Daha Büyük Haritayı Görüntüle
|
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya)
|
 |
Hagia Sophia was, for
nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed space in the world,
and still seen as one of the world's most important
architectural monuments. It is one of Turkey's most popular
attractions, drawn by the sheer spectacle of its size,
architecture, mosaics and art. For 916 years it was a church,
then a mosque for 481 years, and since 1935 has been a museum.
|
| |
|
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnici)
|
 |
The Basilica Cistern
(Yerebatan Sarayi) is located near Haghia Sophia, at the
beginning og the Yerebatan Avenue. Byzantium was supplied with
water through the Aqueduct of Valens built in 375 and which
still can be seen between the Fatih district and the Süleymaniye
Mosque. Most of the cisterns were not used any longer by the
Ottomans who prefered running water. The largest and the most
beautiful in architecture is the Basilica Cistern built by
Justinian. It is 140m/460 ft long and 70m/230ft wide. The vaults
made of brick are supported by 336 columns most of which are
topped with corinthian style capitals. Two beautiful heads of
Medusa coming from antique temples are used as bases. "Sound and
light" effects increase the strangeness of the place that the
Ottomans named the "underground palace".Not very far, there is a
dried underground cistern called "1001 columns cistern" (Binbirdirek
Sarnici). (open 09.00 - 17.00.) closed Tuesdays |
| |
|
Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque)
|
 |
This mosque was built
by Sultan Ahmet I during 1609-1616 in the square carrying his
name in Istanbul. The architect is Sedefkar Mehmet Aga. It is
the only mosque in Turkey with six minarets. The mosque is 64 x
72 m in dimensions. The central dome is 43 m in height and is
33.4 m in diameter. 260 windows surround the mosque. Due to its
beautiful blue, green and white tilings it has been named the "Blue
Mosque" by Europeans. The inscriptions were made by Seyyid Kasim
Gubari.
|
| |
|
Topkapi Palace
|
 |
One of the most astounding
and popular places to visit in Istanbul is Topkapi Palace, the
symbolic and political centre of the Ottoman Empire between the
15th and 19th centuries. It stands on the tip of land where the
Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus come together,
and is a maze of buildings centered around a series of
courtyards, typical of Islamic tradition. Such is the complexity
of each building, it will take many hours in order to be
explored properly. It was built between 1466 and 1478, a couple
of years before the death of Fatih. Unlike any European Palace,
its architecture is predominantly Middle Eastern in character.
The initial construction was Cinili Mansion, a Glass Palace
finished in 1472, and the imposing main gate facing Sultanahmet,
Bab-I Humayun, and the Palace ramparts, were completed in 1478.
There were originally 750 residents of the Palace, during
Fatih's period, which became drastically more congested reaching
5000 during normal days and 10,000 during festivals. Extensions
had to be built, and the harem was completed in 1595 during the
third Sultan Murad's era, after which the harem residents were
moved in from the palace at Beyazit, with a total of 474
concubines. Special tours of the Harem are available. The Harem,
literally meaning "forbidden" in Arabic, was the suite of dedem
apartments in the palace belonging to the wives, concubines and
children of the head of the household. Around the Harem were the
Circumcision Room, the apartments of the Chief Black Eunuch, and
apartments of the sultan - in total over 400 rooms. Other
highlights in the Palace are the Spoonmaker's Diamond (the
fourth largest diamond in the world), the Topkapi Dagger, (a
gift from Mahmut I), a vast collection of paintings and
miniatures, and the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle (including a
footprint, a tooth and a hair of the Prophet Mohammed). Opening
hours: Daily 09.00 - 17.00, winter closed Tuesday. |
| |
|
Dolmabahce Palace
|
 |
Built in the reign of Sultan
I Abdulmecit during the 19th century, this over-ornate palace
lies along the European coast of the Bosphorus. Dolmabahce
Palace was constructed between 1843 and 1856, mixing different
European artistic influences and built by Abdulmecit's
architect, Karabet Balya. It was built over three levels, and
symmetrically planned, with 285 chambers and 43 halls. It has a
600m long pier along the river, with two huge monumental gates.
