Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı), situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major shopping, tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops and hotels.
Taksim Square, it is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network, on a normal day, Taksim Square is a mess of buses and crowds, a tangle of plazas, streets, shops and taxi horns.Istanbul Taksim Square is also the location of the Monument of the Republic (Cumhuriyet Anıtı) which was crafted by Pietro Canonica and inaugurated in 1928. The monument commemorates the 5th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, following the Turkish War of Independence.
History
The word Taksim means “division” or “distribution“. The Taksim square was originally the point where the main water lines from the north of Istanbul were collected and branched off to other parts of the city. This use for the area was established by Sultan Mahmud I. The square takes its name from the Ottoman era stone reservoir which is located in this area. Additionally, the word “Taksim” can refer to a special improvisational musical form in Turkish classical music that is guided by the Makam system. Another significant building that once stood on the square was the 19th century Taksim Artillery Barracks (Taksim Topçu Kışlası, which later became the Taksim Stadium), but it was demolished in 1940 during the construction works of the Taksim Gezi Parkı.
Today
Taksim is a main transportation hub and a popular destination for both tourists and the native population of Istanbul. Istiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a long pedestrian shopping street, ends at this square, and a nostalgic tram runs from the square along the avenue, ending near the Tunnel (1875) which is the world’s second-oldest subway line after London’s Underground (1863). Surrounding Taksim Square are numerous travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, pubs, and international fast food chains such as Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King. It is also home to some of Istanbul’s grandest hotels including the InterContinental, the Ritz-Carlton, Hilton and The Marmara Hotel.
Taksim is also a favourite location for public events such as parades, New Year celebrations, or other social gatherings.
Taksim Square, Istanbul
Taksim by itself as a word, means to distribute, and this is true, because the location is central, so you can find transportation to everywhere.
The taksim square is good and the statues is nice, also eat some shawarmas and taouk in the surrounding barbecue rests, they are very generous and they have cheap prices.
You must visit this area no matter what. If you return to your home country without visiting Taksim Square, do not tell your friends you have been in Istanbul ever.
Taksim square is well known for scamming, so do not accept any invitation, from anyone, by any mean, to anywhere!
I thought this was a must see since I've seen so many things about it on TV. The protests were peaceful and only at night did the police decide to use force against the peaceful protestors. There are tons of shops, Starbucks, and great little places to eat.
There's no evidence of the mass protests that took place in early June – that is, if you ignore the policemen who seem to be on every corner and the police buses idling nearby. There's really not much to see apart from the Monument of the Republic. The adjacent Gezi Park does provide some shade on a hot day.
We have visited and lived this majestic square during a particular time, in fact we were there during the protests that are going on now. taksim square is huge and when we visited it very crowded of students and proteters. it can frak u out when u see so many people angry screaming.
Taksim Square is a must visit place when in Istanbul. Recent political events have made it even more famous. Nice restaurants, lots of shops, fast food places and great turkish desert and tea places. one can easily spend whole day walking around the square.