Levent
4265084
220321671
2008-06-19T08:31:49Z
193.11.244.235
[[Image:Levent Istanbul Bosporus Bridge.jpg|thumb|250px|Levent financial district and the [[Bosphorus Bridge]] in the background]]
'''Levent''' is one of the main business districts of [[Istanbul]], [[Turkey]], located on the European side of the city. It is a part of the borough of [[Beşiktaş]] which is situated to the north of the [[Golden Horn]], at the western shore of the [[Bosporus]] strait.
Levent is in direct competition with the nearby [[Maslak]] business district for new skyscraper projects. One of the major skyscraper clusters of the city is located here, well hidden behind the hills of the [[Bosphorus]], and not disturbing the atmosphere of the historical peninsula of Istanbul, which is at quite a distance.
[[Image:Levent Istanbul.jpg|thumb|left|Levent at night]]
Levent<ref>[http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/zo/?id=100015 Emporis: Levent]</ref> hosts the tallest completed skyscraper of Turkey, the 52-floor ''[[Isbank Tower 1|İş Bankası Tower 1]]''<ref>[http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=isbanktower1-istanbul-turkey Emporis: Isbank Tower 1]</ref> which has a height of 181m (195m including the flag spire on top). The tallest skyscraper currently under construction in Levent is the 54-floor [[Sapphire of Istanbul|Sapphire]]<ref>[http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=kilertower-istanbul-turkey Emporis: Sapphire]</ref>, which will reach a roof height of 238 meters (261 meters including its spire). The tallest skyscrapers that are planned to be built in Levent are the ''[[Dubai Towers Istanbul]]''<ref>[http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/cx/?id=113605 Emporis: Dubai Towers Istanbul]</ref> twins which will be constructed by [[Dubai Holding|Sama Dubai]]. The 94-floor and 74-floor twin towers will rise on top of a 7-floor shopping mall, reaching a total of 101 and 81 floors above ground, respectively.
Levent is also a name for men in Turkey. The name derives from ''Levend'' (''Marine Soldier'') of the [[Turkish Navy|Ottoman Navy]]. ''Levend'' itself has derived from ''Levantino'' ([[Levantine]]) which means ''Person from the [[Levant]] (East Mediterranean)'' in [[Italian language|Italian]]. This was how the Italians ([[Republic of Venice|Venetians]]) used to call the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] sailors, a name which was also embraced by the Ottoman Turks themselves <ref>[http://www.dallog.com/kavramlar/levent.htm Türk Tarihi: Levent]</ref>.
== Image gallery ==
<center>
<gallery>
Image:Metrocity_Levent_Istanbul.jpg|View from the entrance of [[Metrocity]]
Image:Levent financial district in Istanbul on 8 February 2005.jpg|Levent in winter
Image:Levent_financial_district_in_Istanbul.jpg|View from Sporcular Park
Image:Double decker bus on Taksim Square Istanbul 2003.jpg|View from Nakkaştepe Hill, on an advertisement
</gallery>
</center>
{{wide image|Istanbul Skyline Panorama.jpg|1000px|[[Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge]] and the skyline of Levent financial district at night}}
== See also ==
* [[Maslak]]
* [[List of tallest buildings in Istanbul]]
* [[List of tallest buildings in Turkey]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/zo/?id=100015 Emporis: Skyscrapers of Levent financial district]
==References and notes==
<div class="references-small"><references/></div>
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[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Istanbul]]
[[Category:Central business districts]]
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