This is the largest underground cistern in Istanbul that is considered to be a marvel of Byzantine engineering and gives you a chance to learn about the lives of great personalities in the past. One of the most prominent attractions of this cistern is Hen’s eye column that has a teardrop motif on it. It has a cafe and lighting elevated walkways for the convenience of the visitors. Location: Alemdar, Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34110 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey Entry fee: 20 Turkish Lira per adult, free entry to children below the age of 7 Best Time: Weekdays Click Here To Book: Basilica Cistern Tickets Must Checkout & Book: Europe Honeymoon Packages Yerebatan Sarnıcı Like most sites in İstanbul, the cistern has an unusual history. It was originally known as the Basilica Cistern because it lay underneath the Stoa Basilica, one of the great squares on the first hill. Designed to service the Great Palace and surrounding buildings, it was able to store up to 80,000 cu metres of water delivered via 20km of aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea, but was closed when the Byzantine emperors relocated from the Great Palace. Forgotten by the city authorities some time before the Conquest, it wasn’t rediscovered until 1545, when scholar Petrus Gyllius was researching Byzantine antiquities in the city and was told by local residents that they were able to obtain water by lowering buckets into a dark space below their basement floors. Some were even catching fish this way. Intrigued, Gyllius explored the neighbourhood and finally accessed the cistern through one of the basements. Even after his discovery, the Ottomans (who referred to the cistern as Yerebatan Saray) didn’t treat the so-called Underground Palace with the respect it deserved – it became a dumping ground for all sorts of junk, as well as corpses. Basilica Cistern The cistern was cleaned and renovated in 1985 by the İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and opened to the public in 1987. It’s now one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. Walking along its raised wooden platforms, you’ll feel water dripping from the vaulted ceiling and see schools of ghostly carp patrolling the water – it certainly has bucketloads of atmosphere. Note that the Museum Pass İstanbul isn’t accepted here.
Galata Tower
Galata Tower is a Genoese tower that was built in the 14th century and is reckoned to be one of the most significant landmarks of Istanbul. The tower measures 220 feet and has nine stories. It also houses a restaurant on the top of the tower that features Turkish dance performances and traditional cuisines. Surrounded by great clubs and wine bars, Galata is a hotspot for fun and entertainment. You can also have a panoramic view of the city from the top of the building. Location: Bereketzade, Galata Kulesi, 34421 Beyoglu/Istanbul, Turkey Entry fee: 35 Turkish Liras, free for kids below 7 years of age Best Time: 9:AM Also Checkout & Book: Istanbul Holiday Packages Also Book: Troy Day Trip from Istanbul Savor 360-degree views of Istanbul from atop the Galata Tower, a stone tower built in Medieval times. On a clear day, you may even see as far as the Princes’ Islands. Stretching almost 200 feet tall, you’re guaranteed a spectacular city vista from this iconic landmark. Dive into the history surrounding the tower and its function as a surveillance location, prison, naval depot, and even watchtower in order to spot fires in the city during later years. Discover the legend of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi, a 14th-century aviator who is said to have flown over the Bosphorus from the tower using handmade artificial wings.
Prince’s Island
The Princes’ Islands are composed of nine islands off the Asian coast of Istanbul, in the Sea of Marmara. There are regular passenger ferries and fast passenger ferries (sea bus) to the four of the islands from different piers of the city; from Sirkeci, from Kabatas, and from Bostanci districts. Motor vehicles are not permitted on the islands except the ones belonging to local municipality for public works, so people walk or rent a bicycle or horse-drawn carriage, even a donkey. These are nice little islands where local people have their summer homes or go there for small beaches and for picnicking, or just to wonder around at the weekends. Amid the vibrant energy of Istanbul, the Princes’ Islands beckon as serene sanctuaries, offering respite from city life with their historical charm, crystal-clear waters and breathtaking vistas Büyükada The Princes’ Island district, one of Istanbul’s districts with its coastlines on the Marmara Sea and the Black Sea, especially comes to mind as a weekend getaway as summer approaches. Although the islands welcome many visitors regardless of the season, they receive special attention during the summer months. islands Let’s start with the largest and most visited island among the Princes’ Islands, Büyükada, which means big island in English. Known for its two hills, the Hill of Jesus and the Grand Hill, Büyükada is the largest and most populous island in terms of size. Both locals and foreign tourists flock to the island, especially during the summer, and you can explore it by walking or renting a bicycle. Being the farthest from Istanbul, Büyükada gets quite crowded, especially on weekends. Those who prefer a more serene experience should consider visiting during weekdays.
