Judas, tulip, wisteria, cherry tree, magnolia, tilia, petunia and lot more... Istanbul assumes different beauties with various flowers in all seasons as the ancient city, which hosted civilizations for centuries. Juda trees and wisterias decorate cobbled stone streets in the spring, whereas geraniums hang from the windows in the summer. TULIP’S HOMELAND When winter transforms into spring, tulip appears as one of the first things to welcome Istanbul’s visitors. Lending its name to even a period in the Ottoman Empire, Tulip travels from Istanbul to Europe in the 1500’s and the whole world gets to know this ancient city thanks to Istanbul. These merry icons bundle the city up starting in April and almost presents a visual feast to those wandering on Istanbul’s streets. BOSPHORUS’ SINE QUA NON It would not be wrong to say that the Istanbul Strait would remain incomplete without them. Similarly, judas trees are among Istanbul’s most remarkable icons with their purplish pink colors when we see a transition to summer in late April and early May. These brilliant flowers, a source of joy for those taking a walk by the Bosphorus, live their places to other flowers after a 20-day lifespan. WRAPPING BEAUTY If you sense a nice scent as you walk on Istanbul’s streets, that means you are in the wisteria season. Wisterias find spots for themselves by wrapping garden gates and windows in the ancient city in a sign of generosity whereby they present their purple flowers in May after retaining its leaves throughout the year. Shedding its flowers in mid-summer, this beautiful flower got people to say “One would come to Istanbul even to see wisteria.” CALM BEAUTY It would not be wrong to define honeysuckle as calm beauty. Honeysuckles amaze Istanbul’s visitors on the streets with their yellowish color and soothing smells. One can enjoy this beauty to the full in June as it comes out through the gates and windows of garden houses. A PEACEFUL SMELL The lime tree, the winter flower with healing properties, attracts Istanbul visitors with its fresh smell when late June and early July arrive. This peaceful, small and yellow flower surrounds Istanbul in the summer with its nice fragrant welcoming the ancient city’s visitors with its all humility. On the other hand, primroses, pansies, cyclamen, gardenia are the flowers you can see most in Istanbul in winters. BEAUTIES IN ISTANBUL There are dozens of flowers coloring Istanbul. Magnolias, geraniums, daisies, lilacs, petunias, cherry trees are just some of them. Flowering blooming in the balconies of the houses, as well as those on the streets cheerfully, welcome Istanbul’s visitors.

