Gallery
Description
Property Name: Guzelce Aqueduct
Inventory No: 90-212-77
Date of infill of the inventory form: 2009-11-17
Country (State party): Turkey
Province: İstanbul
Town: Gaziosmanpaşa
Geographic coordinates: 42° 37′ 18.87″ N
28° 53′ 54.99″ E
Historic Period: 16th century, 2nd half
Year of Construction: 1554-64
Style: Classical Ottoman
Original Use: Aqueduct
Current Use: Aqueduct
Architect: Architect Sinan
Significance
This is one of the 33 aqueducts that take place within Kırkçeşme Water Supply System. The goal was to bring water from Belgrad Forest and Kemerburgaz to Eğrikapı cellar, over Eyüp. Güzelce Aqueduct, also known as Gözlüce Aqueduct was constructed by Architect Sinan during the period of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, located 1500m east of Cebeci Village, near Kemerburgaz. Incidental to the increase of population, Sultan Süleyman wanted to bring water from the north of the city, which is known as Belgrad Forests area, to fulfill the needs for water in the city. This aqueduct is also known as Cebeci Aqueduct, as it is located over the Cebeciköy River. As a result of inundation in 1563, Güzelce Aqueduct has been completely seperated from its foundation but did not collapse. That is why the construction of the structure lasted 9 years. Güzelce Aqueduct, with its water supply system is an important example, indicating the great organization achievement; as it was built within a 9 years of period, which is considered to be a short time for that era in which many monuments were being erected.
Selection Criteria
v. to be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land-use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especially when it has become vulnerable under the impact of irreversible change
vi. to be directly or tangibly associated with events or living traditions, with ideas, or with beliefs, with artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance
State of Preservation
The 16th century aqueduct of Sinan has been completely seperated from its foundation but did not collapse, as a result of an inundation in 1563, Güzelce Aqueduct . That is why the construction of the structure lasted 9 years.Today, there is only a thin water flow, passing under the aqueduct. Structure is almost totally visible.
The structure can be mentioned as a well preserved one, among Sinan’s works of architecture. However, the lower levels of the aqueduct is lately repaired by concrete mortar.
References
Kuran, Aptullah (ed). Mimarbaşı Koca Sinan Yaşadığı Çağ ve Eserleri (2 Volumes), Başbakanlık Vakıflar Genel Müd ürlüğü, Istanbul, 1988,
Kuran, Aptullah. Sinan: The Grand Old Master Of Ottoman Architecture, Institute of Turkish Studies, Inc., Washington D.C. ; Ada Press Publishers, Istanbul, 1987,
Necipoğlu, Gülru. The Age of Sinan, Reaktion Books Ltd, London, 2005,