Grand Bazaar
Here are some great things to buy at Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, which is one of the city’s main attractions. You can easily spend a day exploring the Bazaar’s multitude of covered streets, which house over several thousand different kiosks. It offers a visually pleasing and aromatically charged walking experience, with vivid colours and herbal scents. The Grand Bazaar’s numerous kiosks sell everything from kilim rugs, Turkish teas, Turkish delights and spices, to colourful crafts in all shapes and sizes. Let this list of Istanbul souvenir shopping ideas help you on your bargain hunting adventures at one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets. Grand Bazaar and Architectural Features The Grand Bazaar Today The Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) was constructed in 1455 as a center for local trade of clothing and jewels. Ottoman Sultan Fatih Sultan Mehmet, commonly known as Mehmed the Conqueror, ordered the construction of two stone buildings where merchants could sell their products and make a profit for the Hagia Sofia Mosque. Layout of the Historical Bazaar Built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet, one of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire, the Grand Bazaar is a shopping market covered with domes. Two bedestens form the backbone of this historical area, which was also known as “Çarsu-yı Kebir” in the past. The first covered bazaar, whose construction started in 1460, was named Cevahir. After the opening of the Cevahir covered bazaar, the sultan of the period created a commercial market by integrating various shops and shopping stalls there.
Topkapi Palace
This glorious palace is one of the most popular attractions in Istanbul that served as the administrative quarter of the Ottoman rulers. This vast complex features opulent courtyards lined with hand-painted tile work and sumptuously decorated rooms. The main highlight of Topkapi Palace is the Harem, where Sultan’s concubines used to spend their time. It also has an Imperial Council Chamber, an Imperial Treasury, and Sacred Safekeeping Rooms. Location: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/Istanbul, Turkey Entry fee: 72 Turkish Liras, free for children below 8 years Best Time: Weekdays Click Here To Book: Topkapi Palace Tickets “The sun, with all those planets revolving around it and dependent on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as if it had nothing else in the universe to do.” – Galileo Galilei OTTOMAN IMPERIAL PALACE it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans: Topkapı Palace (Topkapı Sarayı) and Harem are likely to have more colourful stories than most of the world’s museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace’s opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Imperial Council Chamber Topkapı is the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world’s museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace’s opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Mehmet the Conqueror built the first stage of the palace shortly after the Conquest in 1453, and lived here until his death in 1481. Subsequent sultans lived in this rarefied environment until the 19th century, when they moved to the ostentatious European-style palaces they built on the shores of the Bosphorus.
Hagia Sophia
ONCE A CHURCH, LATER A MOSQUE. Masterpiece Of The History Of Architecture: The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries, was the largest Eastern Roman Church in İstanbul. Constructed three times in the same location, it is the world’s oldest and fastest-completed cathedral. With its breathtaking domes that look like hanging in the air, monolithic marble columns and unparalleled mosaics, is one of the wonders of world’s architecture history. The sheer dazzling beauty of mosque with its magnificent play on space, light, and color provokes worship in the believer! Hagia Sophia pose on the ground of the first hill of İstanbul, precisely at the tip of the historic peninsula, surrounded by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn on three sides. IT CONTINUED TO EXIST AS A MOSQUE DURING THE OTTOMAN PERIOD MOSAICS, SERMON CHAIRS: WELL WORTH SEEING! When Hagia Sophia was first built, it was called the Great Church (Megale Ekklesia). However, the Church began to be called Sophia from the 5th century. Despite this, it continued to be popularly referred to as the Great Church. After the conquest in 1453, the name of the church was changed to “Hagia Sophia” as it is still used today. From the views on where the name of the building came from; The idea that it was dedicated to a saint named Sophia is false. The church was dedicated to Theia Sophia, the second element of the Christian trinity, Holy Wisdom. The word Hagia Sophia, which was later named after, is composed of the words Aya (holy, saint) and Sophos (wisdom), meaning holy/divine wisdom. Built Three Times Hagia Sophia fascinates people by not only with its awe-inspiring architectural design, but also by its gold-plated, silver-plated, glass, terracotta and colored stone mosaics, and the original ceiling mosaics of the 6th century with their floral and geometric motifs. The mosaics with figures following the icon ban in the 8th century especially Mother Mary depicted with child Jesus in her arms, the Archangel Gabriel and the Archangel Michael and Deisis stage mosaics must be seen. Some of the most famous mosaics, including a Deisis panel and imperial portraits, are found in the southwest gallery, which was used for religious meetings and ceremonies. Figures of four different angels are engraved on the pendants. These angels are depictions of Seraphim, believed to be guarding God’s throne in heaven. The angels in the east were made of mosaics while the two angels in the west were deteriorated during the Eastern Roman Period and renovated as mural paintings. The faces of the angel figures were covered with star-shaped metal caps during the Ottoman period. An angel’s face was exposed during the mosaic repairs on the dome in 2009.