ISTANBULUP
The most important reason why Istanbul has developed as a world
metropolis is the geopolitical location of the city.stanbul
located where the 48.north latitude and 28.east longitude intersect,is
the only city in the world which is established on two continents.
The city consists of three parts in general;On the Europen side.the
Historical Peninsula to the south of the Golden Horn and the
Galata District to the north,and the New City on the Asian side.
The Europen side of the city is a trade and bısiness center,whereas
the Asian side is more of a residential area.Istanbul is established
on the both sides of the Bosphorus,which connects the Black
Sea and the Sea of Marmara,and separates Asia and Europe.The
7 km.long narrow inlet,named as the Golden Horn,divides the
Europen side of the city into two.Because of its location between
Asia and Europe,the city always had a great geopolitical importance.
Today,Istanbul is still a political and commercial center for
the Balkan and Middle Eastern Countries and the Turkic Republics
of Central Asia.
The settlement,known as Byzantium after its founder,took the
name Constantinople,the city of Emperor Constantine,during the
reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great.
It was the known as Istanbul after the conquest of the Ottomans,and
became one of the biggest and most crowded city of Europe.
The city is spred over an area of 7,500 km2,long and 50km.wide.
Although its population is not occurately known,it is estimated
12 to 15 million.
THE BOSPHORUSUP
Through the city's heart runs the sea channel called the Bosphorus
which separates Europe and Asia. It reaches north to The Black
Sea and south to the Marmara Sea,
Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, splendor
and simple beauty, modern hotels, wooden mansions, marble palaces,
rustic stone fortresses, elegant compounds and small fishing
villages.
BLUE MOSQUE (SULTAN AHMET
MOSQUE)UP
Sultan ahmet Mosque,which was constructed by the 14th Ottoman
Sultan Ahmet I,who ruled between the years of 1603-1617,is the
greatest and most splendid mosque of Istanbul.The constuction
of mosque was started in 1609 by architect Mehmet Agha,who was
a student odf Architect Sinan and who undertook the architectural
works of the structure and the constrution was completed in
1616.The premises consisted of a madrasah,a hospital,an Arasta
Bazaar,a school,a mausoleum,a caravansary and a public fountain
together with the mosque.The hospital and the caravansary were
damaged in 19th century.
Sultan Ahmet Mosque is the last impressive structure of Ottoman
religious architecture.Although many other mosques were built
after this one,none of them reached to the dimension and to
the elegance of the decorations of Sultan Ahmet Mosque.Located
in Sultanahmet Area.
HIPPODROME
(The Sultan Ahmet Square)UP
Hippodrome was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus
in 203 A.D. The hippodrome was a stadium which served as a meeting
place for the politicians, for chariot races, wrestling, boxing,
and other athletic activities that took place. The arena was
over 400 meters long and 120 meters wide, In the fourth century
the spectator capacity was increased to 100,000,
They organized the games in the hippodrome. Green took their
seat to the left, the Blues to the right of the emperor's box.
Women were not admitted. After the emperor had appeared in his
box and greeted his people, the four gates beneath his box opened
and from each raced a chariot drawn by four horses into the
arena. The game lasted the whole day. The chariot track was
covered with white sand which was brought from Egypt. The winner
was awarded a prize which consisted of a crown made of flowers,
some presents, bonuses and money,
FATIH MOSQUEUP
This was the first Turkish mosque built after the conquest.
The main building was completed in seven years (1463-1470).
The architect Atic Sinan built the largest kulliye in Ottoman
Art History. The kulliye consisted of medreses, Kervansaray,
hamam, a hospital, baths, a kitchen for the poor, a library,
and a Koranic school. The Kulliye has been preserved in its
original form. The original mosque was destroyed in the great
earthquake of 22 May 1766. Mustafa II undertook its reconstruction
and the present building was completed in 1771.
The mosque has a very large central dome 26 meters in diameter.
The painted decoration is fussy in detail and dull in color.
The mihrab is from the original building. In the graveyard,
behind the mosque, are the tombs of Sultan Mehmet and his wife
Gulbahar.
