Opened in 1844 by Levantine Catholic brothers Michel and Joseph Naum, the Naum Theatre was a premier venue for Italian opera in Istanbul. Situated on İstiklal Avenue (then known as Grand Rue de Péra), it hosted performances of works by composers like Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi. The theatre was frequented by Ottoman sultans Abdülaziz and Abdülhamid II, and even Gustave Flaubert attended a Donizetti opera here during his visit to Constantinople.
Tragically, the theatre was destroyed in the Great Fire of Pera on June 5, 1870. The ruins were later purchased by Greek banker Hristaki Zoğrafos Efendi, who commissioned architect Kleanthis Zannos to design a new structure on the site.
Grand fire of Pera in 1870
The building that replaced the Naum Theatre is today’s Çiçek Pasajı. Completed in 1876, it was initially named Cité de Péra and later known as Hristaki Pasajı after its owner. In 1908, it was acquired by Grand Vizier Sait Paşa and renamed Sait Paşa Passage.
White Russians in Istanbul
The name “Çiçek Pasajı” (Flower Passage) emerged in the early 20th century when Russian émigrés began selling flowers here following the 1917 Russian Revolution . Over time, the arcade became a hub for taverns and eateries, preserving its vibrant atmosphere.
If you are curious about the Naum Theater, here is a detailed video prepared by the prominent musicologist, Emre Aracı that is like a testimony of the cultural richness we have lost!
