Sights

GALATA TOWER

Galata Tower, Istanbul
photo by: Svetlana Tikhonova

As the stronghold of the Genoese defence system in Pera, in 1348 on the hill above the harbour the Galata Tower was errected (The Tower of Christ).

You really should take the time to have a look at that and esp. from that tower. Don't mind the admission fee that is charged, it is really worth it. Try to be there at sundown and you will understand why I do think this is one of the most beautifull views in the world.

type:	Other Sights
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Bosphorus Tours

BOSPHORUS ON BOAT A traditional excursion by boat along the waterway seperating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of more..

type:	Hotspots
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	00905357220175
openingHours:	08:15
url:	www.bilsentravel.com
address:	Klodfarer Caddesi No : 3 Sultanahmet - Istanbul - Turkey
email:	info@bilsentravel.com

Chora / Kariye

The Church of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye Camii) is inside the the Theodosian Walls, in spite of the fact that "chora" means "in the country" or "outside". So it seems sure that the church (wich is a part of a monastry) was originally outside the ancient city and is therefore older than these walls.

What makes the church today so popular are the mosaics and paintings from mainly 1325-21, when Theodor Metochides financed them. The church eas as many others in the early 16th century converted to a mosque, but the mosaics and frescos were never obliterated, although in different more..

type:	Churches and Cathedrals
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	0212/631-9241
openingHours:	Thurs-Tues 9:30am-6:30pm
url:	www.sacred-destinations.com
address:	Camii Sok., Kariye Meydani, Edirnekapi, Istanbul

Covered Bazaar

Covered Bazaar, Istanbul
photo by: Svetlana Tikhonova

Kapali Carsi - The Covered Bazaar is one of the biggest of its kind in the world. In more than 3500 shops of various kinds, there are more than 20.000 people working. Together with numerous shops selling carpets, cloth and clothes, souvenirs, there are many cafés, tea-houses and restaurants (esp. those called "sofra" that offer special lunch for the business people in the neighborhood.

The market is on its place since Mehmet II conquered the city. It has been rebuild several times since then, the reason for that were catastrophes like the earthquake in 1894 and the big more..

type:	Other Sights
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Suleymaniye Camii

Suleymaniye Mosque
photo by: -

One of the things you should not miss is of course the Suleymaniye Camii (i.e. Mosque), designed and build by Mimar Sinan, the most important architect of the Ottoman Empire. The inside is less decorated than you might expect, but the proportions and the total impression is breath-taking.

The Suleymaniye Mosque is in fact a "külliye" which means more than just a mosque but also a hospital with insane asylum, a theological school (medrese), a public kitchen, a caravanserai, a public bath and the graves (türbe) of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Roxelana.

The more..

type:	Mosques
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Haghia Sofia

Saint Sofia Church
photo by: Chris Georgiev

Looking from the outside one might be disappointed: it looks little elegant. But don't miss to see the inside. There are only few churches world wide just as impressive as Haghia Sophia.

The Haghia Sophia Church was erected and re-erected through the centuries many times. We know that there were a few wooden churches before at the same place and probably with the same name. Some of them burned down, some were destroyed by earthquakes, for which the region was famous for as we still can see today. It is likely that the first church from stone was built there somewhat in the more..

type:	Churches and Cathedrals
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	0212/522-1750
openingHours:	Open from Wed.- Mon. from 9:30h am - 4:00 pm
url:	www.sacred-destinations.com
address:	Aya Sofya Sq., Istanbul, Turkey

Cisterns

Cistern, Istanbul
photo by: Svetlana Tikhonova

The underground cistern "Yerebatan Saray" (Underground Palace") is the biggest of the today known cisterns. It is 139 meters long and about 65 meters wide. Inside it consists of 336 columns, 12 rows of 28 each, separated by 4 meters and with a height of 8 meters. The cistern has a capacity of about 80,000 m³ .

It dates from the time of Justinian I.

Adress: Yerebatan Caddesi, Sultan Ahmet.

Daily from 9:00 am - 5:30 pm

type:	Roman Time
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Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahce Palace is the palace where Ataturk lived and worked in before the War of Independence. Atatürk is the founder of The Republic of Turkey and accepted as a great commander all through the world.

Located by the great Bosphorus in the European side with a great view and a great architectural palace by itself apart from its historical meaning.

type:	Palaces
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Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque)

Blue Mosque at Dusk Istanbul
photo by: Jonathan Harrison UK

The Blue Mosque is impressive because of its size and the elegance of both its architecture and surroundings. It is less impressive from the inside and some actually say it is a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, with its six minarets it is a must see for Istanbul. The complex was erected in only nine years under the reign of Sultan Ahmet I (finished in 1616). The name "Blue Mosque" was given because of the 21.000 Iznik tiles inside the mosque.

type:	Mosques
World66 rating:	[rate it]
tel:	(0212) 518 1319
openingHours:	9am-6pm, except during daily prayer times and midday on Fridays
url:	www.sacred-destinations.com

MARKET AT YENI CAMI

Every Sunday there is market all around the Yeni Cami (the New Mosque) at the head of the Galat Bridge. The bridge itself is very nice to cross then, you can see from there both sides of the city, the ships and boats, people fishing etc..

The market is spread out all around the mosque and streched through several streets up to the covered bazar (kapali carsi) wich is closed on Sunday! The products are mostly for the locals but usually I do find some small things there as socks, shirts, batteries, spices, tea ... these things are much cheaper here than in Beyoglu.

type:	Other Sights
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The City Walls

Theodosius II (5th century), successor and son of Theodosius the Great, is the Emperor that gave the city walls his name: The Theodosian Walls.

The Theodosian Walls, protecting the city landwards, are in many parts in the present time still visible. The main walls were about 5 meters thick at the base and rose up to 12-15 meters. The wall was guarded by ninety-six towers of about 20 meters height, errected at an interval of 50-60 meters.

The walls were pierced by ten gates and a few small posterns. Five of these gates were open to public transportation more..

type:	Roman Time
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Rustem Pasha Camii

Another small but very impressive mosque was erected in 1561 by architect Mimar Sinan in the market quarter of Eminönü down by the Golden Horn. The entrance is easy to miss, it is not much more than a door and some steps leading to a terrace above the shops of the market. The Rüstem Pasha Camii should not be missed because of its charming atmosphere and its superb tiles inside.

type:	Mosques
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Church of Sergius and Bacchus

One of the most important and oldest churches in Istanbul is the Church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus.

Soon after Emperor Justinian came to the throne (527) he gave order to start with the constructions; the work was finished only 9 years later. Since 1503, when the church was converted to a mosque by Hussein Aga, the chief eunuch of Sultan Beyazit II's harem, it is known as "Kücük Aya Sofya Camii" (little Haghia Sophia Mosque), because of its resemblance to Haghia Sophia.

type:	Churches and Cathedrals
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Ciragan Palace

This palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1861, who ascended the throne after Sultan Abdülmecit. It was designed by Nikogos Balyan and the construction carried out by Sarkis and Agop Balyan. In 1876, Murat V was placed in house arrest at Ciragan on grounds that he was mentally ill and Sultan Abdülhamid took the throne. Murat lived at Ciragan Palace until he died in 1905. The palace was used as the house of parliament when it burned down in 1910. Today the restored Ciragan Palace is a luxury hotel.