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUEUP
The Suleymaniye is one of the finest and most magnificent imperial
mosque complexes in the city. Suleymaniye Mosque crowns the
third hill of the old city and adds a great deal to the unrivalled
beauty of the city's skyline. Suleyman was the tenth sultan
of the Ottoman dynasty after thirty years of rule, Suleyman
The Magnificent decided to have a mosque built and Sinan, the
greatest of Ottoman architects, was commissioned.
Sınan was born ın Kayserı ın 1489. After his schooling in Istanbul
he served in the army, He was promoted to the position of the
head architect by Suleymaniye in 1539. Until his death in 1588
he built 334 edifices. among them were 132 mosques, 26 libraries,
17 hospitals, 33 palaces, 7 aqueducts and many tombs and fountains.
The construction of the Suleymaniye began in 1550 and the mosque
was completed in 1557.The generous sultan gave the honor of
opening the Suleymaniye to his architect Sinan, the creator
of the finest mosque in Istanbul.
The mosque stands in the center of the courtyard surrounded
on three sides by a wall with grilled windows. There are 24
marble and granite columns which carry the weight of 28 domes.
In the four corners of this courtyard there are four minarets
rising with ten balconies. The interior is approximately 58.5
by 57.5 meters.The dome with height of 47 meters and diameter
of 26.5 meters, joined to the central dome in the east and the
west where two semi domes are supported by smaller domes. It
can be said that Sinan rarely succeeded with the interior of
his west walls. In almost every case there is a tendency to
squeeze the portal.
Suleymaniye suprises visitors with its solid architecture and
modest decorations with the exception of magnificent stainglass
windows, made by master Ibrahim. Fine 16th century Iznik tiles
decorate the mihrap area of the mosque.
The tombs of Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Roxalena
are in the cemetery of the mosque. All these parts of the Suleymaniye
mosque are surrounded by a wall with a number of grated windows,
Hagia SOPHIAUP
Hagia Sophia is the most renowned Byzantine cathedral and the
best known Christian church in Istanbul. The church of the Divine
Wisdom, the first church of Hagia Sophia was planned by Constantıne
the Great, but it was built by his son and heir, Constantius
. For almost a thousand years Hagia Sophia served as the cathedral
of Constantinople of the Byzantine Empire.The name, Hagia Sophia,
means sacred wisdom.
The first church, Hagia Sophia, was built between the years
337-361 A.D. Construction was begun during the reign of Constantius,
son and successor of Constantine The Great. The church was destroyed
by a fire on 20 June in the year A.D. 404.
The second church of Hagia Sophia was rebuilt by Emperor Theodosius.
It was completed in the year A.D. 415. The second church was
burnt down during the Nika revolt in the year A.D. 532.
The third church of Hagia Sophia was rebuilt between the years
532 and 537 by the Emperor Justinian . An earthquake damaged
the structure in A.D. 558. It was rebuilt by the young Isidoros.
Hagia Sophia has been restored several times during the Byzantine
and Ottoman period. On the Turkish Conquest of Istanbul. Sultan
Mehmet The Conqueror entered the city on 29 May 1453. The Conqueror
lead the first Friday prayers and ordered it be converted into
a mosque. Four minarets of the building were placed at different
times after the Conquest. The southeastern minaret was added
during the reign of Sultan Mehmet II,the northeast minaret by
Beyazit II and the two minarets were added by Murat III. The
major restoration to the building was done during Sultan Abdulmecit's
reign in 1847, by a Swiss architect Gaspar Fossatio. Mehmet
the Conquerer added the mihrab and Suleyman the Magnificent
donated the two gigantic candles on each side of the mihrab.
The building was used as a mosque until 1934.
For almost five hundred years after the Turkish Conquest it
served as the imperial mosque of Istanbul. Hagia Sophia served
as a mosque during the early years of the Turkish Republic,
then declared a national monument and converted into a museum
by the order of Atatuk on 24 October 1934.
UNDERGROUND CISTERNUP
The structure was known in Byzantium as the basilica Cistern,
Justinian was the founder of the largest underground cistern,
built after the Nika Revolt in 532.The number of the inhabitants
of Constantinople increased and bring a problem of water supply.
