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Gedikpaşa is a neighborhood in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It runs downhill from Beyazıt Square to Kadırga and Kumkapı.
Introduction to the Neighborhood
Gedikpaşa is one of the oldest residential neighborhoods in the city, dating back to Byzantine times. It’s named after Gedik Ahmed Pasha (d. 1482), a Grand Admiral of the Ottoman Navy (Kapudan-ı Derya) and Grand Vizier under Mehmed the Conqueror.
Before the Fall of Constantinople in 1453, the neighborhood was settled by mostly Greeks. After 1453, Mehmed the Conqueror aggressively resettled Armenians from Bursa there. It continued to be a mixed Greek and Armenian quarter for almost the next 500 years.
Turks from the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia began settling there in the 1960s as the Armenians and Greeks moved out. In the 1970s, the area became a slum. Many of the buildings became dilapidated and several were even abandoned. It also changed from a mostly residential area to a mostly business area. The area was traditionally known as a shoemaking district.
Today, due to its fantastic location near touristic sites such as the Grand Bazaar and the Sultanahmet area, the neighborhood has improved and even contains a few decent budget hotels. However, if you do find yourself walking through the area, there’s very little as far as attractions or even much of cultural value.
Gedikpaşa Hamam
Walking down Gedik Pasha Street, there are only a couple of interesting buildings in the area, and one of them is the Gedikpaşa Hamam (Gedikpaşa Hamamı). It was built in 1475 by Gedik Ahmed Pasha. The architect was Mimar Hayreddin, who served as the chief architect of the Ottoman Empire under Sultan Bayezid II. The bath is open to both men and women, with separate sections for each.
Gedikpaşa Armenian Evangelical Church
Another block downhill is the Gedikpaşa Armenian Evangelical Church (Gedikpaşa Ermeni Protestan Kilisesi). It opened to worship in 1921 and apparently is one of two active Armenian Evangelical churches in the city. I couldn’t find any further information about it.
