When viewed from the sea front, it will definitely catch your eye just across the Dolmabahçe Palace with its dock and its high and shining statue which was built in recent years... Beşiktaş is one of the most central districts of Istanbul as well. Once you are in Beşiktaş, you are sure to reach any spot in Istanbul. Whether by boat, or by bus, or minibus or by taxi... The age of Beşiktaş documents its ancient history, though not comparable to the seniority of Istanbul itself. Throughout history, one of the people who had talked about Beşiktaş and its surroundings is Dionysos of Byzantine. Beşiktaş which, in that period, had a very different structure compared to today, was a forest. Today’s Dolmabahçe was then a cove as seen in its name. (Dolmabahçe in Turkish means “filled garden”). Theorizing on what Dionysos tell, it is thought that Arheion he mentions is Beşiktaş. Beşiktaş region (Arheion) which had Emperors’ summer houses, docks and indeed one temple, is described with hills and a river flowing between them towards north. In reality, today’s Ihlamurdere Street, is an ancient river bed. (Ihlamurdere = Ihlamur Stream)

There are many theories on the root of the name “Beşiktaş”. One of the most notable dates back to famous Ottoman sailor, navy commander Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa (In western world, Barbaros Hayrettin Paşa is known with the name “Barbarossa”. This name was given to him because of his red beard). According to the theory, the name of Beşiktaş comes from Beştaş (Beştaş = Five Stones). And these five stones are the five stone columns Barbaros built to tie the ships to the land...

Beşiktaş earned an identity for being a residence area in Ottoman period. Most influential factor in residence in the Boshporus is climate. Especially the coast’s being open to hard weather currents from the north and the south and the humidity created by the sea requires the buildings by the coasts to be protected. This means expensive construction. Ottomans preferred wooden construction for reasons of being cheap, easy to construct and restorate. This type of buildings’ being suitable only for summer residence on the coast caused emrgence of a special type of architecture called “yalı” in the history of the Boshporus extending to 20th century. The main residence was on coves, valleys, and south skirts of hills where are less effected by hard weather currents. Beşiktaş was developed in this nature. Beşiktaş was the first residential area to rise in the coasts of the Boshporus.