Istanbul Off The Beaten Path Tips by Paul2001

The Aqueduct of Valens the Roman Aqueduct Review

The Aqueduct of Valens in just a short walk southeast of the Faith Camii. By no means is it one of the great remaining Roman aqueducts in existance but it is still pretty impressive. It stretches for about 500m and is flanked on one side by leafy parks. The aqueduct soars over the trees here. It was built in the 4th century A.D. and the Byzantine emperor Justinian the Great added a second tier in the 6th century. The aqueduct was used for transporting water between two hills to a cistern in Beyazit Square for more than 1500 years.

Baths of Lady Hurrem

The Baths of Lady Hurrem is a 16th century building that originally served as a bathhouse or hamam. I thought that the building was rather eyecatching. It was not unusual during the Ottoman times to have a hamam outside of a mosque. This one was built just south of the Agia Sofia after it had been converted into a mosque. Today it is used as a carpet sales centre.

The Fatih Camii

The Fatih Camii is one of the least visited mosques on the tourist circuit. It is also one of the holiest in Istanbul. You will see more worshippers here than in any of the other major mosques in the city. This is probably because of the location close to the most conservatively Muslim sections of Istanbul. For this reason, I kept my visit short and spent most of my time wandering around the perimeter. This was in fact a great opportunity to people watch as the mosque seems to attract alot of locals who socialize here as well as worship.
The mosque was originally built in 1470 by Mehmet the Conqueror. However the mosque that you see today was actually built in 1780 after the first mosque was totally destroyed by fire. The exterior still incorporates some of the fine decorations. The mosque is not one of the must-sees in Istanbul but if you have time to wander around by foot through the city like I did, then by all means take the place in if simply for the amazing atmosphere.

The Askeri Muzesi (Military Museum)

The Askeri Muzesi traces the "glorious" military history of Turkey and the Ottoman Empire. The museum houses a very large collection of artifacts relating to military affairs some of which was quite fascinating. Most memorable are the collections of swords and a marvelous exhibit of tents that were used in campaigns during the height of military glory of the Ottoman empire during the 16th century. The museum seems to largely ignore or rush over the sadder or inglorious episodes in Turkish military history. Hence the Russo-Turkish War, the Balkan Wars and much of the First World War, wars that Turkey all lost, seem to be forgotten or ignored. The exclusion being the Gallipoli campaign during the First World War where the Turks fended off an Allied attempt to defeat Turkey by way of an amphibious invasion along the Aegean coast and a drive onto Istanbul. The cannon you see in this photo is a large relic from this battle. For most the primary reason to visit the Askeri Muzesi is to see the Concert of the Mehter for which it will provide a seperate tip.
The Askeri Muzesi is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm. It costs to 50 cents to see the museum. The museum is located a kilometer northeast of Taksim Square.

The Spice Bazaar

Although not as famous as the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Bazaar is also well worth visiting. At onetime you could get spices from all over the globe here. However since the days tourists began flocking to Istanbul, the bazaar is more of a tourist mecca. It is right beside the Yeni mosque and you can hang out here while waiting to get into the mosque after prayer time as I did.
The bazaar was built in the early 17th century. It would be a place where the locals came to socialize and trade after they left the mosque prayers.
The Spice Bazaar is located in the Eminonu section, right on the Golden Horn. It is also very close to the cruiseboat docks which is why I visited just before I hoped onto a Bosphorus cruiseboat. The Spice Bazaar is open from 8:30am to 6:30pm from Monday to Saturday.

The Walls of Istanbul theodosian (city) wall Review

The walls that defended Istanbul, then known to the world as Constantinople. The walls were originally built in 447 A.D. by Emperor Theodosius II. They were reinforced many times over the next one thousand years. Over this millineum the 6km of walls held many besiegers at bay. The walls were finally breached by the Ottomans in 1453.
Today most of the walls are still standing however in various states of disrepair. As you can see here portions are being restored however you can walk throught the walls in some parts. If you want to walk around the walls, then it is not too difficult but I should suggest some care be taken. The walls extend around some rather depressed parts of Istanbul. Single women might not feel comfortable. The walls are also being encroached by a highway so your tour may not be all that peaceful.

The Yeni Cami (The New Mosque)

The Yeni Cami is not one of the must see mosques in Istanbul but it is worth a visit if you are area of the Spice Bazaar or have a few moments before your cruise up the Bosphorus sets off. This the case with me and I felt that the mosque was well worth a visit. The mosque is one of the oldest and largest in Istanbul. It was begun in 1597 and took about forty years to complete. Like many Ottoman mosques the interior is decorative to the point of awe inspiring.
The mosque is located virtually across the street from the Spice Bazaar in the Emin?n? district on the edge of the Golden Horn.
It is open during daylight hours but non Muslims should not enter during prayer times.