Eminonu

Situateded in the section of Istanbul known as the historical peninsula, Eminonu is encircled with the Golden Horn from the North, the Sea of Marmara from the South, the Bosphorus from the East, and the Municipality of Fatih from the West. The District, as a whole, is within the city walls- the nucleus of the historical Istanbul- and constitutes one of the liveliest regions of the central area.

The District, named Eminonu after the Sea Customhouse and the Customs Superintendent (Emin) which were in the district during the Ottoman time, formed, together with the district of Fatih, the central municipal district of Istanbul in the first years of the Republic. The population of Eminonu District continued to grow until 1955, but when the important quarters of Eminonu transformed from residence into commercial regions, the population has started decreasing. The population which was 83.444 in 1990 emerged to be 55.548 at the last census. The area of Eminonu is 5km2.The primary quarters of the district are the following: Eminonu, Sirkeci, Bahcekapi, Sultanhamet, Suleymaniye, Cemberlitas, Carsikapi, Beyazit, Laleli, Kadirga, Gedikpasa, Kumkapi, Catladikapi, and Mahmutpasa.

The district, not losing anything from its charm in the Byzantian, Ottoman and Republican periods, contains important historical and touristic monuments within its boundaries. Some of these monuments, difficult to find not only in Turkey but also in the World, are the following: the Sultanahmet Square ( Hippodrom), the Bayezit Square, the Serpentine Column, the Walled Obelisk, the Egyptian Obelisk, the St. Irene Church, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Museum, Little St. Sophia Mosque, Beyazit Mosque, Sehzade Mosque, New Mosque, Nurosmanye Mosque, Laleli Mosque, the Spice Bazaar, the Grand Bazaar, Gulhane Park, Istanbul University.

Source: http://www.eminonu.bel.tr