02 Eylül 2016 Cuma

Already hosting one of Istanbul’s most important trade centers, Eminönü district takes on a new appearance with a series of restoration activities. The restoration project covers the Spice Bazaar, New Mosque and the Grand Bazaar enabling the Historical Peninsula to reach a new vision as the intersection of trade routes. With each to be restored in different periods, the total cost of the project will amount to TL 220 million. BIGGEST IN HISTORY Visited annually by 92 million people as the world’s oldest shopping center, the Grand Bazaar will go through the biggest maintenance in its history. Starting from the roof, the restoration activities are expected to be completed in around ten years. The massive restoration will be the first comprehensive repair on the 554-year-old historical bazaar and will be launched under the auspices of Fatih Municipality. The ancient bazaar’s roof restoration will be completed within 1.5 years, and 1.5 million tiles will be used in the roof restoration process. AS OLD AS 5.5 CENTURIES Undergoing partial restoration activities in its 5.5-century history, the historical bazaar saw the proposal for comprehensive restoration project first in 2009. It took six years to get approval and take the first step. The huge restoration project will take place in three main stages; which will involve strengthening the roof, infrastructure, and bearing walls, respectively. In the first stage, nearly a 110,000-square meter area including 21 shelters will be restored. The total project is expected to cost TL 200 million. FIRST IN 71 YEARS The Spice Bazaar, one of Istanbul’s oldest markets after the Grand Bazaar, will give impetus to trade with its renewed face. Undergoing restoration in 1945 the last time, historical market will undergo restoration with its dome, interior walls, and roof. The project is expected to be completed throughout 2017. To ensure water insulation, the historical market’s roof was covered by the membrane in addition to the further covering of the wooden roof with lead. Involving hand-carved manufacturing of the cross corridor vaults; the restoration project will cost in total approximately TL 11 million. TO BE FINISHED IN 2.5 YEARS The New Mosque will also get its share from the restoration projects as the first structure to welcome visitors in the Historical Peninsula. Recorded in history as the Ottoman-era mosque with the longest construction period, the New Mosque had its most recent restoration in 1983. The mosque’s interior, roof, doors, and exterior will be renewed during the first restoration project in 33 years. The project has a total cost of TL 8.5 million and is expected to be completed in 2.5 years. SHOPPING WILL NOT BE INTERRUPTED Merchants will resume their activities in the Grand Bazaar during the largest restoration project in its history. Restoration will not take place simultaneously in every part of the old bazaar. The project will first focus on parts requiring an emergency response to be followed by gradual improvements in other parts. The roof renewal in the first stage will clear this part of cables, air conditioners, and TV antennas. A special activity will be conducted during the infrastructure restoration. A so-called “box” system will enable repairs by going underground in any case of failure without the necessity to dig open a particular area. Therefore, shopping activity will never stop in the historical bazaar and tourists will always be able to visit this place. CRACKS WILL GET FILLED Called the Egyptian Bazaar in Turkish due to its construction with taxes collected from Egypt, the 3.5-century-old Spice Bazaar witnessed the formation of cracks in the wall and roof over the years. As part of the activities, cavities in the bazaar walls were filled hydraulic lime through the injection method. The surfaces of the bazaar’s walls were cleaned with the blasting method. İnterior equipment, transformers, and air conditioning systems will also be installed in the coming days. LEAD COVER TO BE ENTIRELY RENEWED Initially called “cruelty” by people due to its long construction period, today the New Mosque serves as the entrance to Eminönü through the sea. The historical mosque’s lead cover will be renewed completely as part of the restoration works launched in March 2016. All damaged tile panels will be renewed following the damage assessment. Additionally, all paneled and kündekari doors, shutters and window frames are to be renewed, too. All imitation stone facing on the mosque’s exterior will be corroded, and it will be covered by the küfeki stone.

01 Eylül 2016 Perşembe

One of Europe’s four mega cities, Istanbul boosts its allure on a day-to-day basis as culture and shopping city with 24-hour activity. The heart of the economy beats on the shopping streets of Istanbul, which served civilizations as a capital and is among the limited number of the cities with thousands of years of history. Istanbul, who competes with global giants in terms of the presence of international brands and the number of stores, features 73 expensive shopping streets. The most valuable among them are the İstiklal, Nişantaşı, and Baghdad streets. INNS AND STORES SIDE BY SIDE İstiklal Street draws attention with a bouncing atmosphere at all hours of the day. One of Istiklal Street’s most important features is standing of international brands side by side with conveniently priced passages. There are 33 international brands on the street which hosts a total of 267 stores. Rumeli Han, Elhamra Han, Avrupe Pasajı, and Hazzopulo Pasajı ara some of the arcades in the street, which receives an average of 150,000 visitors per day. On weekends, the number of visitors to the sreet goes up to 212,000 per day. LUXURY BRANDS ARE ON THIS STREET Consisting of four main street, Nişantaşı is also one of the streets that offer an intense shopping and entertainment experience. Hosting the European side’s most luxurious brands, Nişantaşı features 395 posh stores. 70 of them are national and international luxury stores. On average 43,000 people visit the street every day. THE WORLD’S FOURTH BEST Named after Murat the 4th’s Baghdad Expediton, who used it on his way south, Baghdad Street features historic mansions and halls. Hosting 365 stores in total, the Street also features 55 luxury brands. Visited by up to 60,000 daily visitors at the weekends, the Street was chosen by a French consultancy the fourth best shopping street among the 30 world famous streets in 2012. COMBINING LUXURY AND AUTHENTICITY Istanbul’s shopping centers enjoy activity for 24 hours and their most important feature is bringing together luxury and authenticity. It is because one take joy in seeing both the world-renowned brands and street vendors on the same street. People from all walks of life can fine something for themselves on İstanbul’s streets, which function not only as shopping centers but also wellness centers - one of their most enjoyable features. There are specific places on the streets for eating, drinking, recreation, cultural and sports activities. NOT ONLY THEM BUT ALSO... Every part of Istanbul has dozens of colorful shopping streets. On Etiler Nisbetiye Street, it is possible to see world-renowned stores as well as restaurants where one can taste delicious dishes from international cuisines. The Divan Yolu Street between Sultanahmet Square and Beyazıt Square also welcomes thousands of visitors every day in an open-air museum-like setting. On the other hand, the heart of the textile beats on the Laleli Ordu Street and shopping lovers will meet with their favorite products on dozens of different streets. Osmanbey district, the gateway abroad for textile hailing from Istanbul, introduces the Turkish textile brands to thousands of visitors every day.

