Istanbul Things to Do Tips by midnight_mike

Construction for Hagia Sophia, the Church of Holy Wisdom, started in 532. Amazingly, it took only five years to complete. It replaced two previous versions of the church that had been destroyed. For more than a thousand years, Hagia Sophia was the largest and grandest church in the world. When Sultan Mehmet II converted it into a mosque, the loss devastated Orthodox Christians. Ironically, Hagia Sophia’s design impressed the Ottomans so much that it was copied in other mosques throughout the empire. In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey, declared Hagia Sophia a museum and work started to restore its mosaics. Today, it is mix of both faiths.

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Phone: 5220989
Directions: Sultanahmet district, across from the Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque is perhaps one of the greatest works of architecture in the world. It is undoubtedly Istanbul’s most recognized symbol. I walked past it each day when I was in Istanbul and there was not a single moment when I didn’t marvel at its splendor.

It was built for Sultan Ahmet I in 1617, across from Hagia Sophia. Its hilltop location and its proximity to the water make it visible from miles away. At night, floodlights add to the mosque’s charm. Although it is technically named the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, it is known to most tourists as the Blue Mosque because of its blue interior tiles.

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Topkapi Palace is unlike most palaces in the world. When you are there you will likely ask the question “Is this it?” It is a collection of single-story buildings with an emphasis on openness. There are plenty of courtyards and gardens, each with the purpose of being independent from the rest of the palace. The women of the harem, for example, were unable to go beyond their quarters. So everything they needed in their daily lives was right there. Highlights of any visit will include the Harem, the Imperial Treasury with a collection of the sultans’ robes and the Sacred Safekeeping Rooms. In this last section there are relics of the Prophet Muhammad, including a tooth and a strand of his beard.

Unfortunately, there is not much furniture left in Topkapi Palace. In the 19th century, the sultans moved to glamorous mansions on the European side of Bosphorus such as Dolmabahce Palace.

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Phone: 5120480
Address: Topkapi Sarayi

The Ottoman Turks did not conquer Constantinople in a single day. Instead, they cut away at the Byzantine Empire over several years. One of their key moves was to seal off the Bosphorous, the narrow passageway connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. They did this by building fortresses on both the European and Asian sides. The more impressive is Rumeli, which is on the European side. It is well-preserved and worth the trouble of getting there. It would have been suicidal for enemy ships to try passing through here as cannons could have easily hit any target. As you will notice when you are there, the Asian side is extremely close. You might be tempted to try hitting a golf ball onto the other side.

If you are taking a Bosphorus cruise, you will pass by this massive military structure. However, the boat will not stop at Rumeli. To go inside, you will have to either take a bus or a taxi.

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Directions: On the European side of the Bosphorus. It will take about 30 minutes to get there from Beyoglu. I advise taking a taxi from Taksim or anywhere in Beyoglu. Then, you can take the bus going back. Just hop on anything going south.

Porta Aurea (“The Golden Gate”), known in Turkish as Yedikule, was the main entrance to the city. Foreign dignitaries were welcomed at this gate, which used to be lavishly decorated with sculpted elephants.

After the Ottoman takeover in 1453, Porta Aurea was expanded into a fortress. Walking the dimly lit stairways of its seven towers, it is easy imagining yourself back in time. Once at the top, visitors are treated to a panoramic view of the city and the Sea of Marmara. Concerts and festivals are regularly held inside the fortress.

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Phone: 0212 584 40 12
Directions: Take the old tram, the one that runs near the Sea of Marmara, to the Yedikule stop. Walk about a block west and you will be there. It is southwest of Sultanahmet, close to the water.
Website: http://www.istanbul7towers.com/ana.asp
Other Contact: info@istanbul7towers.com

Blachernae Imperial Palace was built in the 11th century by emperor Alexius I. This area was originally outside of the Theodosian Walls. In 627 A.D., the walls were expanded. This created a weakness which would be exploited by invaders in the following centuries.

Major restoration work is underway, closing off the palace’s interior to visitors.

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Directions: Blachernae Imperial Palace is along the northern section of the Theodosian Walls. It is about five minutes from the St. Chora Church. It is listed on some tourist maps.

The Theodosian Walls, erected in 412 A.D., secured the four miles of the city vulnerable to a land invasion. To assure its impregnability, two sets of walls were built. The outer wall is six-and-a-half feet thick and 28 feet in height. The inner wall, built 65 feet from the outer wall, is 16 feet thick and about 40 feet in height. The walls included 96 towers, some as high as 65 feet, and 12 gates.

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Just south of the Blue Mosque, there is an oval-shaped road. This was the site of the Hippodrome, where 100,000 spectators watched chariot races. At its center, three monuments offer clues as to the prominence of this stadium.

The Constantine Column, 105 feet in height, was erected by Constantine. It had been covered with bronze plates, but those were removed in 1204 by Venetians who sacked the city. Standing 55 feet high, the 3,500-year-old Obelisk of Theodosius was brought to Constantinople in 390 A.D. from the Temple of Karnak in Egypt. In addition to these two monuments, there is the Serpentine Column, commemorating the Greek victory over the Persians in 479 B.C. It was removed from Delphi during Constantine’s reign. Unfortunately, the snake heads have been detached, one of which can be found in the Istanbul Archeological Museum.

The southern edge of the stadium, which the locals call the Sfendon wall, is the only remaining part of the Hippodrome. To find it, head along the first road southeast of the Constantine Column and look for an ancient wall to your right.

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The Suleymaniye mosque is one of Istanbul’s greatest examples of Ottoman architecture. It was built in 1557 under the orders of Suleymaniye the Magnificent, whose reign marked the apex of the Ottoman Empire. It interior design is a combination of splendor and tranquility. The outside is a geometrical masterpiece, with domes of various diameters blending with ease.

Just outside the mosque is a mausoleum containing the body of Suleymaniye. Many of the most important Pashas, a term reserved for ministers or advisers to the sultan, are buried in the surrounding cemetery.

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Directions: In the Beyazit neighborhood, behind Istanbul University.

When standing on the shores of the Golden Horn, you will undoubtedly be staring at the Galata Tower. The freestanding tower sits atop a hill in Beyoglu, providing a bird’s eye view of the Golden Horn and the Asian side of Istanbul. It was built in 1348 by the Genoese. The Ottomans used it to spot fires. Since most of their housing was made of wood, the tower was an invaluable asset.

In the 17th century a man used a hang gliding apparatus to cross the Bosphorus. It was the first transcontinental flight.

While the Galata Tower is fascinating piece of architecture, I see little value in paying an admission to go up to the top. There is also a high-priced restaurant, but there are much better options in the city. Is it really worth paying $75 per person to eat at the top of this monument?

The best views of Galata Tower are from the ferries that take commuters from Eminonu to the Asian side.

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Phone: 2938180
Address: Galata Kulesi Sokak