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ALL TURKEY TOURS |
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INFORMATION |
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Istanbul;
Which had been the capital of Rome,Byzantium and the Ottoman
Empire, is one of the most interesting centers of the world
owing to its natural beauties, in addition to the historical
structures which are the heritage of these cultures.
Istanbul is situated like an open air museum on both shores
of the strait which is 33 km in length and separates the
continents of Asia and Europe. We know that habitations had
existed in the whereabouts of Istanbul during the Neolithic
age. The first habitation succeeding these ones, came into
existence in Kadiköy which was named Khalkedon in the VII
century B.C. The city that was founded later on the opposite
shore of Khalkedon, namely Byzantium, progressed rapidly
because of its importance and became an important center.
This progressive city became subject to Roman sovereignty,
was adorned with temples and public squares during the
period of Constantinus, and was surrounded with city walls.
The city was made the capital of Rome in the year 330 and
named Constantinapolis and, after Rome was divided into two
parts as the Eastern Rome and Western Rome, it was made the
capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Finally, when the
Ottomans captured Byzantium in the year 1453, Istanbul was
converted into the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Many
historical works of art showing traces of these empires,
have been able to survive up to date. The obelisks belonging
to the Roman period, which were used as ornaments of the
public square Sultanahmet, are still maintained in their
places today.
One of these is the obelisk which Theodosius I had ordered
to be brought from Egypt in the year 390; it is 18.54 m (61
ft) in height and seems magnificent today with the
hieroglyph scripture on it. Another column which is seen
here is the braided column with a height of 20.68 m (68 ft),
which Constantinus VII had ordered to be erected in the year
944. The third column, formed by three winding snakes, was
ordered to be brought from the Temple of Apollon in Delphi
in the year 360 by Constantinus I.
The most important historical remain belonging to Byzantium
is Hagia Sophia. Justinianus had this most magnificent
temple of the world constructed between the years 532-537 in
the place of a temple which had existed there formerly, and
it contains very valuable mosaics and is still visited as a
museum today. St. Irene located at its side which
Justinianus had ordered to be constructed in the year 537,
is also being used as a museum today. The monastery of
Chora, which attracts attention owing to the mosaic art
works inside, and the mosque of Fethiye are also historical
works of art belonging to Byzantium and being visited as
museums at present.
When Istanbul was conquered by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453,
the buildings of Byzantium were repaired and new ones were
built, and the architectural activities were continued. For
example, the magnificent Topkapi Palace the domicile of the
Sultan and center of government administration, was
constructed. The palace which was built between the years
1472-1478, later acquired the identity of a great city of
700,000 sqm owing to the extensions which the other sultans
ordered to be made and to its population exceeding 10,000.
It is a magnificent museum today which contains the seraglio
and where the treasures belonging to the Ottoman Empire are
exhibited.
The Dolmabahçe Palace was constructed during the years
1843-1853 and the Ottoman sultans started to live in it.
Sultan Abdülaziz had the Palace of Beylerbeyi Palace
constructed on the opposite shore of the Bosphorus between
the years 1861-1865. Besides these palaces, which are used
as museums at present, many buildings which have survived
until today such as the Kiosks named Küçüksu, Chalet, Malta
and Aynalikavak, are also open to visitors and are used as
museums. In addition to these palaces, many historical
mosques, which form the silhouette of Istanbul, are also
places worthy of visiting.
Istanbul is adorned with the works of the great architect
Sinan, who was a master of perfection during the Ottoman
period in the 16th century. Some of Sinan's master works
which show his genius are; the Sehzade Mosque which he built
for Prince Mustafa, son of Süleyman the Law Maker in the
years 1543-1548; the Mihrimah Mosque which he built in 1548;
the Süleymaniye Mosque which he built in the years
1550-1557; and the Rüstem Pasa Mosque, completely adorned
with encaustic tiles of Iznik, which he built in the years
1550-1557. The Sultanahmet Mosque, which Sultan Ahmet I had
ordered Sedefkar Mehmet Aga to construct between the years
1609-1617, is one of the most important works of art worthy
of seeing in Istanbul because of the encaustic tiles
therein.
The Archeological Museum of Istanbul situated near the
Topkapi Palace, is one of the richest museums of the world.
There are many other museums in Istanbul besides this one,
such as The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, Museum of
Tapestry and Museum of Sadberk Hanim. Istanbul, the city of
beauties where the history and nature are interwoven,
maintains its quality of one of the most interesting centers
in the world.
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