Taksim square

Considered the heart of modern Istanbul, Taksim Square (Taksim Meydani) is located on the European side of the city in a major shopping, tourist and entertainment district known for its restaurants, shops and hotels.

Taksim square
TaksimTaksim Square, Istiklal Caddesi
Istiklal Caddesi, Independence Avenue
Due to the great importance of the square in the city, is a favorite for holding public events and social celebrations, but is also known as the starting point of different political demonstrations that repeatedly ended violently.

Taksim past
The name of the square, Taksim means "distribution" in Turkish, and was given because it was the place where the water supply of the city was centralized from 1732 to the early twentieth century the place consisted extreme north of the city but with the expansion of this became the heart of the new Istanbul.

Currently Taksim
Taksim Square is full of bars, restaurants and some of the most luxurious hotels in the city. In the square stands the Monument to retain Waterboy and the Monument to the Republic.

In the square there is one of the main shopping streets of the city, Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a pleasant pedestrian street that can be traveled using the nostalgic tram, which goes to the Tünel funicular station.