The district of Kuzguncuk is after the first suspension bridge, on the Asian side. Incicyan claimed at the end of the 19th century that the name of the district comes from the Greek name Kosinitza. Evliya celebi said that the name Kuzguncuk comes from Kuzgun Baba, an important personage living in this area during the Sultan Mehmed 2nd period. They both agree that the name Kuzguncuk was given at the end of the 15th century.
The village was Jewish. At the end of the 18th century, mostly Jews were living in the area. There were also some Greek and Armenian families. The Armenian population started to increase in the 19th century. In 1914, there were 70 Muslim, 250 Greek Orthodox, 1600 Armenian and 400 Jewish families in the district. In 1992, the village's population reached 15000. There were only 25 Greek Orthodox, 17 Jewish and 6 Armenian families left. The migration to Istanbul and the difference of income changed the mosaic of the village.
The oldest settlements in Istanbul are on the Asian sides. Some of them were 10000 years old. The settlements were always established next to the water sources. The closest areas to the water source were for communal use. The houses were built on the hills around the water source, on steps. Kuzguncuk was also built like that. There was a river crossing the village. The shores of the river were for public and communal use. On both sides, on the hills houses were built. Today the river flows under the main road.
Kuzguncuk, like Ortaköy on the European side, is the proof of tolerance. In Kuzguncuk, there are two Greek Orthodox churches, three synagogues, one Armenian Church, and two mosques. There is also one Jewish cemetery. Most amazing is that the Surp Kirkor Armenian Church and the Kuzguncuk mosque are side by side. Behind the Kuzguncuk boat pier, there are two domes. The one on the left with a cross on top and the one on the right with a minaret. The church was constructed in 1835 from wood. It is the only domed Armenian Church in Istanbul. The building was rebuilt in 1861 from cut stone. The habitants of the village constructed the mosque. The Orthodox, Armenians, and Jews also contributed in the construction of the mosque.
Kuzguncuk is still keeping its original neighborhood aspect. According to Evliya celebi, Kuzguncuk was in 1625 already a Jewish neighborhood. But in 1920 there were only 20 Jewish families left in Kuzguncuk. But in 1992 they were only 20 Jewish families left in the neighborhood. Today there are only 3 Jewish homes in Kuzguncuk. The neighborhood was the first Jewish settlement on the Asian side of the city. It was accepted by the European Jews as the last stop before the Holly Land. Those who could not afford the trip to the Holly Land should at least come to Kuzguncuk. This is the reason why there is a very large cemetery in Kuzguncuk. During the course of the 18th century the Armenians started to move to Kuzguncuk. In the course of the 19th century, the Armenian community in Kuzguncuk was even bigger than the Jewish community. The Ottoman Muslims never preferred to settle in the neighborhood. In 1914 they were 70 Muslim, 250 Greek Orthodox, 1600 Armenian and 400 Jewish homes.
The Kuzguncuk Jewish congregation was dispersed to Pasabahce, Dag Hamami and Beykoz districts. As mentioned before the progress made in the public transportations allowed people to settle far from the centers. The first Jewish migration to Kuzguncuk was at the end of the 16th or at the beginning of the 17th centuries. Jewish families running away from the Galata plague settled to Kuzguncuk. After the Cibali fire in 1756, there was also a small Jewish migration to Kuzguncuk. <
The Dag Hamami district was preferred by richer families. There was in this district a school for boys and a school for girls both belonging to the Alliance Israelite foundation. Because of the migration to the modern areas like Sisli and Kadiköy, the school for boys was closed in 1893 and the school for girls was shut down in 1895. After the fire in Dag Hamami in 1925, the congregation moved to Haydarpasa. At the end of the 19th century, Pasabahce and Beykoz were the summer resort area of the rich Jewish families. There were in Pasabahce a synagogue and a school. They were both closed in 1920's. In 1957 there were 14 Jewish homes in those areas.
There are in Kuzguncuk 3 Jewish sites:
Kuzguncuk and Ortaköy, two neighborhoods each located on one continent, on different side of Istanbul, are both districts where the religions meet. In Ortaköy, in less than 100 square meters, there are 2 synagogues, a church and a mosque. In Kuzguncuk, a church and a mosque are constructed side by side.
Kuzguncuk is the last traditional neighborhood of Istanbul. A neighborhood where everybody knows everybody. When you settle in Kuzguncuk, on the first night, your neighbors will knock on your door and ask you if you need anything. Traditional Turkish district used to be like this.
