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Laleli is a neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, with a few points of interest. It’s located in the Fatih district between Beyazıt Square and Aksaray.
Laleli runs along Ordu Street (Ordu Caddesi), which is part of the historic Divan Yolu. This ancient road dates back to Roman times and led from the Hippodrome to the Golden Gate on the Theodosian Walls.
The area is popular with Russian and Eastern European tourists and is full of hotels and shops. It’s also known for its textile wholesaling businesses.
Laleli Mosque
The centerpiece of Laleli is the Laleli Mosque, which is covered in another post. The Baroque-style mosque was built in the late 18th century by Sultan Mustafa III, who’s buried in a tomb out front.
Taşhan
Just north of the mosque complex is Taşhan. It was built in 1763 by Sultan Mustafa III to shelter the Sipahi, an Ottoman calvary corps. It has also been known as Sipahiler Han, Çukurçeşme Han, and Katırcıoğlu Han.
The building has two floors and three courtyards. The façade is made of cut stone. Today, it hosts several shops. It was restored in 1993.
Tayyare Apartments
Across the street to the east of the Laleli Mosque is a large complex of four buildings, the Tayyare Apartments (Tayyare Apartmanları). They were built between 1919 and 1922 as a housing project for victims of a fire in 1918. The architect was Mimar Kemaleddin (1870-1927), and they were originally named the Apartments for Fire Victims (Harikzedegân Apartmanları).
The Tayyare Apartments sit on the site of the Laleli Mosque’s Koska Madrasa (Koska Medresesi), which was damaged in an 1894 earthquake and destroyed by fire in 1911. They were the first modern buildings constructed with reinforced concrete and the first public housing project within the walled city. They later became a residential complex until 1985, when they were renovated and turned into a five star hotel.
Bodrum Mosque
Two blocks south of the Laleli Mosque is the Bodrum Mosque (Bodrum Camii), which is covered in a separate post. It was originally built in the 10th century as the Myrelaion Church (Eκκλησία του Μυρελαίου) by Byzantine Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos (870-948).
Istanbul University Faculty of Literature
Heading east down Ordu Street towards Beyazıt Square is the Istanbul University Faculty of Literature (İstanbul Üniversitesi Edebiyat Fakültesi). It was founded in 1873 but closed before it became operational. A year later, the Faculty of Literature reopened and was reorganized a few times over the years. It has operated in its present form since August 1, 1933.
Hasan Pasha Han
Finally, across the street is the Hasan Pasha Han. It was built in 1745 by Seyyid Hasan Pasha (d. 1748), a Grand Vizier under Sultan Mahmud I. The architect was Mustafa Çelebi.
Hasan Pasha Han fell victim to road expansion in 1958. It was cut in half and the original façade was lost. Today, it hosts a popular restaurant and shops.
