CONSTANTINOPLE

1959, Ara Güler.

in front of Dolmabahce Palace, early 20th century.

    In the 4th century AD, an unknown Roman emperor who wanted to accomplish something impressive that would create excitement among his people had the colossal obelisk brought to Constantinople.

Abdullah Frères

Boatmen in Eminonu, near Galata Bridge, the New Mosque in background. Istanbul. 1888-1910.The New Mosque in Istanbul is not that new, it was built in the 1600s.  It is situated on the Golden Horn at the southern end of the Galata Bridge.The beautiful exterior consists of a great courtyard, two slender minarets, and a cascade of domes tumbling down from a central dome.The interior is decorated with Iznik tile, gold and marble.

Dolmabahce, 1880 by Photographer Abdullah Frères

The Imperial Pavilion in Kağıthane, Constantinople, 1890 Photographer Abdullah Frères.

View of Constantinople's historic peninsula, looking from Galata. Abdullah Fréres 1880-93

The Dolmabahçe Mosque not only reflects the architectural style of the period during which was built, but also showcases a very distinctive architectural style with its circular window design which had not ever been used in mosque architecture until this time.

View of Galata from the Golden Horn. The Ottoman Imperial Bank looms above. By Abdullah Freres c. 1880-1893

The famous Ortaköy Mosque, located on the coastal pier square, was originally built in the 18th century. Later, in the 19th century, the current mosque, ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid I and designed by architects (father and son) Garabet Amira Balyan and Nigogayos Balyan in Neo-Baroque style, was edificed between 1854 and 1856.

The famous Ortaköy Mosque, located on the coastal pier square, was originally built in the 18th century. Later, in the 19th century, the current mosque, ordered by Sultan Abdülmecid I and designed by architects (father and son) Garabet Amira Balyan and Nigogayos Balyan in Neo-Baroque style, was edificed between 1854 and 1856.

Ottoman Bank Beyoğlu Branch, 1930.

Unkapani Bridge 1920s.

The city of Constantinople is at a geographic crossroads, straddling Europe and Asia Minor, and is divided by a sea lane called the Bosphorus Strait, which joins the Black Sea in the northeast and the Mediterranean Sea in the southwest. This strait has played a key role in the history of the city.

Gazanfer Ağa Madrasa is located between Unkapanı and the Women’s Bazaar, next to the Bozdoğan Aqueduct. It was built by architect Davut Ağa on the order of Gazanfer Ağa, the main custodian of Sultan Mehmed III in the 16th century. The complex, comprised a madrasa, a tomb, a fountain, and a graveyard that was added later. This group of buildings provides an early example of a complex that was designed with a basic architectural program, a popular approach in the 16th and 17th centuries.