Göztepe, Kadıköy


Göztepe is a neighborhood in Kadiköy district of Istanbul, Turkey. The name, literally meaning "eye hill" in English, was coined to honor Gözcü Baba, the nickname of the watchman of a dervish lodge situated on a hill there.
The neighborhood on the Asian part of Istanbul is bordered in the south by Sahilyolu and the Sea of Marmara, in the north by Merdivenköy, in the east by Erenköy and in the west by Çiftehavuzlar neighborhoods.
The notable high street of the Asian part of Istanbul, the Baghdad Avenue, runs through Göztepe. The city park of Göztepe is the largest green area along Baghdad Avenue covering.

History

The neighborhood developed in the late Ottoman times during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II as a residence area for high court officials. In the western part of the area, wealthy Levantines and other non-Muslims settled. Wooden mansions within lavish gardens were built in Göztepe and around. At the suburb, there were also farms and dairies, which supplied the court with their products as well.
Göztepe railway station is the fourth stop from Haydarpaşa Terminal on the commuter line of Haydarpaşa-Gebze. Its opening followed the establishment of the Baghdad Railway, and contributed to further settlement in the area.
In the first half of the 20th century, the area was populated as a summer resort mostly. While many of the historic wooden mansions made place for modern buildings following fires, a small number of them still exist.
After the construction of the highway passing through north of Göztepe, the neighborhood grew into that direction in the meadows.

Education

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