The Old City of Istanbul (Turkish: Eski İstanbul, also Tarihi Yarımada and Suriçi, “Historical Peninsula”, and “Walled City” respectively) is the oldest part of Istanbul, and the location of most of its historical sights.
Being a peninsula bounded by bodies of water to north, east, and south (the Golden Horn, Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara, respectively) and by the old city walls to west, this part of the city is essentially what used to be called Constantinople, as the rest of what is today Istanbul was part of independent cities, towns, villages, fields or even complete wilderness later absorbed by the city. This process is still going on as Istanbul grows with increasing speed. Booking Artefes Hotels

The Hotel Istanbul Artefes’es Rooms are decorated in Ottoman style plainness, with wooden chair rails and authentic fabrics. Hotel Istanbul Artefes located at the heart of Istanbul’s historical peninsula.It is in the center of the Old City, within walking distance of most of the major sites Artefes Hotel Istanbul 25 rooms ( 4 of which are interconnected and 1 suite room) 1 meeting rooms, 2 restaurants , 1 bar, 1 open top terrace, hamam ( Turkish Bath), sauna, steam bath, fitness laundry service, dry cleaning, free wireless Internet , Business room,luggage room Daily housekeeping 24 hr room service, Car Parking 24 hr information desk

The Hotel Istanbul Artefes’es Rooms are decorated in Ottoman style plainness, with wooden chair rails and authentic fabrics.
Hotel Istanbul Artefes located at the heart of Istanbul’s historical peninsula.It is in the center of the Old City, within walking distance of most of the major sites Artefes Hotel Istanbul 25 rooms ( 4 of which are interconnected and 1 suite room) 1 meeting rooms, 2 restaurants , 1 bar, 1 open top terrace, hamam ( Turkish Bath), sauna, steam bath, fitness laundry service, dry cleaning, free wireless Internet , Business room,luggage room Daily housekeeping 24 hr room service, Car Parking 24 hr information desk

The Old City of Istanbul (Turkish: Eski İstanbul, also Tarihi Yarımada and Suriçi, “Historical Peninsula”, and “Walled City” respectively) is the oldest part of Istanbul, and the location of most of its historical sights.
Being a peninsula bounded by bodies of water to north, east, and south (the Golden Horn, Bosphorus, and the Sea of Marmara, respectively) and by the old city walls to west, this part of the city is essentially what used to be called Constantinople, as the rest of what is today Istanbul was part of independent cities, towns, villages, fields or even complete wilderness later absorbed by the city. This process is still going on as Istanbul grows with increasing speed.
Istanbul, or Byzantium as it was called then, was first settled by Greek colonists from Megara in Greek mainland in 667 BC. They founded their city at Seraglio Point (Sarayburnu) which is now occupied by Topkapı Palace. However, recent discoveries in a subway construction site in Yenikapı (on the southern coast of the peninsula) dates the very first date of Istanbul’s settlement back to about 8000 years ago, which makes the city one of the oldest still-inhabited spots of the world.

Around Sultanahmet Square

Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya)
Topkapı Palace (Topkapı Sarayı)
Hagia Irene (Aya İrini)
Sultanahmet Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii, aka Blue Mosque)
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
The Museum of Archeology (Arkeoloji Müzesi)
Great Palace Mosaics Museum (Büyük Saray Mozaikleri Müzesi)
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, (Sultanahmet)

The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is housed in three buildings just inside the first court of Topkapi Palace and includes the Museum of the Ancient Orient. The museum has an excellent collection of Greek and Roman artifacts, including finds from Ephesus and Troy.

Collections of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum

The Istanbul Archaeological Museum houses over one million objects, the most extraordinary of which are thesarcophagi that date back as far as the 4th century BC. The museum excels, however, in its rich chronological collection of locally found artifacts that shed light on the origins and history of the city.