TOPKAPI PALACE
When Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror took
Istanbul in 1453, he first ordered the
construction of a new palace for this new
Ottoman capital, on a site in the district of
Beyazit where Istanbul University stands
today. But before long, he changed his mind
and had a number of buildings constructed
on the headland to the southeast. This was
to become the palace known as Topkapi.
THE RUMELI FORTRESS
The Rumeli Fortress is situated on the
Tracean side of the Istanbul Bosphorus. It
was built by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in
1452 to prevent aid from north reaching
Byzantine. It took 4 months to build with
1,000 masons and 2,000 workers. Today, the
fortress hosts many concerts and dramatic
performances in its amphitheatre usually in
the summer months.
SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent
commissioned the Suleymaniye Mosque,
which was designed by Architect Sinan and
built between the dates 1550-1557. It is the
largest mosque in Istanbul. Suleyman was
the richest and most powerful Sultan of the
Ottoman Empire. He is remembered by the
Turks as the one who introduced laws and
not by his magnificent title.
HAGIA SOPHIA
Haghia Sophia, the "Church of Holy
Wisdom", was built by the Emperor Justinian
in the 6th century. It was, for nearly a
thousand years, the largest enclosed space
in the world, and still seen as one of the
world’s most important architectural
monuments. It was used as church for 916
years, as mosque for 481 years and was
converted into museum in 1935.
SULTANAHMET MOSQUE
Facing Hagia Sophia stands the supremely elegant, six-minaret,
imperial Sultanahmet Mosque. Built between 1609 and 1616 by the
architect Mehmet, the building is more familiarly known as the Blue
Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling, of
blue and white Iznik tiles. It is considered to be the last example of
Ottoman classical architecture.During the summer months an
evening light and sound show both entertain and inform.
GRAND (COVERED) BAZAAR
The oldest and biggest closed bazaar in the world, also known as the Grand
Bazaar, has around 4000 shops and over 60 alleyway, covering a huge labyrinth
in the city centre. The original two structures, covered with a series of domes
and remains of the 15th century walls, became a shopping area by covering the
surrounding streets and adding to it over the following centuries. It take the first
place to visit Istanbul for foreigners. Millions of different objects that are sold in
thousands of shops seem charming for especially Western Visitors.
MAIDEN TOWER
If you saw the James Bond movie “The World is not Enough”, you
may recall the location where Judi Dench was imprisoned and Pierce
Brosnan killed the lovely Sophie Marceau. This 12th century stone
tower erected on a rock at the entrance of the Bosphorus by
Byzantine Emperor Manuel Komnenos. This tower, which has served
as a prison and a lighthouse, became the source of many legends in
ancient days. It soon will be opened to the public as a cafeteria.
DOLMABAHCE PALACE
Dolmabahce Palace was constructed between 1842-1853 by Sultan
Abdulmecid. The architect was a famous Armenian architect, Nikogos
Balyan. The palace reflects the European and more "modern" side of the
Ottoman Empire. The Sultans moved to Dolmabahce Palace after its
construction was finished and never went back to Topkapi Palace which
hosted them nearly 4 centuries. It is also the place where Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk (founder of the Turkish Republic) died in 1938.
BOSPHORUS BRIDGE
Istanbul is the only city in the world spanning two continents (Asia and
Europe). The city is divided into two parts by the Straits of Bosphorus (20
miles long), connecting the Sea of Marmara (at the south) to the Black Sea
(at the north). The Bosphorus Bridge was opened in 1973 as part of the
50th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Turkish Republic. The
bridge is 1560 m long, with a middle span of 1.074 m, a width of 33.40 m
and an altitude of 64 m.
