In fact, the narrow streets that wind around the tower are home to plenty of shopping places frequented by both locals and foreign visitors. The most significant signs of the restoration going on here are the buildings being renovated, the increase in the number of stores and the cafeterias popping up like mushrooms. When this transformation is complete, it seems that Galata will be getting much of its energy simply from the crowds of visitors coming to see it. Of course, this is all a projection of what is really Turkey's first city transformation and restoration model. The project, which was implemented six years ago by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality, is aimed at bringing back the original excitement and human traffic flow that once marked the Galata district. Part of this project was the reopening of all the byways from Galata to İstiklal Caddesi, turning the area into a large pedestrian center. After seeing in person what stage this transformation is currently in, I can definitely say that things appear to be progressing slowly in and around Galata. But, though the progress is currently moving at a turtle's pace, it is still great for the local merchants and residents, who are smiling as a result of the transformation. Interestingly, from the perspective of restaurants and cafes, things do seem to be happening here. You get a sense of this when you wander the backstreets around Galata and see all the signs, many of them foreign, advertising different places to sit down and get something to eat or drink: ParisTexas, Galata House, Mavra, Otantik Cafe, Autoban Galery, Adem & Havva, Caffe & Privatto, Art-Ena, SodaPop and Lâl. It almost appears as though the Galata backstreets will soon take on the real flavor a chic district like Nişantaşı. In fact, more and more well-known figures from Turkish culture are making Galata their home these days; people such as journalist Yazgülü Aldoğan, writer Oral Çalışlar, poet Haydar Ergülen, caricaturist Salih Memecan, Behiç Ak, Neyyire Özkan, Necdet Açan, Ahsen Erdoğan, painter İsmail Acar, photographer Arif Aşçı, singer Teoman and director Ferzan Özpetek. Stores belonging to fashion designer Bahar Korçan and musician Okay Temiz are also located in Galata.
The Galata Konuk Cafe, which opened in one of the back streets near the Galata Tower two years ago, is a four-story establishment that now has a regular cast of customers. It is a bakery in which you can take in incredible views of İstanbul while sipping your tea and eating a delicious bite of one of the cafe's sweet treats. Owner Erhan Akı says the cafe was turned into its current form after seven years of work on the building, which used to be his family's home. Akı is very pleased with the restoration work going on in Galata, despite its relatively slow pace.
Architectural changes
Another person who has witnessed the changes going on in Galata is architect Mete Göktuğ, who bought the former British Police Station and turned it into the Galata House, which now serves Georgian cuisine. Göktuğ has transformed this building, which he bought in 1990, into an incredibly chic place to eat and he notes that, along with some of his architect friends, he helped form the Galata Foundation, which aims to speed up the restoration of the area's social fabric. "While physical restoration can always happen, it is social restoration that needs to be done. Through the Galata Foundation, we wanted to see people get to know their neighborhood."
Göktuğ stresses the importance of the History and Documentation Center opened up by Garanti Bankası for helping the social restoration process, noting that the Beyoğlu Municipality has also worked carefully and in accordance with local resident's requests during the restoration process. He is also pleased with the changes being made, though he agrees they are moving quite slowly. Yes, there are real transformations taking place in Galata, ones that look set to place this district on the same level as Nişantaşı when it comes to pleasant locales in which to spend the day. And maybe we will even see a real return of the buzz that used to define Galata.
