La Grand Rue de Pera

La Grande Rue de Pera, today called Istiklal Avenue, is the central axis of Pera, a neighborhood located on the northern shores of the Golden Horn outside the walled city of Galata. Pera was inhabited by a mostly European community and its development was greatly inspired by a desire to emulate a European urban lifestyle. The architecture of its buildings followed western styles based on neo-classical revivalism and instead of timber, the material most commonly used in Ottoman structures, its buildings were made of stone and brick.  La Grande Rue de Pera contained a wide variety of shops where the European and Ottoman elite could purchase luxury western products from clothing to pastries. In addition, the avenue also offered entertainment experiences that emulated a European lifestyle through its westernized cafes, restaurants, and cafe-chantant. This image captures the European architectural quality of La Grande Rue de Pera and also its lively character by showing it filled with elegantly dressed people strolling along the avenue which displays different shops and department storefronts.