Travel Photography | Eyup | Istanbul Turkey

© 2012 Wazari Wazir | Ferry Terminal Eyup | Istanbul Turkey

© 2012 Wazari Wazir | People Line Up To Get Into Ferry From Eyup Ferry Terminal | Eyup Istanbul Turkey

© 2012 Wazari Wazir | Eyup Sultan Camii | Eyup Mosque | Eyup | Istanbul Turkey

Eyüp  is a municipality (belediye) and district of the city of Istanbul, Turkey. The district extends from the Golden Horn all the way to the shore of the Black Sea. Eyüp is also the name of a prominent neighborhood and former village in the district, located at the confluence of the Kağıthane and Alibey streams at the head of the Golden Horn. The Eyüp neighborhood is a historically important area, especially for Turkey’s Muslims.

The name Eyüp comes from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, the companion and standard bearer of the Prophet Muhammad. Abu Ayyub came to Constantinople with the Arab army during the first attempted Muslim conquest of the city, died, and as his last request was buried there. Seven centuries later, during the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople, the tomb was said to have been re-discovered by Ak Şemsettin, the spiritual mentor of Mehmed II.

After the city was taken, Sultan Mehmet ordered a tomb (türbe) constructed over Abu Ayyub’s resting place and a mosque, the Eyüp Sultan Mosque, constructed in his honor. The first major mosque to be built in Istanbul, it was surrounded by a traditional complex including a bath, school, and kitchen. From that point on, Eyüp became a sacred place.

Relics were displayed in the tomb, including a stone said to bear the footprint of the Prophet Muhammad. More mosques, schools, tekkes, and fountains were built, and since many Ottoman officials wished to be buried near Abu Ayyub’s resting place, the cemetery became one of Istanbul’s most desirable. At the height of the Ottoman Empire, Eyüp was one of the most recognized urban areas outside the city walls.

The best way to reach Eyup is to take Golden Horn ferry (Halıç Hattı) from Eminönü Ferry Terminal to Eyüp, about half an hour will get you there and from Eyup Ferry Terminal, you can walk to Eyup Mosque in less than ten minutes, it was very close actually, just cross the street from the ferry terminal and you will be able to see the Eyup Mosque minaret.