Encircled by neighborhoods such as Fener, Balat, and Sütlüce—longstanding centers of cultural diversity—the Golden Horn, with its proximity to the Historic Peninsula and its advantages as a natural waterway, has shaped the city’s social and economic fabric. Its geographical position made it a focal point of cultural and social life, with roots stretching back to antiquity. Throughout history, as a meeting place of trade, culture, and geography, the Golden Horn has been one of the world’s oldest and most enduring urban settlements. The Haliç Shipyard, in particular, stood for centuries at the very heart of production and daily life.<img src="https://images.aposto.com/2025/7/2/1756216613768.jpeg" style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" ratio="0.67" width="550" fr-original-style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Wrapped in myth and legend, the Golden Horn was sometimes remembered for treasures hidden within its horn-shaped waters, sometimes for the massive chain that once guarded the Byzantine walls. It captivated the imagination of many—most notably the French novelist Pierre Loti, who left his name to the hilltop from which he so admired its panorama.As a natural harbor, the Golden Horn began to flourish during the Byzantine era with the establishment of a shipyard system, where workshops for shipbuilding and repair emerged. Under the Ottomans, by order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the Haliç Shipyard was expanded into a hub not only for shipbuilding but also for craftsmanship and maritime culture, securing its place as one of the empire’s critical centers. By the 19th century, with its coffeehouses, piers, and gathering spaces, it had become a lively social axis, bringing together diverse faiths, lifestyles, and cultures in surrounding districts such as Fener and Balat.<img src="https://images.aposto.com/2025/7/2/1756216649323.jpeg" style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" ratio="1.32" width="550" fr-original-style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">Rowing in this period emerged not merely as a sport but as a spectacle and practice of sociability. In fact, the tradition of rowing in the Golden Horn dates back even further, to the 16th century. One of the earliest recorded regattas took place in 1579 at Sarayburnu during the reign of Sultan Murad III, with 25 boats competing. Later, in the 19th century, Sultan Abdülaziz—renowned for his passion for the sea—lent his patronage to regular rowing races held on the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. Under his reign, these competitions evolved from simple athletic pursuits into cultural events, bridging courtly traditions with the wider public.Today, the Golden Horn continues to shape the dynamic life of Istanbul.&nbsp;Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup, set against the iconic backdrop of the Golden Horn, goes far beyond a sporting event—it offers an opportunity to rediscover the district, strengthening Istanbul’s connection with water sports and fostering new communities. This emerging culture of clubs and collectives feels both fresh and deeply familiar.<img src="https://images.aposto.com/2025/7/2/1756216667958.jpeg" style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" ratio="0.61" width="550" fr-original-style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">The Istanbul iteration of the regatta—Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup—is not only a competition but also a cultural gathering, reflecting the spirit of the city. The event is accompanied by the “Riviera Chic” dress code, evoking the elegance of Mediterranean leisure culture, here reinterpreted through Istanbul’s own cosmopolitan identity. Lightweight fabrics, white linens, and natural tones create an urban aesthetic that harmonizes with the city’s relationship to the water.<img src="https://images.aposto.com/2025/7/2/1756216693731.png" style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px; border-style: none; position: relative; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box;" ratio="0.80" width="550" fr-original-style="display: block; float: none; vertical-align: top; margin: 5px auto; text-align: center; width: 100%; max-width: 550px;" fr-original-class="fr-draggable">In this way, the Golden Horn is revitalized once again through rowing—becoming a multi-layered stage where gastronomy, music, art, and fashion converge. This revival carries forward a cultural dialogue between past and present, creating a new festival atmosphere for the city.To truly perceive and experience a city means listening to the stories it whispers. Inspired by these stories, in multi-layered metropolises like Istanbul, new routines and practices emerge—bridging the past with the future. In the Golden Horn, this bond is sustained through water sports, rowing, and cultural plurality, ensuring that its rich heritage continues to be lived today.On September 6–7, this unique celebration will be accompanied by world-renowned pianist Fazıl Say and the Golden Horn Orchestra, performing under the moonlight of Istanbul. With its “Riviera Chic” dress code, the Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup will unite the city with sport, music, and culture in an unforgettable encounter.

Soli

The Golden Horn (Haliç), one of Istanbul’s symbolic districts, will come alive once again on September 6–7 with the revival of its traditional rowing races. Once regarded as a bustling center of trade, this vibrant harbor—renowned for its breathtaking views—reintroduces us to the “Golden Horn” through the Tersane Istanbul Rowing Cup.

A journey through time: The Golden Horn 

'Pera is not a district of Beyoğlu in its current bureaucratic definition.'

'Being from Pera is so much about nostalgia'

Briefly from the cityM4 Kadıköy - Tavşantepe Line Sabiha Gökçen extension is in service. The line operated by Metro Istanbul, a subsidiary of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB), became the most extended subway in Istanbul with 23 stations and a length of 33.5 kilometres.&nbsp;7 new sea line services are coming to the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn. It aims to extend maritime transport throughout the city with the new services to be parallel to the shore and between the 2 continents and to offer environmentally friendly, fast, and comfortable journeys.<ul fr-original-style="padding-inline-start: 20px;" style="padding-inline-start: 20px; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; list-style-position: inside; box-sizing: border-box;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: border-box;">New lines: Kadıköy-Kasımpaşa-Fener-Sütlüce-Eyüp, Avcılar-Bakırköy-Kadıköy, Avcılar-Bostancı, Maltepe-Büyükada-Heybeliada-Burgazada-Kınalıada, Çengelköy-Kabataş, Beşiktaş-Kabataş-Karaköy-Kasımpaşa-Sütlüce-Eyüp and Bostancı-Caddebostan-Moda-Kadıköy-Kabataş.</li></ul>

Aposto Istanbul

        

"Being from Pera is as much about nostalgia, respect, and sadness for the past as it is about a great joy of living in the present and an incorrigible optimism for the future."

Golden Horn ile ilgili hikayeler