The palace is surrounded by well-maintained and immaculate
gardens, with an immense 56-columned greeting hall, with 750
lights illuminated from 4.5 tonnes of crystal chandelier. The
entrance was used for meeting and greeting Sultans, and opposite
the ceremonial hall was the harem. The interior decoration,
furniture, silk carpets and curtains all remain with little
defect. The palace has a level of luxury not present in most
other palaces, with walls and ceilings decorated with gold, and
European art from the period. Top quality silk and wool carpets,
southeast Asian hand-made artifacts, and crystal candlesticks
adorn every room. The men's dedem hamam (public bath) is adorned
with alabaster marble, and the harem also contains the Sultan's
bedrooms and the women and servants' divisions. One of the
highlights is the throne room, which stands at an amazing
36-metres high - almost twice the height of the rest of the
rooms. The east wing is home to the Museum of Fine Arts. Opening
hours: Daily 09.00 - 16.00, except Monday and Thursday.
Telephone number to book guided tours: (0212) 23 69 600. |
| |
|
Galata Tower
|
 |
The tower was built by
the Genoese in 1348, during their occupation of the area,
primarily to prevent attacks. Originally known as the Tower of
Christ, it stood above the fortification surrounding the Genoese
city-state. There is a spiral rock staircase which ascends to
the top viewing platform, which today offers visitors
spectacular 360 degree panorama of the entire city. The tower
was restored in 1967, and an elevator was installed to offer a
less tiring alternative to the steep climb. There is also a
restaurant on the top floor.
|
| |
|
The New Mosque (Yeni Cami)
|
 |
It is at Eminönü. When
mosque construction, which is started on 1597 by III. Mehmets
mother, Safiye Sultan, had reached to window level, ruler and
his mother had died. Uncompleted construction is completed with
the desire of IV. Mehmet's mother, Turhan Sultan on 1663.
|
| |
|
Sultanahmet
|
 |
Many places of tourist
interest are concentrated in Sultanahmet, heart of the Imperial
Centre of the Ottoman Empire. The most important places in this
area, all of which are described in detail in the "Places of
Interest" section, are Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofia, Sultan Ahmet
Camii (the Blue Mosque), the Hippodrome, Kapali Carsi (Covered
Market), Yerebatan Sarnici and the Museum of Islamic Art. In
addition to this wonderful selection of historical and
architectural sites, Sultanahmet also has a large concentration
of carpet and souvenir shops, hotels and guesthouses, cafes,
bars and restaurants, and travel agents.
|
| |
|
Beyoglu Taksim
|
 |
Beyoglu is an interesting
example of a district with European-influenced architecture,
from a century before. Europe's second oldest subway, Tunel was
built by the French in 1875, must be also one of the shortest -
offering a one-stop ride to start of Taksim. Near to Tunel is
the Galata district, whose Galata Tower became a famous symbols
of Istanbul, and the top of which offers a tremendous 180 degree
view of the city. From the Tunel area to Taksim square is one of
the city's focal points for shopping, entertainment and urban
promenading: Istiklal Cadesi is a fine example of the contrasts
and compositions of Istanbul; fashion shops, bookshops, cinemas,
markets, restaurants and even hand-carts selling trinkets and
simit (sesame bread snack) ensure that the street is packed
throughout the day until late into the night. The old tramcars
re-entered into service, which shuttle up and down this
fascinating street, and otherwise the street is entirely
pedestrianised. There are old embassy buildings, Galatasaray
High School, the colourful ambience of Balik Pazari (Fish
Bazaar) and restaurants in Cicek Pasaji (Flower Passage). Also
on this street is the oldest church in the area, St Mary's
Draperis dating back to 1789, and the Franciscan Church of St
Antoine, demolished and then rebuilt in 1913. The street ends at
Taksim Square, a huge open plaza, the hub of modern Istanbul and
always crowded, crowned with an imposing monument celebrating
Attaturk and the War of Independence. The main terminal of the
new subway is under the square, adjacent is a noisy bus
terminal, and at the north end is the Ataturk Cultural Centre,
one of the venues of the Istanbul Theatre Festival. Several
five-star hotels are dotted around this area, like the Hyatt,
Intercontinental and Hilton (the oldest of its kind in the
city). North of the square is the Istanbul Military Museum.
