Casa Garibaldi theatre hall
There was an influx of Italians to İstanbul in 1860s. These were the architects, artists and the artisans who were here to lend a hand to the modernisation of the Ottoman Empire.
The growing community of Italians formed their Union of Workers and finally had a building of their own in 1884. They dedicated the name of their building to Garibaldi who was a general and a revolutionary who led to the unification of Italy. He was also the leader who formed the Union in Istanbul. The building was the meeting point of Italian artists and artisans in Istanbul and had a beautiful theatre hall. One of its famous members was Alexandre Vallaury who was also the architect of the building.
Gıuseppe Garibaldi lived in Istanbul from 1828 to 1831 and this is a plate showing his perpetual memory in the city. This plate is preserved in Casa Garibaldi in Istanbul
Giuseppe Garibaldi’s sculpture in Casa Garibaldi
Casa Garibaldi theatre hall after restoration
Italians started to leave the city in huge numbers after Ottomans started fighting against the Italians in Tripoli in 1911-12. My grandfather Ali Fehmi Doğrusöz who was an Ottoman soldier was one of the generals fighting against the Italians in his home land of Tripoli. Casa Garibaldi lost its people after Italians left İstanbul and the building declined into dire conditions within the following century.
Casa Garibaldi stair case after restoration
The building has been restored recently by TÜRSAB (Turkish Travel Agencies Association). Restoration shows that the building is resting upon a Roman cemetery. Casa Garibaldi is with us with full force after a pain staking restoration that lasted 6 years and costed millions of dollars.
Casa Garibaldi is currently hosting plays by State Theatre so if you ever get curious about the trace of Italians in Istanbul, pay a visit to this beautiful building during an exhibition at the Istanbul Biennale or a play by Turkish State Theatre!
The writing on top of the theatre stage: ‘Whoever loves his country,
let him honour it with his work’
