A Brief Intro...

Yeşilköy or with its previous name before 1926, Ayastefanos,  is one of the old, beautiful, and  green neighborhoods which is located between Yeşilyurt and Florya and it is 7 km from Bakırköy which is on the coast of Marmara Sea.

In 1970s Yeşilköy was a place where people used to come and relax. 
However it changed because of the overpopulation in Istanbul.

Ataturk Airport, the international airport of Istanbul, is located in Yeşilköy. Also, it is the largest neigborhood in Bakırköy.

Yeşilköy was a fishermen’s town where mostly Greek  people used to live. It used to be called Ayastefanos which means Saint Stephan.

While the names of places were being changed into Turkish after Turkish Republic was founded, the name,Yesilkoy was chosen for Ayastefanos.

Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, a famous Turkish author, is believed to choose the name because he really admired its green and nature.

HiStOricAL BaCkGrOuNd

In the 19th century, the whole neighborhood used to belong to The Dadyans, a strong Armenian family. They got the neigborhood as a gift of the Sultan.

The French settled in Yeşilköy during the Crimean War and they built one of the lighthouses in Istanbul.

Yeşilköy played a significant role in history.

The Ayestefanos Treaty which kept the records of the war between Ottomans and Russians was one of them. Moreover, thousands of soldiers who suffered from colera were brought to Yeşilköy and three thousands of them died and were buried near the train station in the neighborhood.

Yeşilköy was one of the favorite recreation and hunting areas of high class society in Istanbul, the population used to include people from different cultures, nationalities, and religions.

Yesilkoy, TODAY

Yeşilköy, is one of the most expensive and luxurious neighborhoods

in İstanbul.

It has some wooden houses, which were built at the end of 19th and at the beginning of the 20th century. Moreover, Yeşilköy has a port and beautiful sand beaches. 

It also has a train station between Sirkeci and Halkalı line. The first train station was built in 1871. This line has been out of order for a long time. 

Atatürk Airport which is one of the gates of Turkey into the 

world, is also located in this neighborhood as we mentioned 

before.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN YESILKOY

The Dadyans’ Mansion

The Treaty of Saint Stefanos

(March, 3 1878) is one of the 

most significant reminders of 

Yesilkoy.

This treaty which  had a critical 

role in the Ottoman History was 

signed in Dadyans’ Mansion which 

belonged to a wealthy Armenian
family of the period.

The Monument of Saint Stefanos

The Saint Stefanos Monument commemorates Russian soldiers who died in the war in 1877-1878 between Ottomann and Russian militaries.

The monument was built in District of  Senlikkoy but today it is impossible to see it because it doesn’t exist anymore.

Surviving History in Yesilkoy

Haghia Stefanos Greek-Orthodox Church

The church is in the Mirasyedi Road which is around Yesilkoy port. The Monastry of St. Etienne which hosted the Crusaders for three days when they invaded Constantinapolis in 1204 was believed to locate in the place of the church. 

This surviving church was built on November 28, 1845.

If you want to feel the history by looking at some icons belonging to Saint Stephanos, Mary, her son Jesus, and Ioannes Prodromos, you can go to Yesilkoy and visit Haghia Stefanos Greek-Orthodox Church.

Yesilkoy Lighthouse

It’s located in Yesilkoy.It was built as a stone tower in 1856 by French.

 It was first named Saint Stefanos but later that name was changed  in accordance with the name of the neighborhood.

The ships , which appear in the Marmara sea first encounter historical Yesilkoy Lighthouse.

 This lighthouse was renovated three times between 1945 and 1988.

The Holy Spring of Saint Fotini

 

One of the historical buildings near the Haghia Stefanos Greek-Orthodox Church is Holy Spring of Saint Fotini. It dates back to Byzantium era.

You can light a candle and make a wish in The Holy Spring of Saint Fotini. The place isn’t that big, but it was decorated nice.

The Fountain of Sultan Abdulmecid Khan

The fountain was built by Sultan Abdulmecid in 1845. The Fountain of Sultan Abdulmecid Khan is located where Bademlik and Cekmece streets meet. This historical fountain includes a section in the front side which allows people to pray.

This is one of the special fountains which has been able to survive till today with its water tank and “temple” on top of it.