Taksim and Beyoglu have for centuries been the centre of
nightlife, and now there are many lively bars and clubs off
Istiklal Street, including some of the only gay venues in the
city. Beyoglu is also the centre of the more bohemian arts
scene. |
| |
|
Kiz Kulesi (Leander Tower)
|
 |
Considered to be
symbolic of Istanbul, this tiny tower was established on a small
island at the entrance of the Bosphorus. In the past, it was
used as a watchtower and a lighthouse, until its present purpose
of a tourist attraction. Western sources describe this as
Leander's Tower, who was drowned while swimming, to reach his
lover Hera. Another story suggests that it was a tower where an
emperor's daughter put her there for security, having dreamt
that she would be bitten by a snake.
|
| |
|
The Bosphorus
|
 |
A stay in Istanbul is not
complete without a traditional and unforgettable boat trip up
the Bosphorus, the winding strait that separates Europe and
Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present,
grand splendour and simple beauty. Modem hotels stand next to
yali (shorefront wooden villas), marble palaces alongside rustic
stone fortresses, and elegant compounds neighbour small fishing
villages. The best way to see the Bosphorus is to board one of
the passenger boats that regularly zigzag along the shores.
Embark at Eminonu, and stop alternately on the Asian and
European sides of the strait. The round trip excursion, very
reasonably priced, takes about six hours. If you wish a private
voyage, there are agencies that specialise in organising these,
day or night. |
| |
|
Beylerbeyi Palace
|
|
 |
Beylerbeyi, in which the
Asian Tower of Bosphorus Bridge was constructed, is a beautiful
dedem district allotted for palaces since the Byzantium era.
Sultan Abdulaziz built the Palace, to replace the older, wooden
palace, between 1861 and 1865. Eastern and Turkish motifs are
used with Western design elements, on the sides and for internal
decoration, and the atmosphere is something resembling that of
Dolmabahce Palace. The building comprises of three floors, and
contains 26 rooms and six halls, which includes the harem and
mens greeting rooms. The interior is decorated with Bohemian
chandeliers, valuable tiles and ceramic vases. Silver-edged
furniture and luxurious carpets add something to the beauty, and
even till today the authentic furniture, carpets, curtains and
other property have been well preserved. A huge pool, terraces
and stables, face the back cliff. A road and tunnel, used until
1970, passed under the palace garden and were used by the most
distinguished foreign dignitaries when visiting the palace. Open
daily except Monday and Thursday. |
| |
|
Çiragan Palace
|
|
 |
The most picturesque spots
along the Bosphorus and Golden Horn were reserved for the
palaces and mansions for the Sultans, and other important
dignitaries, most of which have now gone. The huge palace was
constructed by architect Serkis Balyan in 1871, as appointed by
Sultan Abdul Aziz, from the ruins of the old palace. The
interior was rebuilt, at a cost of four million gold coins,
beginning with covering the ceiling with wood and the walls with
marble. The rooms were decorated with rare carpets, furniture,
gold and silver. The sides of the building were decorated with
coloured marble, and monumental gates connected it to Yildiz
Palace, via a bridge, which is how the harem women went between
the two, in total privacy. It briefly housed the Turkish
Parliament from 1908, but was destroyed by a fire two years
later, and was only rebuilt in 1991. Now, it is Istanbul's
premier luxury hotel, and has retained something of its former
glory. |
| |
|
Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art
|
 |
Built in 1524 by Ibrahim
Pasa, the Grand Vizier to Suleyman the Magnificent, this was
originally a palace and the grandest private residences in the
Ottoman Empire - and one of the few which have survived. Some of
it, however, was destroyed and rebuilt in stone to the original
designs in 1843. Now home to the museum, this is considered one
of the finest collections of Islamic art in the world, with a
superb display of ceramics, metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy
and textiles, as well as some of the oldest carpets in the
world. Equally as impressive is the grace of the building, with
the central courtyard giving something of an insight into the
atmosphere of the residence. Opposite is the Great Hall, which
houses a collection of Turkish carpets, with exquisite antique
carpets and kilims and one of the finest collections in the
world, the oldest exhibit dating back to 13th century. Opening
hours: 09.00 - 17.00, closed Mondays |
|
