Evliya Çelebi describes this place as follows: Kasımpaşa has become a prosperous place at the age of Kanuni. There are still 10,085 story houses with gardens. Since Koca Piyale Paşa owns 12,000 slaves, he has built a mosque, madrasah, and a tekke at the back of Kasımpaşa.

And about the Piyale Paşa Mosque: Since it is one hour away from the center, congregation of the mosque is rear. In order to increase the number, the mosque has cut the sea and carried it towards the mosque. Thus, as the two banks of the Golden Horn has been developed with story houses that have vineyards and gardens, the environs of the mosque has become prosperous and it has become crowded.

Source: Travel Account, 17th century

-Nurhan Atasoy, Seyit Ali Kahraman

Resources:

Evliya Çelebi Seyahatnâmesi: Topkapı Sarayı Bağdat 304 Yazmasının transkripsiyonu (Open in Zotero)

Originally published at: Atasoy, Nurhan, and Seyit Ali Kahraman “Kasım Paşa Gardens.” Middle East Gardens Traditions. Dumbarton Oaks, December 1, 2014. https://www.doaks.org/resources/middle-east-garden-traditions/catalogue/C98. Archived at: https://perma.cc/5UDZ-R9BM.