The Sultanahmet district is the heart of historic Old Istanbul, what 19th-century travelers used to call "Stamboul."

Saint Sophia Church The Church of Saint Sophia. Saint Sophia Church is located just in front of the Blue Mosque in the Sultan Ahmet District of Istanbul. The church was built around 360 by the Emperor Constantino and burned down twice. It was rebuild at 530 AD by the Emperor Justinian. The layout and decoration is typical of a church of the Byzantine period. After the Turks took over Constantinople in 1453 AD., Saint Sophia was turned into a mosque and four minarets (the tall, thin towers), were added to it. Saint Sophia was restored several times because of damage caused by a series of earthquakes. Today Saint Sophia is neither a church nor a mosque but a museum. When you are inside, you can sense the influence of both the Catholic and Islamic religions and cultures in its decorations and frescos. Blue Mosque   During the Byzantine Era there was a hippodrome near the Blue Mosque with a capacity of 10,000 people. In 1606, Sultan Ahmet wanted to build a mosque bigger, more majestic and more beautiful than the Saint Sophia Church, and he did indeed build a mosque; you will be the one to judge which one is more impressive. The Blue mosque is called "Sultan Ahmet Camii" in Turkish, which means the Mosque of Sultan Ahmet. The mosque was built in the classic Ottoman style and is located just in front of Saint Sophias' Church the Sultan Ahmet district of Istanbul. Mosques were generally built to be used as a public service for the citizens. There are some buildings near the Blue mosque which include a theology school, a Turkish bath, a kitchen that used to serve soup for the poor, and shops. The shops would provide revenue for maintaining the mosque. The Blue mosque, as the name implies, was decorated with blue tiles and also glass-work with the same color. There are no images or statues inside the mosque since Islam forbids praying to images of any kind. Before entering the mosque you should take your shoes off. You should not wear miniskirts, shorts, or very low neckline dresss. The staff at the mosque will give you a wrap-round shawl cover yourself if they find your clothing is not appropriate for the mosque. Hippodrome The hippodrome was an immense construction 480 meters length and 117.5 meters wide; it could seat, according to estimations one hundred thousand spectators. It was build in 203 by the Emperor Septimus Severus and later on Constantine the Great extended and remodeled it. As Haghia Sophia was the center of religious life, the hippodrome was the center of the civil activities. The interests and passions of the population was divided between theological controversy and chariots races on the hippodrome. Today you can only see some monuments where the hippodrome was. If you are curios and want to see how was the old Constantinople city center click here ! The central line, or spina of the hippodrome was marked by obelisks and columns, three of which are still outstanding monuments at Sultan Ahmet square (see picture bellow: the red line is where the hippodrome was located, behind it you can see the Blue Mosque and Saint Sophia). The first monument is the Egyptian obelisk (picture above). It was originally commissioned by the pharaoh Thutmose III (1549-1503 B.C.) who erected it at Deir el Bahri opposite Thebes in upper Egypt to commemorate one of his campaigns in Syria and his crossing of the Euphrates river. It was erected on its present site by Theodosius the Great in 390 A.C. and at the bottom of it there is a marble stone with some sculptured relieves regarding Theodosius. The second monument is the Serpent column. The three bronze serpents were the base of a trophy that once stood at the temple of Apollo at Delphi. It was dedicated to Apollo as a token of gratitude by the 31 Greek cities which defeated in the Persian battle Plataea (479 B.C.). The column was probably brought from Delphi by Constantine the Great. The third monument is a roughly build pillar of stone 32 meters high dated around the 4th century. It is know that the monument was formerly reverted with gilded bronze plaques. In 1204, during the latin invasion, these plaques were removed, melted down and minted. Topkapi Palace Harem of Topkapi Palace The Topkapi Palace was the official residence of the Sultans for three centuries. Topkapi means round (top) door (kapi). After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Mehmet II - the conqueror, built this gorgeous palace. Today the palace complex is a large museum with many exhibition rooms. You can see gold objects (thrones, tea cups, knives, forks and spoons, cradles, jewelry, kilos and more kilos of gold work) with precious stones as decoration, silver, ceramic, miniatures, cloths and object which are sacred to Islam (among them you can see the beard and foot print of Mohammed the Prophet). Diamond at Topkapi Palace Golden Throne at Topkapi Palace  The Harem at Topkapi Palace is full of mystery and stories. It is open to the public so you can see how the Sultan's wife, concubines and mother lived. The Sultans' wives and concubines were for surely very beautiful women who would murder and intrigue for power, but we should also remember that the Harem was a place which was governed by much tradition, obedience and ceremonial. The Topkapi Palace was the official residence of the Sultans until the end of the 19th century. Mahmut II was the last Sultan to live at this palace. The last of the Sultans preferred to live by the Bosphorus in palaces with more European Styles, so they built the Dolmabahce, Ciragan and Beylerbeyi Palaces, which we will visit next. Underground Cistern