Maltepe, Istanbul

Maltepe
Maltepe
Coordinates: 40°55′30″N 29°09′06″E / 40.925°N 29.15167°E / 40.925; 29.15167Coordinates: 40°55′30″N 29°09′06″E / 40.925°N 29.15167°E / 40.925; 29.15167
Country	Turkey
Province	İstanbul
Government
- Mayor	Mustafa Zengin (CHP)
- Kaymakam	Ahmet Okur
Area
- District	53.06 km2 (20.5 sq mi)
Population (2008)[1]
- District	417,605
- District Density	7,870.4/km2 (20,384.3/sq mi)
Website	www.maltepe.bel.tr

Maltepe is a district in the suburbs of Istanbul, Turkey between Kadıköy and Kartal on the Marmara sea. Its neighbours are Kadıköy to the west and Kartal to the east. The mayor of Maltepe is Mustafa Zengin (CHP). Maltepe used to border Ümraniye from the northwest between 1992 and 2004. However, the Yeni Çamlıca quarter changed to Ümraniye in 1994 and the Ferhatpaşa quarter passed to Samandıra where bounded to Kartal district in 2004. Ferhatpaşa's secession led to ending of neighbourhood between Maltepe and Ümraniye.

History

In Byzantine times, the area was known as Bryas (Greek: Βρύας), In 837, the emperor Theophilos (r. 829–842) erected here a palace in Arab style, inspired by the palaces of the Abbasids in Baghdad. A ruin in nearby Küçükyalı has been identified with it.^[2]

This coast has been a retreat from the city since Byzantine and Ottoman times, and right up until the 1970s was a rural area peppered with summer homes for wealthy Istanbul residents. Being on the suburban railway line Maltepe was a favourite spot for day-trippers or weekenders to visit the beach and many summer houses were built there. Many of these houses remain but Maltepe is no longer a beach retreat: the Marmara sea is no longer clean enough to swim in, although the sea-front is still pleasant to sit, drink tea and enjoy the views of the Princes Islands.

Maltepe today

The population grew rapidly from the 70's onwards when, following the building of the Bosphorus Bridge, it became possible to commute from here to the city. Buses along the E5 highway to the bridge, and minibuses to the ferry docks at Kadıköy now carry lower-middle class commuters (the wealthier preferring to live in smarter areas nearer the city, in Kadıköy itself). These people live either in quiet tree-lined streets of four- to six-storey apartment building with gardens around them, or in modern housing complexes with tennis-courts, children's playgrounds and security guards on the gate.

Being generally cheaper than Kadıköy, Maltepe is popular with young-families and newlyweds. During the earthquake of 1999 Maltepe suffered badly and many tall apartment blocks needed structural repair, some still bear the cracks of structural damage, something which reduced the price of property in Maltepe considerably. Over the past two years however, prices have risen again despite warnings that Maltepe is always under threat from earthquakes in the future.

The E5 highway cuts through Maltepe and north of the highway is the poorer area of Başıbüyük, a tree-covered hill with a hospital on it (formerly Istanbul's tuberculosis isolation hospital) and also a large cemetery. But it does have a great view of the coastline and the islands. A large proportion of the residents are from the Black Sea coast and there are some excellent bakeries and Akçaabat kofte restaurants (traditional to that area of Turkey).

Maltepe is also home to one of the largest Mosques in Istanbul. Recently built and the cause of much criticism (due to the cost) by the Islamist leaning municipality.^{[citation needed]} Below the Mosque there is a bookshop and supermarket.

The Mosque has been built according to the traditional standard shape of a Turkish Mosque (rounded shape with 4 minarets) but internally it is particularly impressive with a tall high dome, a large gallery and balcony where women may pray (which many do 5 times a day, it is now becoming more and more common to find women attending the Mosque to pray particularly on Fridays but more and more for all of the five daily prayers especially amongst the young) The galleries have carved wood frames and there are several large tiled mosacs around the Mosque of various sights of importance to Islam and Muslims (for example the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The Mosque has become something of a central point for Maltepe as it both can be seen from a considerable distance and is a central stop for buses and minibuses taking commuters from Kadikoy to the outskirts of the city.

Maltepe was in the past also famous for its coastline and it does command an excellent view of the Princes' Islands. Nearer to the sea can be found almost a 'village' within the city where there are many small winding streets and quaint old houses generally referred to as 'old Maltepe.' Here there are also several bars and restaurants.

Amenities

Maltepe is not unpleasant to live in, just a little far from the city. There is a busy shopping district and some big supermarkets with Burger Kings, branches of ToysRUs and all the other modern amenities. Maltepe has cinemas, fast-food places, and some good kebab houses. And there is the sea shore, where there are nice cafes and some bars and cafes with live music similar (but on a much smaller scale) to those found in Kadıköy or in Taksim (on the European side of the city). The public transport is mainly for commuters and doesn't run into the night for party-goers though mini buses or 'dolmuses do run late into the night, often until at least 3am depending on your destination. Recently a large new mosque has been constructed in the centre of Maltepe(built on 1992), the main distinctive landmark.

Politics

Politically the area has always been a stronghold of the center right ANAP party but following the chaotic and corrupt performance of both left and right in Turkey in the 90's people have switched their vote to the Islamic-leaning AKP swept to power here. But as a result of 2009 municipal election this situation has changed and CHP was elected.

References

1. ^ Türkisches Institut für Statistik, abgerufen 17. November 2009
2. ^ Mango, Cyril (1991). Kazhdan, Alexander. ed. Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6. 

External links

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