Street side (detail) of the Eminzade Hacı Ahmet Paşa complex, he was controller of the Arsenal under Ahmet III. The Strolling through Istanbul guide describes it as “perhaps the last ambitious building complex in the classical style, though verging toward the baroque”. I liked it a lot.

On the picture: The upper part of a ‘sebil’, which bears a long calligraphic inscription. It dates from around 1720.

A sebil is a kiosk-shaped public fountain, with office-windows where attendants handed fresh water over to the public. Generally a sebil had a cellar, where large blocks of ice were brought in during winter. So, in summer, the drinking water could be cooled before distributing it.

Correspondent: J.M.Criel, Antwerpen.
Sources: Websites of ‘istanbuluseyret.com’ – ‘istanbuldakicamiler.com’
& ‘Guides Bleus: Turquie’ – Edition 1986 .