Basilica Cistern was used to store water for the Great Palace
among the other buildings on the Firth Hill. During the Justinian
time, After the Conquest the water in the Basilica Cistern were
used for the garden of Topkapi Palace. It is 140 meters long
and 70 meters wide. The twelve rows of 28 columns each, 336
altogether, capacity of having eight thousand cubic miters water.
Basilica Cistern was restored in 1980.
MOSAIC MUSEUMUP
Excavations which began in 1935 by Prof. Baxter. The fragments
of the mosaic pavements which we will see were once part of
the Great palace.
The mosaics belonging to the palace are from the fourth and
fifth century A.D. The mosaics are extremely tactile in effect,
among them are the figures of a lion devouring a lizard, a stag
entwined with a snake, a woman giving breast to a child, the
combat of a spear bearing hunter and tiger, a child feeding
a donkey, a young girl carrying an amphora, a camel with children
mounted on its back, and a monkey pacing a banana from the tree.
TURKISH AND ISLAMIC ART MUSEUMUP
The Palace of Ibrahim Pasa, the grandest private residence ever
built in the Ottoman Empire was completed in 1524.
Ibrahim was appointed grand Vezir and the following year he
married Suleyman's sister, Hatice.
Unlike many palaces of the period, it was constricted in stone.
The palace was restored 1983.
Considered to be one of the most important examples of Ottoman
civil architecture, it is now a museum of Turkish and Islamic
art, exhibiting a collection of 40.000 objects including fine
oriental rugs, Seljuk and Ottoman woodcarvings, Turkish folk
life clothing, rug and kilim looms, showing the weaving and
dying techniques. The museum has a conference room and a Turkish
coffee house serving coffee or tea.
ARCHAELOGICAL MUSEUMUP
The Archrological Museum, the jewel of the city with antiquities
collected from all over the country and stored in one building,
was constructed between the years 1891-1908 by the architect,
Valaury. It is one of the most important arceological museums
in the world and it was Turkey's first museum,. Before its opening
all valuble antiquities were brought to Istanbul and exhibited
in the church of Hagia Eirene.
The collection consists of archeological pieces from the period
2500B.C. to 500A.D. On display are Greek, Roman and Byzantine
architecture and sculpture, earthware, bronz and glassware.
coins and medaillions. The most valubable object of the collection
is The Alexander Sarcophagus which originates from the 4th century
B.C.
Alexander Sarcophagus Discovered at Sidon by Hamdi Bey in 1887.
The sides of Sarcophagus are decorated with interesting almost
round relief showing Alexander in a lion hunting. The battle
scene with the Macedonians are sculptured in a sportive fashion.
Sarcophagus of the Mourning Women
Mourners grieved for their loved ones in an interesting fashion.Professional
mourners were hired and these eighteen women can be seen on
the sides of the Sarcophagus .You will notice the figure of
a child which gives additional importance to the deceased.
Alexander's Tomb
This amazing monument is decorated with reliefs on all four
side. Greco Persian wars are represented. Alexander is shown
with a lion's pelt over his head, mounted. On the other side
there is a scene of a lion with a stag in combat and a hunting
scene on the other. This sarcophagus is also in the form of
a Greek temple dating from the last quarter of the fourth century
B.C.
Sidmara Sarcophagus
During the Roman period in groups of reliefs showing gods of
mythology.
The Lykian Sarcophagus
Lykia was located in soutwest Anatolia. It shows reliefs of
two carved sphinxes and a lion hunt is shown .
The Tabrit Sarcophagus
Tabrit, King of Phoenikia died after the conquest of Egypt.
Tabrit's corpse was mummified and laid into the coffin.
KARIYE(CHORA) MUSEUMUP
The Church of the Holy Savior of Chora, called in Turkish, Kariye
Camii, is, after Hagia Sophia, the most interesting Byzantine
church in the city. Not so much for the building itself, pretty
as it is, but because of the superb series of mosaics and frescoes
which it preserves and which have been magnificently restored
and cleaned by the Byzantine Institute of America. The name
of the church,"in Chora" means "in the country" because the
very ancient monastery to which it was attached was outside
the walls of the Constantinian; later when it was included within
the Theodosian walls, the name remained the Holy Savior of Chora.
