Golden Horn

Brimming with holiday spirit, Istanbul's iconic Fener Greek Orthodox Secondary School and High School, one of the city's oldest educational institutions, has opened its doors to the public, delighting visitors with its vibrant and captivating New Year's bazaar.

A divine liturgy for St. Andrew, the founder of the Orthodox Church, was celebrated on Nov. 30 at the Fener Greek Patriate in Istanbul.

Held at the historic Aya Yorgi Patriarchal Church in the Fatih district, the service featured scripture readings, hymns and congregants lighting candles in prayer.

As part of its 30th-anniversary celebrations, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum presents an exhibition titled "Horsepower," featuring the chronological evolution of passenger vehicles.

Authorities are actively working to transform Istanbul's historic Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa train stations into hubs of art and culture, with renovations expected to be completed by 2026, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy has announced.

Nestled atop the fifth hill of Istanbul, the historic Great School of the Nation and Patriarchal Academy of Constantinople has drawn visitors for centuries, its imposing facade an enduring marvel of neoclassical architecture.

The second edition of the Tour of Istanbul, a bicycle race organization held by Istanbul Municipality's Spor Istanbul initiative, has kicked off in Istanbul on Sept. 12 and will commence until Sept. 15.

Participating athletes started their four-day journey from a public garden in Çatalca at 10:30 a.m.

Restoration works on 100 historic wooden buildings have concluded in Fatih, a district that boasts one-third of Istanbul's cultural assets, marking an important milestone in preserving the rich architectural heritage and historical charm of the area.

Fatih Municipality, which has registered more than 6,000 civil architectural structures in the area, is leading the significant effort.

The "Tersane Istanbul" project, aimed at revitalizing the historic Golden Horn Shipyard — a 1.8-kilometer stretch of coastline that has been closed to the public for nearly 150 years — is approaching its final stages and is set to transform the shipping dock into a major tourism destination.

Istanbul Municipality's subsidiary, City Lines, is planning to introduce mini ferries designed to accommodate a limited number of passengers into public service starting July 15.

Renowned for his photography and documentary films on Istanbul's urban transformation, Timurtaş Onan dedicates his latest book to the inns and inhabitants of the Historical Peninsula and Sirkeci.