Nişantaşı

Nişantaşı is a quarter of the Şişli district on the European side of Istanbul, Turkey. It comprises neighbourhoods of Osmanbey, Teşvikiye, Maçka and Pangaltı.

Osmanbey is the heart of Nişantaşı and one the most exclusive shopping and residential districts in Istanbul. Within Osmanbey area, Rumeli Street (Caddesi) is considered to the most exclusive street, equivalent of London's King's Street. Rumeli Caddesi include luxury brand stores, popular European-style cafés, pubs, restaurants and night clubs. One of Rumeli Caddesi's side street, Abdi İpekçi Street, It is considered as Turkey's most expensive shopping street.

History

Nişantaşı was settled by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid I in the middle of the 19th century. He erected two obelisks to define the beginning point and the ending point of the quarter. He ordered the construction of the Neo-Classical style Teşvikiye Police Station and the Neo-Baroque style Teşvikiye Mosque for a proper district, encouraging the citizens of Istanbul to settle here (hence the name Teşvikiye which means Encouragement in Ottoman Turkish).