Aksaray, Fatih

Aksaray (literally "White Palace" in Turkish) is a neighbourhood in the municipality and district of Fatih, Istanbul Province, Turkey. Its population is 8,541 (2022). It is so named because it was founded by migrants from Aksaray in central Turkey, brought here in the 15th century by Mehmet II to repopulate the city after its conquest. Aksaray is a mainly modern neighbourhood centred on a busy square. It was historically known as Bóos, (Latin: Forum Bovis, Greek: ὁ Bοῦς, romanized: o Bous), It has a large population of migrants from the southeast of the country and many restaurants serve the cuisine of Şanlıurfa, Diyarbakır and Hatay. More recently it has also acquired a large population of Syrian refugees who have introduced their own cuisine to the mix. There are many shops and hotels here. To the east, Aksaray borders the textile-retailing neighbourhood of Laleli while to the west, along Millet Caddesi, lies Çapa. To the south is Yenikapı and to the north Fatih. Busy Vatan Caddesi (AKA Adnan Menderes Bulvarı) runs northwest from Aksaray towards the City Walls, following the route of the lost Lycos river.