Antiques Festival to Begin on Taksim Square Still Under Construction

Click to read the article in Turkish

Beyoğlu Municipality has organized the Antiques Festival which will take place between September 28 and October 25 on Taksim Square.

As we all know, Beyoğlu district has been experiencing difficult days for a long time due to the explosions and the coup attempt on July 15. Offices can barely afford the rents and shops are being closed one by one. Besides, the construction on Taksim Square, which is one of İstanbul's most important squares, has not even been completed yet, which makes it difficult to walk around the square.

The Antiques Festival is the first leg of the 50-day festival series launched to bring life to Beyoğlu district again.

Antique dealers, second hand booksellers, designers, handicraft artists and scholars will attend the event which launched for the first time on Taksim Square this year (2016).

63 antique dealers, 90 second hand booksellers, 50 designers and 70 handicraft artists are expected to participate in the festival.

Convoy of classical cars

The festival has begun with a convoy of classical cars on Tunnel Square.

Festivals will continue for 50 days

Besides the Antiques Festival, also various other festivals will be organized in the district. Some of these will be the Beyoğlu Film Festival (October 3-10), Altın Eller (Golden Hands) Traditional Handicrafts Festival (October 7-16) Design and Crafts Festival (October 18-23) and Beyoğlu Second-hand Books Festival (October 24-November 6).

The closing festival of the festival series will be the Curious Minds Science Carnival which will be held between November 9-12. (NV/DG)

* Photographs and video: Nadire Mater