The church of The Holy Savior in Chora (Kariye Camii) is the
most important monument of the Palaeologan age. Its unique iconographic
programme, the quality and beauty of the mosaics and wall paintings,
make it one of the outstanding masterpieces of Byzantine art.
The origin of the monument cannot be traced with certainty.
The earliest reference is found in the Synaxarion (Legendary)
of 4 September by Symeon Metaphrastes, according to which the
relics of St. Babylas who was martyred in 298, were removed
from the Golden Horn to the northwest part of the City, at a
place outside the walls where there is a monastery called Chora.
An anonymous 9th century biographer assigns the foundation of
the monastery to St. Theodore, uncle of the Empress Theodora,
whom Justinian had called to Constantinople to help the Church
in the struggle against the sect of the Theopaschites (536).
Theodore settled outside the walls at Chora, where there was
a small church.
With the assistance of the Emperor and Empress, Theodore founded
the monastery. Destroyed by an earthquake in 557, it was rebuilt
by Justinian, this time larger, with a domed church revetted
in marble, consecrated to the Holy Virgin. At the same time
were built three parecclesia, dedicated to St. Anthemius, the
Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the Archangel Michael, and also
a bath and a hospice, i.e. a wholecomplex of buildings (Gedeon).
Tradition has it that St. Savvas (439-532) travelled from Palestine
to Constantinople and was given hospitality at the monastery
in Chora. Thenceforth, monks from Palestine were always welcome.
Nicephorus Gregoras, who lived at the monastery and wrote its
history in the 14th century, records that it was founded by
Justinian. On the other hand, the historian Procopius remains
silent on this point.
Be that as it may, it would appear that the origins of the monastery
in Chora can be traced back to the 3rd century, and this is
why the site was considered sanctified.
The name of Symeon, abbot of the monastery in Chora, appears
among the participants in the 8th Ecumenical Council of Nicaea
(787), which restored the veneration of icons.
TOPKAPI PALACEUP
Topkapi Palace which was built by Mehmet The Conqueror between
the years 1462 and 1478 was constructed at Seraglio Point surrounded
by the Sea of Marmara, the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus . It
is located on the first hill of old city. Topkapi Palace is
one of the finest examples of the Ottoman civil architecture
in existence. After harems were added to it Suleyman moved with
all his harem to the new palace. Topkapi Palace, the greatest
residence of The Ottoman Dynasty, is one of the best museums
in the world. This vast and fascinating complex served as Imperial
residence for the Ottoman Empire for more than four centuries.
Topkapi Palace consisted of three courts and a large terrace.
The first court was open to the public but the second court
requiresd special permission to enter. The third court was reserved
for servants, court officials and students, This court had a
mint. the Ministry of Finances, a bakery and a hospital.
The second gate, which looked like a fortress with two towers
opened into the second court. The Kitchens were located to the
right and consisted of ten rooms with three large domes. In
each room cooking was done for different ranks-for the sultan,
for his mother and his wives. A head cook, ten chefs and 480
cooks worked each day cooking for 5000- 7000 people and during
holiday time for 10000- 12000 people. Today Chinese, Japanese,
Turkish and European porcelain are exhibited in these former
kitchens. This is the world's third largest collection of porcelain
after Peking and Dresden.
The complex of the harem has 400 rooms,10 baths, 2 mosques,
a hospital and a prison. The most influential person in the
harem after the sultan was the sultan's mother. The third most
important person in the harem was the Chief Black Eunuch.
In addition, the third court included schools, a summer residence
and bath, government buildings and a mosque.
In the first room one can see the armor of Mustafa III, decorated
with gems, the ivory throne of Murat IV, a golden music box
in the shape of an elephant, pearl trimmed Koran holders, golden
water pipes, tobacco boxes, shields, swords, helmets, daggers
pistols, and vases of jade.
In the second room is the canopy throne decorated with mother
of pearl, emeralds and rubies belonging to Ahmet I, the golden
cradle of the princess, precious stones, and the Topkapi dagger
with emeralds and 22 uncut emeralds.
