Yedikule (English: Seven Towers) is a neighborhood of Fatih, Istanbul in Turkey. It is named after the seven-towered Yedikule Fortress, which surrounds the neighborhood. Urbanized in the 16th century, the neighborhood became a hub for industrial and agricultural activities. Yedikule has a local football team Yedikule GSK [tr] that played in the TFF Second League for a season.[1]

Yedikule
Neighbourhood
Aerial photograph of Yedikule Fortress (lower half of the image) and Fatih
Yedikule Location of Yedikule in Istanbul
Coordinates: 40.9933525°N 28.923093°E / 40.9933525; 28.923093
Country	Turkey
Province	Istanbul
District	Fatih
Time zone	GMT +2
Area code	(+90) 212

Marmaray passes through the neighbourhood, however Yedikule railway station is closed and the trains do not serve to the neighbourhood.

History

Urbanization of Yedikule started in 16th century, and became a major hub for industrial and agricultural activities.[2] Yedikule Walls (also known as Theodosius Walls) are also an notable historical artifact. Its tower, Yedikule Fortress, constructed between 408-450 AD, and repaired after 740 Istanbul earthquake.[3]

Ottoman period

Yedikule was known with its gardens, Yedikule Urban Gardens, which was also famous with its cabbages and lettuces and used more than 1500 years.[4] According to the guarantor books of year 1735, there were 344 gardens (including nine gardens which is established between "Surdibi" area, which stretch between Yedikule Gate and Silivri Gate); according to a map from 1835, there were 102 gardens.[4]

Yedikule (with Edirnekapı) was also became host for some establishments like slaughterhouses, soap and candle makers, and workshops.[2]

Modern times

Yedikule became highly populated after the population boom in Istanbul between 1940s-1980s; and as a result of that, the Urban Gardens and industrial areas became residential areas and some parts of Urban Gardens used for build Otoyol 1 and create waste-filling areas in 1970s. The municipality of İstanbul started a rehabilitation project for remaining parts of Urban Gardens.[5] Ekrem İmamoğlu, as the Mayor of Istanbul, stated that: "I'm ashamed from that the walls (Yedikule Walls) hasn't been toured since years."[6]

Soil and seismology

A major seismically active fault zone, the North Anatolian Fault, passes offshore from Yedikule in the Sea of Marmara.[7]

Demographics

Yedikule was including a notable non-Muslim population and schools until the recent times. There is also Greek and Armenian churches and an Armenian hospital, Yedikule Surp Pıgiç Hospital.[8] Its population is 18,879 according to 2019 census.[9]

In popular culture

Kazım Koyuncu gave a concert in Yedikule Fortress in 2004.[10] Yedikule also hosted thematic festivals such as Lettuce Feast (Turkish: Marul Bayramı) in the past.[5]

Gallery

• 
  The Yedikule Fortress ("Fortress of the Seven Towers") and the Golden Gate in Istanbul by Fr. Scarella c. 1685
• 
  Yedikule from the Marmara Sea, late 19th century
• 
  The Fortress in 2008

References