The Underground Cistern is located near the Saint Sophia Church in the Sultan Ahmet district. The Turks call it "Yerenbatan Sarayi" which means "underground palace". The cistern was built by Justinian in the 6th century. It is 70 meters wide and 140 meters long, with a capacity of 80,000 cu.m. of water. The cistern is supported by 336 beautiful beautiful columns two of which are carved with the head of Medusa on the plinth. The cistern has been renovated and is open to the public every day of the week. While inside, you can enjoy classical background music, the differently illumuinated coloumns and watch fishes swimming in the water. And at the end of the tour you can also throw a coin and make a wish ... Fishes at the Underground Cistern For more inquiries or information please send us an e-mail and would be glad to answer you as soon as possible Looking forward to hearing from you Oguzhan APAK The Lord of Istanbul Travel Planner thelordofistanbultravelplanner@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/lordofistanbultravelplanner http://lordofistanbultravelplanner.blogspot.com.tr/ https://twitter.com/lordofistanbult Mobile:0090 533 641 32 42 Tel:0090 212 638 63 43 Yeni Akbıyık Cad No:30 Sultanahmet/Istanbul the Topkapi Palace Topkapi is the largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to our day. In 1924 it was turned into a museum at Atatiirk's request. Situated on the acropolis, the site of the first settlement in Istanbul, it commands an impressive view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The palace is a complex surrounded by 5 km of walls and occupies an area of 700,000 sq. m at the tip of the historical peninsula.  Following the conquest of the city in 1453, the young Sultan Mehmet moved the capital of the empire to Istanbul, His first palace was located in the middle of the town. The second palace, which he built in the 1470's, was initially called the New Palace, but in recent times it came to be known as the Topkapi Palace. Topkapı is a classical example of Turkish palace architecture. It consists of tree- shaded courtyards, each serving a different purpose and opening onto one another with monumental gates. The courtyards are surrounded by functional buildings. From the time of its construction, the palace developed constantly with alterations and additions made by each sultan.  When the sultans moved to the ostentatious Dolmabahçe Palace in 1853, Topkapı lost its importance as the official royal residence and was left to deteriorate. It finally regained its former unpretentious beauty after fifty years of continuous restoration in the Republican era. Most of the objects exhibited in the palace today are unique masterpieces.  When it was used as a palace, it served more functions than one usually associates with royal residences. Although it was the residence of the Sultan, the sole ruler of the empire, it was at the same time the center of the administrative affairs, the place where the council of ministers met, and the treasury, mint, and state archives were located there. The highest educational institution of the empire, the university of the sultan and the state was also here. Therefore it was the heart, the brain, the very center of the Ottoman Empire. Much later, the harem (private quarters) of the sultans was moved here too.  For more inquiries or information please send us an e-mail and would be glad to answer you as soon as possible Looking forward to hearing from you Oguzhan APAK The Lord of Istanbul Travel Planner thelordofistanbultravelplanner@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/lordofistanbultravelplanner http://lordofistanbultravelplanner.blogspot.com.tr/ https://twitter.com/lordofistanbult the Hagia Sophia Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum at the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia has always been the precious of its time.. For more inquiries or information please send us an e-mail and would be glad to answer you as soon as possible Looking forward to hearing from you Oguzhan APAK The Lord of Istanbul Travel Planner thelordofistanbultravelplanner@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/lordofistanbultravelplanner http://lordofistanbultravelplanner.blogspot.com.tr/ https://twitter.com/lordofistanbult the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmed Mosque) One of the most famous monuments of Turkish and Islamic art, the mosque is visited by all who come to Istanbul and gains their admiration.  This imperial mosque is an example of classical Turkish architecture, and it is the only mosque that was originally built with six minarets.  It is surrounded by other important edifices of Istanbul, built at earlier ages. Istanbul is viewed best from the sea and the mosque is part of this magnificent scenery.  Although it is popularly known as the Blue Mosque, its real name is Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Befitting his original profession, its architect Mehmet Aga decorated the interior fastidiously like a jeweler. Built between 1609-1616, the mosque used to be part of a large complex, including a covered bazaar, Turkish baths, public kitchens, a hospital, schools, a caravanserai, and the mausoleum of Sultan Ahmet. Some of these social and cultural buildings have not survived to our day.  The architect was a student of Sinan, the greatest architect of classical Turkish architecture. He applied a plan used previously by his master, but on a larger scale.  The main entrance to Sultan Ahmet Mosque is on the Hippodrome side. There is an outer courtyard, and the inner courtyard and the edifice itself are elevated.  