The third room contains the 86 carat diamond surrounded by 49
brilliants, two golden candle holders, and an Indian throne
trimmed with 250.000 pearls.
In the former government building, built by Mehmet II, the holy
relics brought from Egypt by Sultan Selim are kept. The prophet's
mantle, Muhammad's sword, his bamboo bow, his letter to the
patriarch of Egypt, one of his teeth, a hair from his beard,
and his footprint in the marble of Mecca can be seen.
The terrace is decorated with several pavilions, the most beautiful
being the Bagdat Pavilion which was built to commemorate the
conquest of Bagdat in 1638. Other pavillions include The Revan
Pavilion which was built in 1631, The Mecidiye Pavilion built
in the 18th century and the Sofa Pavilion built in 1704.
DOLMABAHCE PALACEUP
This beautiful Ottoman Palace, magnificently situated at the
European side of the Bosphorus strait, was built by the son
of Mahmut II, Sultan Abdulmecit 1839-1861, who ascended the
throne at the age 16. His decision to have a new fashionable
residence similar to European palaces started the construction
of the Dolmabahce Palace in 1843.
After the demolition of the former palace in wood, the work
for the new palace started under architects Garabet and Nikogos
Balyan, members of the famous Balyan family which gave nine
reputed architect to the Ottoman Empire for nearly a century.
Serving under the six sultans, they were responsible for the
westernization of the city's architecture. The construction
of the palace which covers an area of 250.000 square meters,
took about 13 years and finished in 1855. Abdulmecit, the first
occupant of the palace, lived there 15 years. Since some of
the Sultans didn't show too much interest to Dolmabahce palace,
it stayed empty most of its time.
Dolmabahce Palace consisted of the sultans wing, the festival
greeting hall(also known as the throne hall) and the harem.
To impress foreign ambassadors they were received through the
entrance hall which was decorated with vases from Sevres and
Yildiz and led up stairs with railings made of crystal glass
from Venice. Crystal and silver candle holders, crystal chandeliers,
curtains of silk from Hereke, gilded cornices and silk carpets,
rooms decorated with painting of the Russian artist Aiwazowsky
gave everyone the impression that one was in the residency of
a wealthy emperor.
The baroque clock tower and the Dolmabahce Mosque, commissioned
by the mother of Abdulmecit I and built by Sarkis Balyan in
1853, complete the Dolmabahce Palace complex.
Dolmabahce was the favorite palace of Abdulmecit and Mehmet
Resat who reigned during the first World War.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic,
died in this palace on the 10th of November, 1938.
BEYLERBEYI PALACEUP
Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asiatic shore was built by Abdulaziz
between the years 1861-1865. The architect was Sarkis Balyan,
one member of the famous Balyan family, which gave nine reputed
palaces to The Ottoman Empire over nearly a century. Serving
under the six sultans, they were responsible for the westernization
of the city's architecture.
The old palace had been built by Mahmut II, during the years
1826-1827 but the building was damaged during a fire.
Beylerbeyi Palace served as a summer residence. There are many
architectural resemblances between this building and the Dolmabahce
Palace.
The palace has 6 halls and 24 rooms. The decoration of the ceiling
was done by Turkish, Italian, and French artists Chelebowsky
was brought to the palace to paint its ceilings.
The curtains and upholstery materials are Hereke Silks.
Geometrical patterns are noticeable with colored floral bouquets
in medallions.
There is no heating system because it was built as a summer
palace.
Beylerbey Palace has been used as a guest house for many royal
visitors such as the French Queen Eugenie, the wife of Napoleon
III, Franz Joseph, Austrian emperor, Nasireddin, The Shah of
Iran and Edward VIII, The British King.
CIRAGAN PALACEUP
The most picturesque spots along the Bosphorus , the area where
Cıragan Palace Hotel Kempinski Istanbul now stands was known,
in the 17th century, as Kazancioglu Garden.
