Sulukule

Sulukule
Quarter
Sulukule district
Sulukule district
Sulukule is located in Istanbul Fatih
Sulukule
Sulukule
Coordinates: 41°01′35″N 28°56′02″E / 41.02639°N 28.93389°E / 41.02639; 28.93389
Country Turkey
RegionMarmara
ProvinceIstanbul
DistrictFatih
Established15th century
Time zoneUTC+3 (TRT)
Postal code
34091, 34093, 34097
Area code0212

Sulukule (literally: "Water tower") is a historic quarter in the Fatih district of Istanbul, Turkey. It is within the area of Istanbul’s historic peninsula, adjacent to the western part of the city walls. The area has historically been occupied by Romani communities. Roma presence in this part of Istanbul dates back to Byzantine times, when upon Ottoman conquest in the 15th century, that the quarter became (reportedly) the first district in the world permanently settled by sedentary Romani people in Turkey.[1]

Sulukule was notable for its entertainment houses, where the Romani performed music and dance to the visitors from in and outside Istanbul. The closure of these entertainment houses in 1992 precipitated serious socio-economic decline in the area.

  1. ^ "İSTANBUL ÇİNGENELERİ" (in Turkish).