From the gate opening to the inner courtyard one can view the domes, rising above one another in perfect harmony, over the symbolic ablution fountain in the middle and the surrounding porticoes.  There are three entrances to the mosque interior. The wealthy and colorful vista inside created by the paintings, tiles and stained glass complements the exterior view. The interior has a centralized plan; the main and side domes rise on four large columns that support broad and pointed arches. The walls of the galleries surrounding the three sides of the interior chamber are decorated by over 20,000 exquisite Iznik tiles. The areas above the tiles and the inside of the domes are decorated with paintwork.  The blue of the paintwork, which gives the mosque its name, was not the color of the decorations originally; they were painted blue during later restorations. During the last renovation, completed in 1990, the darker blue color of the interior decorations painted as its original light colors.  The floor is covered by carpets, as in all mosques. Next to the mihrab (niche aligned towards Mecca) opposite the main entrance, there is a marble minber (pulpit) with exquisite marble work. On the other side is the sultan's loge (box) in the form of a balcony. The 260 windows flood with light the interior space, which is covered by a dome 23.5 m in diameter and 43 m high.  The small market building, repaired and reconstructed in recent years, is situated to the east of the mosque, and the single-domed mausoleum of Sultan Ahmet and the medrese (religious school) building are to the north, on the Hagia Sophia side.  In summer months light and sound shows are organized in the park here. Sultan Ahmet Mosque occupies a focal point in city tours, together with the numerous monumental buildings and museums in the vicinity.  The minarets of the mosque are classical examples of Turkish architecture. The balconies are reached by spiral stairs. It is from these balconies that five times a day the believers are called to prayer - in our day using loudspeakers.  The domes and the minarets are covered by lead, and at the top of the minarets there are standards made of gold-plated copper. Master craftsmen repair these coverings very skillfully when needed.  Islam requires all Muslims to pray five times a day. When the believers hear the call to prayer from the minarets, they perform their ablutions (washing) and then pray. The noon prayer on Fridays and the prayers on other important holidays are performed in the mosques collectively, but other prayers can be performed anywhere.  In the communal prayers performed in the mosque, the imam takes the lead and he chants verses from the Koran. The areas of prayer for men and women are separate. In the central area only men are allowed to pray, while women take their places either behind them or in the galleries.  It is a characteristic of classical Turkish mosques that even in the most crowded day, the majority of the congregation can easily see the mihrab. For more inquiries or information please send us an e-mail and would be glad to answer you as soon as possible Looking forward to hearing from you Oguzhan APAK The Lord of Istanbul Travel Planner thelordofistanbultravelplanner@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/lordofistanbultravelplanner http://lordofistanbultravelplanner.blogspot.com.tr/ https://twitter.com/lordofistanbult Egyptian Bazaar Egyptian Bazaar It is said that an old bazaar called Makron Envalos previously existed where the current Egyptian Bazaar stands. The Egyptian Bazaar with its L-shape structure is located on the west side of  the New Mosque (Yeni Cami). The year following the mosque’s construction,  the "bazaar" section of the complex has been added by Mustafa Ağa, the head- architect of the Ottoman Palace. The main reason for it being called the  “Egyptian Bazaar” is that it was built by the taxes collected from Cairo, Egypt.  After the 18th century, this name began to be commonly used. The bazaar was originally called the “Valide Bazaar” or the “New Bazaar,” then it was later  called the “Mısır Çarşısı” (Egyptian Bazaar). It has six doors total. The part  near the Haseki Gate was designed as a double-storied structure and the upper floor also used as a court hall  where cases between tradesmen and people were heard. At the intersection of the the short and long branches of the bazaar an area is called the “Prayer Field” (Dua  Meydanı) is located where an “Adhan ( Muslim call to prayer) Kiosk” is found. This section, designed and built   out of wood, is the most notable part of the Bazaar. Once the bazaar opens, an officer in charge calls a prayer  for the tradesmen and wishes them a high income. Not only have spices been sold in the Egyptian Bazaar, but all sorts of medicines were sold during the old times  in the bazaar as well.  Signs used to be posted in conspicuous area of the shops. Most of the medicines were  prepared according to the recipes from the book, “Nüzhet-ül Fi Tercüme-Afiyet” (A good appetite). Today,  the bazaar has jewelry stores, herb and spice sellers, gift shops, etc. For more inquiries or information please send us an e-mail and would be glad to answer you as soon as possible Looking forward to hearing from you Oguzhan APAK The Lord of Istanbul Travel Planner thelordofistanbultravelplanner@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/lordofistanbultravelplanner http://lordofistanbultravelplanner.blogspot.com.tr/ https://twitter.com/lordofistanbult Mobile:0090 533 641 32 42 Yeni Akbıyık Cad No:30 Sultanahmet/Istanbul The Egyptian Bazaar suffered heavy losses during the two large fires in 1691 and 1940. It took its present shape in 1940 after being restored by the Municipality of Istanbul.