Ortaköy
![The sun reflecting off the Esma Sultana Mansion (1875) in Ortaköy near the Bosphorus Bridge. The Ottoman era yalı, which was presented to Sultana Esma as a wedding gift by her father Sultan Abdülaziz, was largely damaged by a fire in 1975. It was renovated in the 1990s by The Marmara Hotels and opened in 2001 as a multipurpose event venue. The exterior appearance of the burnt historic building was untouched, creating an interesting contrast with its modern interior.[1]](/uploads/202501/31/Ortakoy_Sunset3831.jpg)
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.