The Bank Hotel is located in one of the oldest districts of the city which is the ‘Bankalar Caddesi’ (Street of the Banks). Let’s have a brief look at the history of ‘Bankalar Caddesi’ (Street of the Banks) in Galata district before we learn about this magnificent hotel.
Genoese Galata inside the city walls. The walls were torn down by Ottomans after the conquest.
Galata was the land of the Genoese. In fact it was a city state on its own established in 1264 around 200 years before Turks came to conquer Constantinople. History says that Genoese sided with the Ottomans against the Byzantines which in the end meant certain privileges given by Ottomans after Byzantine Empire fell.
Galata Tower which was originally the tower of Christ built by the Byzantines
There are still traces of this city state in the area as Galata Tower -built by the Byzantines in 1348 but conquered by the Genoese- is still standing, erect and dignified. One has a hard time imagining that this tower is 675 years old. There are also other traces such as the Genoese Palace and Genoese Assembly known by few locals who pass by them each day.
Genoese Palace is now under restoration. There are thousands who pass by it each day without knowing that It was once a Genoese Palace.
Genoese were tradesman, man of commerce and they turned Voyvoda Street (current Banks Street) into a commercial street. Genoese continued to thrive after Ottoman rule and the street kept its importance and finally in the 19th century, it became the commercial capital of the city with banks of all origins having their headquarters here.
The current Bank Hotel was originally built by an Italian architect called Antoine Tedeschi in 1867 and hosted a range of international and local banks such as Crédit Général Ottoman, Deutsche Bank and Sümerbank.
And now this building which was constructed as a bank is a beautiful hotel among many in the Street of the Banks (Bankalar Caddesi). It would not be an exaggeration to say that now this is a street hosting hotels rather than banks.
Banks Street in history
What I really like about this hotel is that it is a secret gem as few locals know it and only those foreign visitors who are really interested in history and heritage prefer it. The hotel has a very elegant interior with soothing colours and artistic details.
The Bank Hotel’s entrance
The Bank Hotel’s lobby bar
It hosts jazz evenings on the entrance floor hosting a range of prominent jazz musicians in Turkey. It has a newly opened roof top restaurant named Serica Restaurant driving its inspiration from the Silk Road and a rooftop terrace that has a panoramic view of the Golden Horn and the Old Town along with a spa with a traditional Turkish bath and massage treatments.
The Bank Hotel’s rooftop terrace
Penthouse Suit with a wiew
The rooms are refined with high ceilings and beautiful architectural details as well as comfortable with soothing and harmonious colours.
The Hotel still preserves the vaults of its old bank heritage which you can see in the basement.
Vaults as memories of the old banks, the building had hosted in the last century
So if you are looking for an oasis away from the chaos of the city, here is a beautiful option for you!
Visit the hotel at https://www.thebankhotelistanbul.com/tr
