Sogukcesme Street is located in Fatih, district of Istanbul and neighborhood of the Sultanahmet. It means, the cold fountain in English.
Surrogated by famous Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Museum and Gulhane Park, the little sweet cobblestone pavement street creates a dreamy atmosphere with its structures just like an environment in fairy tales. When you step into that street, with the influence of neighborhood, you feel as if you are located in the world of Hobbits in the Lord of the Rings. Because it displays us the virgin land due to its silence and a restful view.
Within that street there are also situated a few historic homes (2 or 3 storied Ottoman buildings) furnished with the breathtaking beauty of flowers and their refreshing smell. Also, there is no traffic and no noise which reminds the people ancient period. Except for those Ottoman houses reflecting 19th century with Ottoman carpets, mirrors and household garnitures, it contains the Roman cistern;
Now used as a funny tavern, the Roman cistern and all of houses on the fabulous street was repaired in conventional 19th century Turkish architectural model. Another important features of that street, it enables the people who want to search to find many kinds of unique books, thousands of which defines the city of Istanbul along various historical times.
Actually, once upon a time, especially in Ottoman period, there were many personals of the Topkapi Palace lived here. For example; the sixth president of Turkey, Fahri Sabit Koruturk was born that place because his father worked in the palace.
When it is looked at the other famous people like Fahri Sabit Koruturk, Sogukcesme Street hosted many well famed people such as Roman Polanski(great director of Death and the Maiden and Pompeii), Sam Neill (an actor), Hilary Swank (an American actress), Ursula Anders (an actress well known as Bond girl in James Bond movies), the prince of Greece and the queen of Spain.
