(Coast of Fener)

As Fener (Phanarion), is built up on one of seven hills of Istanbul it has steep sloppy streets. During Byzantine period the place was called Petrion (rock) which was inhabited by Rum families.

The patriarchate was moved to its current location in 1600 causing another reason for the Rum people to settle around that region.

(A street in Balat)

(Armenian School)

Rums have built stone houses and mansions. They have sent their children to Europe for the language studies. The Rum children that can speak more than one foreign language, was took duties in bureaucracy as translators. After the Greek Invasion in 1821 the improvement of Fener stopped.

Later Rum families have abandoned the district and Anatolian people migrating to Istanbul from other  cities of Turkey started to live in those houses.

(A street in Balat)

(Row Houses Fener)

Balat, one of the oldest settlements in Istanbul is located at the south coast of Golden Horn between Fener and Aynavsaray.  Having an important demographic location in the Historical Peninsula, starting from Byzantine period till today Balat, with its cosmopolitan culture has an important role.

All through out history Jewish people especially the Spanish Jews called "Sefaradim" have inhabited the region. Other then Jews, Armenians and Turks have also inhabited in this region. Cultural and religional traces of those 4 different groups is similar to Byzantine, Ottoman and Republic period. Especially in Balat Orthodox Rum churches, Ayazma' s and school can be found.

(Bulgarian Church)

(Ruins of old houses)

Today this historical district is inhabited by Turks mostly and it is hard to see Non-Muslim people. The 3 storey row houses with projections that Armenian's, Rum's and Jew's used to live are owned by poor Turkish people. The old houses still remain but need restoration.

(Cukurcuma)

(Fener)

(Fener)

(Fener)

(A passage)

(Podestatgenois)

(Fener)

(Fener)