, and a symbol of Beyoğlu and Istanbul.

Tunnel is the modest station square at the Galata Tower end of İstiklâl Caddesi, the street that runs the length of Beyoğlu to Taksim Square. Easy to get to by tram, metro or funicular (from Karaköy and the Galata Bridge), it has a fragrant burnt-out feel in the early morning. On one side it is besieged by the bars and meyhanes of Asmalımesçit (reached the Tünel Geçidi, one of Beyoğlu’s prettiest Paris-style pasaj), on the other is the old Mevlevi Dervish lodge on Galip Dede Caddesi, which leads down to the Galata Tower.

The property where the Church stands used to be the site of a Greek Orthodox cemetery and hospital. This was demolished in order to build the Church. Its construction, based on the designs of the Ottoman Greek architect P. Kampanaki, began on 13 August 1876 and was completed on 14 September 1880. The Church is built in neo-baroque style with elements of a basilica, and with the unusual features of twin bell towers, a large dome and a neo-gothic facade. The Hagia Triada was the first domed Christian church that was allowed to be built in Istanbul after the Fall of Constantinople in 1453.

The Church of Saint-Antoine (St Anthony of Padua) is the largest church of the Roman Catholic Church in Istanbul. The red-brick Franciscan church was built by Giulio Mongeri and Edoardo de Nani in Gothic style from 1906, after a 1724 church was destroyed to make way for the new tramway.

Located in the cosmopolitan Tepebaşı district of Beyoğlu and dating back to 1892, the Pera Palace overlooks the Golden Horn with 115 rooms including 16 suites named after the Hotel’s most illustrious guests. This historical hotel has now been fully renovated in keeping with its original grandeur whilst offering state-of-the-art facilities.

Set in a distinctive yellow building just off Taksim Square, the French Cultural Centre in İstanbul hosts regular art exhibitions (with a particular focus on photography), film screenings and musical performances. There’s also a French-language library of books, videos and music on-site, as well as a bistro serving French and Turkish food. The cafe-style seating area in the interior courtyard is a leafy, peaceful respite from the madness of İstiklal Caddesi just outside.

The Galatasaray Lycée was originally established in 1481, making it is the oldest Turkish high school in Istanbul and the second oldest Turkish educational institution in the city after Istanbul University which was established in 1453.

Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Arcade), originally the Cité de Péra, is a historic covered passage on İstiklâl Caddesi in Beyoğlu. During Tanzimat Period, Sultan Abdulhamit and Sultan Abdulaziz often went to Naum Theatre to watch the plays. Naum Theatre was located in the corner that intersects Istiklal Street and Sahne Street, in Beyoglu. Verdi’s famous opera “II Trovatore” was staged in this theatre long before Paris. Thanks to famous Italian operas that were staged in Naum Theatre, it was counted as one of the important culture centers in Istanbul and in Europe.

Pierre Loti Hill is a great leisure and tourist area with an open-air cafe overlooking the Golden Horn with beautiful views. The hill is about 55 meters from sea level. Taking its name from a famous French novelist and traveler, who lived in Istanbul and spent his most of the time here, the hill is accessible by a nice cable car trip.

Beyoglu’s main street is Istiklâl Caddesi (Independence Avenue, aka Grand’ Rue de Péra), a crowded pedestrian thoroughfare, with Taksim Square at one end, the Galata Tower and Tünel Station at the other, and the elite Galatasaray Lycée halfway down. Today as you walk down the street, Arabic and the Middle East dominates the Taksim end of the street, while Turkish voices and a sprinkling of European murmerings still hold sway at the Tunnel end.

The unusual mosque has a storied history. It’s believed that back when the Galata neighborhood was a Genoese settlement, the site was a Byzantine fort. The basement of the fort supposedly held the enormous chain that protected the Byzantine fleet from Turkish attacks by blocking ships from entering the Golden Horn waterway into the city.

Istanbul’s hands-on science and technology museum is the product of the passion of one man, Rahmi Koç, Turkey’s foremost industrialist. It is housed, suitably enough, in a former Byzantine structure appropriated by the Ottoman navy as an anchor foundry. Inside is an eclectic and ever-expanding collection, all of inimitable charm.