Travel Photography | Istanbul | Istiklal Avenue at Night

© 2012 Wazari Wazir | Istiklal Avenue or Istiklal Caddesi at Night After The Rain | Istanbul Turkey

In the late 19th century, this major street was known as the Grande Rue de Pera, and it carried the life of the modern city up and down its lively promenade. It’s still the centre of İstanbullu life, and a stroll along its length is a must.  Istiklal Avenue or Istiklal Street is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, Turkey, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day over the course of weekends.

Located in the historic Beyoğlu (Pera) district, it is an elegant pedestrian street, 1.4 kilometers long, which houses boutiques, music stores, bookstores, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries, cafés, pubs, night clubs with live music, historical patisseries, chocolateries and restaurants.

The avenue, surrounded by late Ottoman era buildings (mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries) that were designed with the Neo-Classical, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance Revival, Beaux-Arts, Art Nouveau and First Turkish National Architecture (Birinci Millî Mimarî Akımı) styles; as well as a few Art Deco style buildings from the early years of the Turkish Republic, and a number of more recent examples of modern architecture; starts from the medieval Genoese neighbourhood around Galata Tower and ultimately leads up to Taksim Square.

The other interesting about Istiklal Avenue or Istiklal Caddesi is “Ara Cafe” (Unfortunately at that time I can’t locate it).  Located on a small side street off Istiklal Caddesi, just a few steps away from the Galatasaray High School. This cafe is named after Ara Güler, the man that shot the most beautiful Istanbul photographs, and the decoration is based on his photographs. Ara Guler is World-Famous Turkish photographer and has lent his name to this down-to-earth café, which features walls covered with Güler’s beautiful photographs of Istanbul.

Ara Güler (born 1928) is a native “Stamboulite”, who has been documenting his home city’s cultural and domestic life since the 1940s. Initially a reporter for TimeLife, Paris Match and Stern, as well as Turkish dailies and magazines, he has been a member of Magnum Photos since meeting Marc Riboud and Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1961.

So guys, if you happen to be in Istanbul or planning to travel there, please don’t be like me, try to locate this Ara Cafe (If you like Photography) and be mesmerised by his beautiful photographs   decorated all over the cafe.