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HAGIA SOPHIA
Hagia Sophia is one of the world's most important buildings in respect of its architecture. This ancient basilica was built by Constantine the Great but was destroyed by fire. A new church was built at the same place by Theodosius II, but also burnt down. It was reconstructed by Justinian
in the 6th Century.
To stand in Saint Sophia is like to witness sixteen hundred years of history. The Hagia Sophia is now been a nominee for
the new 7 wonders of the world.
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ST. SAVIOUR in CHORA MUSEUM
A legendary Byzantine church decorated with extraordinary late
14th century frescoes and mosaics portraying the life and miracles
of Christ.
The most important and extensive series of Byzantine paintings
in the city and among the most significant in the world.
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UNDERGROUND CISTERN
The Yerebatan Sarayi is the Turkish name for the Byzantine Period which is the grandest and most impressive one of its kind in Istanbul.
The giant reservoir was built in the 6th Century. The water that came from the Belgrade forest 19 km.s away was used for the palaces.
It is 140 m. long 70 m. wide. It has 336 columns, which support the brick dome and arrange 12 rows of 28 each and are topped by Byzantine Corinthian Capitals. The Cistern was renovated in 1987. (See James Bond movie "With love from Russia"!) Apart visiting as an historical place, special organizations, cocktails and art & cultural shows are performed upon request.
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HIPPODROME
The vast area that lies between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque was
the Hippodrome of Constantinople. During the Byzantine era the Hippodrome was the centre of civil activities. Not only chariot races,
but also celebrations in honour of the emperor took place here.
Today one can see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Plated Column and the Serpentine Column here.
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TOPKAPI PALACE
Overlooking the Golden Horn stands the mare of buildings that was the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans -Topkapı Palace -from the 15th to the 19th Century. Today it is one of the richest museums of the world.
Topkapi was not just the private residence of the Sultan and his court
but as the home of the Divan (the Cabinet) was the seat of the Supreme executive and of judicial control of a great empire. It houses the most astonishing collections of rare objects which once belonged to the Sultans.
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SULTANAHMET MOSQUE - THE BLUE MOSQUE
It is known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue “Iznik” tiles. Blue Mosque stands firmly opposite of Hagia Sophia with its supremely elegant imperial 6 minarets as the mosque of Sultan Ahmet I. Inside one cannot fail to be affected by the cool, mystical light reflected from every angle, and the blue tiles striking both for their colour and the immense area over which they are displayed.
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SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
The mosque of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, where he and his wife
are buried, is considered as the most beautiful and splendid of all
imperial mosques in Istanbul. It was built between 1550 and 1557 by
the famous architect Sinan.
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GRAND COVERED BAZAAR
In 1461 the first bazaar was built of wood, on the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, which is now called as "Eski Bedesten" the primitive of all. After several fires the bazaar was reconstructed in 1894.
Today the domed buildings surrounded by a wall, occupies an area of 200.000 sqm. Approximately 4.000 shops are spread out in a giant labyrinth of small streets and passages, which are mostly arranged according to their trades: rugs, antiques, gold, silver, leather etc.
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EGYPTIAN BAZAAR (SPICE MARKET)
Genoese and Venetian goods used to be sold at what is the second most famous bazaar after the Grand Covered Bazaar: the “Misir Carsisi”
or Egyptian Bazaar. The L shaped Spice Market contains 100 shops.
The Bazaar is vibrant with aromas and colours at all hours of the day. Those who have an affinity for food and those lovers of spices could
spend a whole day here.
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BEYLERBEYI PALACE
This palace was constructed in the same style as Dolmabahce Palace.
It is situated on the Asiatic Shore of the Bosphorus and was built during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz in the year 1865.
The Palace consists of 24 rooms and 6 walls. Italian, French and Turkish artists created the ceiling decorations. The Palace was the Summer Palace of the Sultan.
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DOLMABAHCE PALACE
Sultan Abdülmecid I, who founded Topkapi Palace old fashioned, erected the present Dolmabahce Palace in Turkish Renaissance Style in 1843-1856. Among other celebrities the French empress Eugenia, wife of Napoleon III, the Austrian emperor Franz Josef, the German emperor Wilhelm II,
the English prince Edward VII, the Persian Shah Reza Pahlevi, King Faisal, King Emanullah were guests here.
After the Empire was terminated in 1923 Atatürk stayed at the palace
on his trips to Istanbul. He died here in November 1938.
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ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
This extraordinary museum was established in the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit II by the painter and collector Osman Hamdi Bey.
It now houses the most beautiful antique collection in the world.
The antiquities mostly originate from Anatolia, the Middle East and
North Africa which were once a part of the Ottoman Empire.
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MUSEUM of TURKISH & ISLAMIC ARTS
(IBRAHIM PACHA PALACE)
This building at the edge of the Hippodrome, just opposite to Blue Mosque is the Palace of Ibrahim Pacha – Grand Vizier of Suleyman the Magnificent – was the only palace owned by a dignity outside the dynasty.
After restoration in 1970s it was turned to be a museum. It was awarded by the Council of Europe in 1984 and by UNESCO in 1985. This unique place may be used for special events, gatherings, and parties.
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RUMELİ FORTRESS
The Rumeli Fortress was built before the siege of Istanbul in 1453 opposite to an earlier Turkish fortress on the Asian shores of the city to prevent any reinforcements and help to that may come from Black Sea.
It was built in an amazingly short time of four months.
It was restored in 1950s. Besides being visited as an museum, it is also one of the important venues of Istanbul Music and Art Festival and also houses many concerts during summer season. It may be used for special events.
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BOSPHORUS
One of the great pleasures of a visit to Istanbul is a cruise up the Bosphorus. This cruise can either be day cruise (with or without lunch)
or a dinner cruise.
Depending on the size of a group and expectations, steamboats,
sailing boats, speedboats, deluxe yachts or restaurant boats may
be used.
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