In the second half of the 16th century, High Admiral Kilic Ali
Pasha had a waterfront house here, and in the 17th century (1648)
Sultan Murat IV gave the imperial garden to his daughter, Kaya
Sultan, and her husband, Grand Vizier Melek Ahmet Pasha. They
had a small wooden mansion built here in which they would spend
the summer months. At the beginning of the 18th century, Ahmet
III presented the house and grounds to his son-in-law, Grand
Vizier Ibrahim Pasha of Nevsehir, who organized torchlight fetes
known as Çırağan Senlikleri (Cıragan Festivals) with his wife,
Fatma Sultan. It was then that the area became known as Cıragan.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, wife of the English ambassador Edward
Wortley Montagu, who lived in Istanbul between 1717-1718, wrote
of the original Cıragan Palace in her letters, published after
her death; " It is situated on one of the most delightful parts
of the canal, with a fine wood on the side of a hill behind
it. The extent of it is prodigious; the guardian assured me
there were eight hundred rooms in it, I will not however, answer
for that number since I did not count them; but 'tis certain
the number is very large, and the whole adorned with a profusion
of marble, gilding and the most exquisite painting of fruit
and flowers. The windows are all sashed with the finest crystalline
glass brought from England, and here is all the expensive magnificence
that you can suppose in a palace founded by a young man, with
the wealth of a vast empire at his command." This original palace
was to be torn down and rebuilt many times over the next two
centuries. After the rebellion of 1730 which brought the great
Tulip era to an end, the palace was left empty and fell into
disrepair. It was finally taken over by Mahmut I and used as
a banqueting hall for foreign ambassadors.
Selim III's Grand Vizier Yusuf Ziya Pasha bought the Palace,
demolished it, and commissioned Kirkor Balian to build a new
palace in marble which he presented to the Sultan in 1805. Selim
III then gave the Palace to his sister, Beyhan Sultan, but she
returned it. This palace, used as a summer house during the
reign of Mahmud II, was again demolished and rebuilt on a large
scale by Garabed Balian in 1835-1843. Although great quantities
of wood were used, the main section was made from marble and
stone and included forty classical columns.
When Sultan Abdulmecid decided to move his official residence
to Dolmabahce Palace in 1855, the Cıragan Palace was torn down
again , to be replaced by an imposig stone edifice designed
by Nigogos Balian, and the foundations of the present palace
were laid. However, due to financial problems and the "Kuleli
olayi" (an uncovered conspiracy to assassinate the sultan) the
construction of the palace was only half finished. It was only
completed in 1857, after Abdulaziz acceded to the throne. Abdulaziz
demanded his palace to be built in Arab style as a memorial
to his reign. Artists were sent to Spain and North Africa to
make drawings of the famous buildings there.
The story goes that the Sultan interfered with the design so
much that the plans were redrawn twenty times before he was
satisfied. The palace doors, each worth one thousand gold pieces,
were so admired by "Kaiser Wilhelm" that some were presented
to him as a gift and stand today in Berlin Museum. The finest
marble and mother-of-pearl were brought from all over the world
for the new Cıragan Palace; construction was completed at a
total cost of five million Ottoman gold liras. But Sultan Abdulaziz
only lived here for a few months before pronouncing it to be
too damp to stay in and moving out again. This former residence
of king was destined to share the fate of the declining Ottoman
Empire.
Sultan Murat V, deposed during a military takeover, was held
prisoner here with his family until his death in 1904. After
this the palace became the new location for parliament and was
opened on November 14, 1909. Parliament convened here for just
two months before a fire, which broke out in the central heating
vents, destroyed the entire palace in just under five hours,
leaving only a stone shell. Priceless antiques, paintings and
books were lost, along with many vital documents. In 1946, Parliament
gave the palace, its outbuildings and grounds, to Istanbul Municipality
where it was used as a dumping ground for sand and other construction
materials. It was also used as a swimming pool and was a football
ground for the local team. It seemed only a matter of time before
the last remnants of the former palace would be torn down once
and for all.
LEANDERS TOWERUP
Lender's Tower ( Maiden's Tower ) stands on a tıny ısland at
the entrance of The Bosphorus.
The Turkish name is derived from a legend. According to the
legend, the sultan had this tower built in order to secure his
daughter from a prophesy that she would die from the poison
of a serpent. The princess was eventually bitten by a poisonous
serpent, smuggled out to the islet in a basket of grapes.
