Ortaköy

Ortaköy (literally Middle Village in Turkish) is a neighbourhood, formerly a small village, within the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, located in the middle of the European bank of the Bosphorus.

Ortaköy was a cosmopolitan area during the Ottoman era and the first decades of the Turkish Republic, with communities of Turks, Greeks, Armenians and Jews. Today the neighbourhood still hosts many different religious (Muslim, Jewish, Orthodox, and other Christian) structures. It is also a popular spot for locals and tourists alike, with its art galleries, night clubs, cafés, bars, and restaurants.

The Neo-Baroque style Ortaköy Mosque is a beautifully ornate structure, right on the jetty of Ortaköy, bordering the waters of the Bosphorus, and thus highly visible from the passing boats.

Several reputable schools, such as Kabataş Erkek Lisesi and Galatasaray University, are located in Ortaköy. The European pylon of the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the two bridges that connect the European and Asian banks of İstanbul, is also situated in this neighbourhood.

Ortaköy, Amasya

Ortaköy is a village in the District of Amasya, Amasya Province, Turkey.

References

Ortaköy, Çorum

Ortaköy is a town and district of Çorum Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey, located at 57 km from the city of Çorum. The mayor is Taner İsbir (AKP).

Archaeological sites

The oldest settlement in the area of Ortaköy is found on top of a mound, whereas the later Hittite city of Sapinuwa was laid out on the plain. This city dates to the second millennium BC.

Sapinuwa overlooks a fertile plain and was a key point on the road to Hattusa from the west. The city was an important administrative, political, military and religious center in the Hittite kingdom. The site was later used as a cemetery during the Roman period.

Excavations started in 1990 by Turkish archaeologists from Ankara university. The most important finds discovered so far are an official building with an archive of cuneiform tablets dating to the Hittite empire, and a large store house.

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