A Brief History of Istanbul’s Most Public Space Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue are often treated as two separate places. In reality, they function as one continuous space where politics, commerce, culture, and daily life overlap in a way that feels uniquely Istanbul. To understand one, you need the other. Taksim: A Square Built for Control The name Taksim comes from the Ottoman word for "distribution". In the 18th century, this area sat on the edge of the city and served

Graffiti in Istanbul has roots far deeper than the bold tags you see in Beyoğlu today. The tradition of leaving one’s mark goes back to Byzantine and Ottoman times, when sailors, travelers, and merchants carved symbols into stone walls around the city. Modern street art began taking shape in the 1990s as Istanbul opened culturally and politically, with young artists adopting global hip-hop influences while blending them with local identity, humor, and social commentary. By th