In the West European version, the name of the tower is Lander's
Tower. According to a legend Lander drowned there in his attempt
to swim the strait to see his lover, Hero.
The Emperor Manuel Comnenus buılt a small fortress around it
in the twelfth century. It was used as a lighthouse and a customs
control point.
The present building dates from the eighteenth century. It has
recently been remodeled and converted into a cafe and restaurant.
GALATA TOWERUP
The Galata Tower stands some 67 meters high with its base 35
meters above sea level. Originally known as the Tower of Christ,
it was erected during the first expansion of the Genoese colony
in 1348 in order to defend themselves more adequately. The defense
system consisted of six walled enceintes, with the outer wall
bordered by a deep ditch. Fragments of the fortifications can
still be seen here and there in Galata.
Mehmet II took the tower from the Genoese. The tower was used
as a weather observatory during the reign of Murat III 1514-1595.
The Galata Tower has recently been restored and there are now
a modern restaurant and cafe on its upper levels. From there
a panoramic view out over the entire city can be seen.
RUMELI FORTRESSUP
The great fortress of Rumeli Hisar, built by Sultan Mehmet II
in the year 1452, is located immediately opposite Anadolu Hirasi,
which was built by Yildirim Beyazit I sixty years earlier. With
a fortress on either side of the Bosphorus, it was the first
step in Mehmets plan to capture the Byzantine capital.
Mehmet had sent out orders throughout his Empire for 1000 skilled
masons and 2000 workmen to collect wood and building stone and
to assemble here in the spring, Stone was brought from Anatolia.
Mehmet himself laid out the design, dictated by the lie of the
land, and each of his three Vezirs, the Grand Vezir, Candarli
Halil Pasa, Zaganos Pasa, and Saruca Pasa were made responsible
for building a tower, while the Sultan himself undertook the
walls and bastions, introducing a healthy sprit of competition.
When it was completed a garrison of 400 Janissaries was stationed
in it and here they tried out the range of their new cannons
by training them on any ships rash enough to try to pass.
After the Conquest, the fortress found a new role as a prison
before gradually falling into disrepair.
In 1953, 500 years after the Conquest, Rumeli Hisar Fortress
was well restored, and the space inside laid out with lawns
and paths. The cistern on which the mosque once stood still
marked by the stump of its minaret was opened up and converted
into an open air theatre where plays and folk dancing are performed
during the summer, especially at the time of the Istanbul Festival.
CAMLICA HILLUP
The great Camlica Hill stands about four kilometers east of
Uskudar and can be reached by car. It is the taller of the twin
peaks of Mount Bulgurlu, the highest point in the vicinity of
Istanbul, 267 meters above sea level. It has a small teahouse
in the midst of the pine grove which gives the peak its name.
From here, there is an absolutely magnificent view, which makes
it well worth the climb. In the morning when the sun is still
easterly one has a panoramic sight of the whole city, the Bosphorus
almost as far as the Black Sea, the Marmara Sea with the Princess
Islands, and behind that, the great snow covered ridge of Uludag,
the Bithynian Olympus. Toward evening the sun sets almost directly
behind Istanbul and its domes and minarets are silhouetted against
the flaming western sky like a splendid stage drop.
Especially in the spring are these hills and valleys most beautiful,
for everywhere is a profusion of the most varied wildflowers
and many unusual birds.
PRINCESS
ISLANDSUP
The most famous of all the beauty spots in the suburbs of Istanbul
are the Princess Islands, the little suburban archipelago just
off the Asia coast of the Marmara. The isles are about an hour's
sail by ferry from Sirkeci.
It is only in the last hundred years or so that the Princess
Islands have become fashionable as resorts and places to bathe
and picnic. Before that they were sparsely inhabited and rarely
visited. But their picturesque and historical associations appealed
to the romantic imagination of the nineteenth century.
