Taksim Northwards, Empire to Republic Urban Walk

Have you ever wondered why a central area full of hotels is neglected in touristic routes? If so, join this tour to find out! I gladly offer guided urban walks in my home city İstanbul as an art and architectural historian. During this well researched urban walk, we see how an imperial capital turns into a republican major city, and how a periphery spot turns into the new center. With the help of maps and old photographs, hidden gems and unassuming hotspots, we see all the stages of this transformation. Wilderness vs city, traditional law vs tanzimat reforms, cemetery vs palace, sultanate vs republic, capital state buildings vs civil infrastucture, and an evermoving entertainment sector... All explained with fun stories.  This tour would interest every person that's keen on history of show business, international relations, railroads, urban morphology, history of sports, even Russian revolution. Yes it's all in Taksim! 

Itinerary:

- Hagia Triada church
- Maksim Night Club Building
- Istiklal Avenue/ Rue de Péra (northern end)
- Maksem water infrastucture building
- Railway infrastructure
- Taksim Republic Monument
- Talimhane Apartments
- Parks from Henri Prost plans of urban green lines
- Repurposing of government buildings:
  * 2 barrackses,
  * Ottoman bank guesthouse
  * Atatürk Cultural Center
- Su terazisi Water infrastructure monument
- Elmadağ, Dolapdere Valley stories of shipyards and water buffaloes...
- Hotels in International Architectural style around the public green line
-Maçka Parkı (A valley park overlooking Bosphorus and Dolmabahçe Palace, containing republican public spaces such as Beşiktaş Stadium, open air theatre, sports
- Atatürk House and Harbiye, his military school
- Vedat Tek Evi (Exemplary Revivalist House in the 1st National Style of Architecture in Turkish Republic)
- Teşvikiye an Ottoman neighborhood pocket and its neoclassical western style mosque
- Nişantaşı an upscale central neighborhood hosting aiming stone monuments of the sultans

If you are a newbie to İstanbul's history, no worries! I start the walk with a brief summary of İstanbul's history, related to Galata, Pera, İstiklal avenue and its growth.

Notes: 
In this tour, we talk about demolished buildings as much as the standing ones. So get ready to use your imagination.
No public transport needed
No museums will be visited during the walk, you can visit some on the path after, depending on your interests
Most of the visits will be open air, the path is optimized for maximum shade and minimum uphill walking.

In the end you will be fascinated by how every era  leaves its mark in our cities. Butterfly effect of the urban morphology is a rabbit hole most tourists enjoy. I wanted to fill in the history of a touristically neglected area, despite being so full of hotels. I'm sure, after this walk you will make sense of your surroundings!