01 Eylül 2016 Perşembe

Istanbul Shopping Fest, Turkey’s largest tourism, shopping, and urban branding project, took place for the sixth time this year. The festival featured legendary discount days, open bazaar days, summer workshops, open-air theater joy, and music events. Istanbul has one of the world’s most long-established shopping cultures, and the festival aims to make it one of the top five shopping centers by 2023. The event lends impetus to mainly shopping centers, streets and economies of historical bazaars in Istanbul. ON THE GLOBAL AGENDA Organized in cooperation with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) and ICOC and supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and the Istanbul Governorship, the festival draws attention with its contribution to urban culture, economy, and tourism. Press members from various parts of the world crowded in Istanbul to follow ISF, which hosting many international visitors for the last five years not only for economic but also for cultural purposes. AN IMPACT ON CUSTOMER PREFERENCES ISF integrates shopping and culture for a month affecting domestic and international customer’s shopping preferences. According to a perception survey of 1,500 local and 1,500 foreign tourists aged 18-64, international customers bought 2.8 different products and services in 2012 while this figure rose to 3.5, 4.2 and 4.2 in 2013, 2014 and 2015, respectively. SPECIAL DRAWS Historical bazaars and streets cheered the guests with discount days along with the shopping centers in Istanbul, which was satisfied with shopping throughout the whole festival month. This year Akasya, Akbatı Shopping and Wellness Center, Akmerkez, İstanbul Cevahir, Forum Istanbul Shopping and Wellness Center, İstinye Park, Kanyon, Mall of Istanbul,Özdilek ParkIstanbul, Palladium Shopping Center and Zorlu Center were the venues for festival surprises while Bağdat Street, İstiklal Street, Nişantaşı, Grand Bazaar, and Spice Bazaar also amazed shopping lovers with their discount days. Those making 100-TL purchases at the festival shopping centers joining ISF also grabbed the chance to win a car through the draw. A LEGEND FOR TOURISTS DISCOUNT Istanbul Shopping Fest’s traditional ‘Legendary Discount Day’ was hosted by Mall of Istanbul. 350 stores offered thousands of brands for sale on the Legendary Discount Day from 21:00-24:00 thousands of brands put up for sale with special with very special prices and discount rates. A record 100,000 people took part in the legendary discount days. AWARE BEFORE VISITING According to the perception research, each year increasing the number of tourists hear of ISF before visiting Istanbul. The ratio of hearing about ISD “before visiting Istanbul” rose from 9.4% in 2014 to 15.4% in 2014. 57.4% of those who heard of the festival before visiting the city say that ISF constitutes the primary reason for their visit to Istanbul.

01 Eylül 2016 Perşembe

Turkish Airlines (THY), was selected as Europe’s best airline for the sixth time. And the Atatürk Airport has left behind all the European airports except London Heathrow. İlker Aycı, Board Chairman of the Turkish Airlines, said: “This award was received by the Turkish aviation industry. ” Mr. Aycı, also Executive Committee Chairman of the Turkish Airlines (THY), stated that the biggest award for him was the returning local passengers and the corresponding higher profits for the company. Pointing to the adverse effects of global, regional and local developments on the local passenger market and its ramifications on the balance sheet, Mr. Aycı said: “We balanced this 30%-decline with the transit passengers.” The Atatürk Airport has left behind all the European airports except London Heathrow. Turkish Airlines currently carries 6.500 passengers from the USA whereas the target is to raise this figure to 10.000.

31 Ağustos 2016 Çarşamba