The nine isles are situated between 20 and 30 kilometers south
of Istanbul in the Marmara Sea. It is a rather surprising fact
that there are no cars on the islands, people have to use horse
drawn carriages as a means of transport. Walking through well
kept gardens and parks, the visitor will be fascinated by the
charm of the southern flora and will keep this excursion forever
in his mind. A Latin inscription on a tomb stone on the island
of Burgaz proves that already before Constantin a great number
of Roman pagan temples could be found here.
The first of the islands is called Kinaliada (henna coloured
ısland ) where sunbathers can find lovely pebble beaches which
are suitable for swimming. Of the former two Byzantine monasteries
only some remnants of brickwork are still visible.
The second of the islands is Burgazada. Its highest elevation
rises 165 meters above sea level. There are excellent possibilities
for watersports activities on this island and for people who
enjoy walking there are endless beautiful footpaths.
The third island is Heybeliada ( saddle bag ısland ) on which
the Turkish naval academy is situated . Until 1970 this island
was also the residence of the theological seminary of the Orthodox
Church.
The fourth island and the largest of the Princess Islands is
Buyukada
A visit to Buyukada is particularly recommended because the
island is a paradise of pleasure. Splendid villas, in well-kept
gardens, restaurants, hotels, clubs and recreation facilities
attract more and more visitors every year. You can explore the
island on foot, by horse and carriage, or for those more energetic
and adventurous, you can ride a donkey or rent a bicycle.
GRAND BAZAARUP
The Grand Bazaar, is probably the largest market of its kind
in the world, It was originally founded by Mehmet II in 1461.The
bazaar was enlarged during the reign of Suleyman I in 1701.A
small city in itself.There are more than 3500 shops of various
kinds, storehouses, workshops, stalls, hans, restaurants, lunch
counters, cafes and tea houses, mosques, mescid and fountains.
There are a total of 65 streets totaling 30.702 m², altogether
employing more than 20.000 people.
Members of the same trade set up their shops in the same area,
still reflecting in the names of the street's tassel makers,
cobblers, purse makers, belt makers, skullcap makers and so
on. Today these divisions are less clear but they still remain
in principle.
The grid is centered on the Old Bedesten, one of the original
structure surviving from the time of Mehmet II. It was used
to house the most precious wares, for it can be securely locked
and guarded at night. There is another building of similar type
known as the Sandal Bedesten, a lofty hall covered with twenty
domes supported on twelve great stone piers.
EGYPTIAN(SPICE)BAZAARUP
It was built in 1660 by the architect Kasim Aga for the mother
of Sultan Murat IV, Hatice Turhan Sultan. The Egyptian Bazaar
is Istanbul's second covered bazaar. It is L shaped in plan,
a building that borders two sides of the park beside Yeni Cami.
The structure was restored in 1943. There are eighty eight vaulted
shops in all, along with a tiny mosque at the inner corner of
the L.
The structure of the building is dressed stone with alternating
brick courses, fine examples of Ottoman Architecture.
Merchants selling various herbs and spices such as saffron,
mustard, mint, thyme, cinnamon, aniseed, garlic, Indian tea,
honey, apple tea, henna, jujube, eucalyptus, mahlep, cloves
,etc can be seen throught.
KUMKAPI
FISH RESTAURANTSUP
If you would like to eat fish, Kumkapi is the right place to
go.. Even if you dont eat there, just have a visit there at
night. it is a real authentic place, where you should see..
There are many fish restaurants in the area and you can choose
between more than twenty of them.. Since now I have been to
4 of them and I can only comment for them..
Neyzen: is probably the most famous, the most luxurious and
the expensive one.. If you do not have a "budget limitation"
you can try this one..
Evren: is next to neyzen, they have a good service and fish
is good.. Prices are better than Neyzen.. But needs to be negotiated..
Green: We ate there once for a company dinner.. As a group we
received a good price, but I wont choose there without a group..
Kalamar: The best fish probably we ate was in Kalamar.. Again
we went there with our friends.. Group price was good, but dont
know for single visits..
Favorite Dish:Seasonal fish is a must try.. Also Calamary and
Lobster has to be tried..
The last time we have paid 18- USD per person as a group. Including
a mezze plate, starters (Calamary, etc.. ), One portion of fish
and 4 beers (per person)... The mezzes are small starters, but
could make the price varies a lot
