Istanbul

Istanbul crosses the easternmost of two straits in Turkey separating Asia from Europe. Originally Byzantium, it became New Rome in AD 330, then Constantinople, capitol city of the Eastern Roman Empire. Since 1930, it has officially been Istanbul, a colloquial Greek appellation since the 11th century.

• Travel:

  • Turkey & Greece 2019: Mar 3-4
    • Sun 3/3
      • 6:05 PM — Arrival in Istanbul
      • 7:05 PM — Bus transfer to the hotel
      • 7:45 PM — (or earlier) – Check-in and Dinner
      • 8:30 PM — Meeting for worship
      • overnight — Grand Gulsoy Hotel
    • Mon 3/4
      • 6:30 — Breakfast
      • 7:30 — Lecture: Introduction to the history of Istanbul
      • 8:15 — Tour Begins
        • The Hippodrome and Obelisk of Constantinople
        • Blue Mosque
        • Hagia Sophia
        • Basilica Cistern
        • Istanbul Archaeological Museum
        • Grand Bazaar
      • Dinner, Instructions, and Preview
      • Overnight at the Grand Gulsoy Hotel

• Resources:

  • Wikipedia
  • Web
  • Map

The Hippodrome of Constantinople

Located next to Blue Mosque

This was the largest hippodrome of the ancient world. Most of it disappeared centuries ago. Its magnificent Egyptian obelisk remains. The Hippodrome was demolished in 1981 to make way for a parking lot.

The name is derived from the Greek words Hippo (horse) and dromos (course). Today it is a huge park area but in Roman times the Hippodrome of Constantinople was used for the famous roman chariot racing throughout the Byzantine period. Built during reign of Roman emperor Septimius Severus in the early 3rd century AD, the structure was made more grandiose by emperor Constantine I in the 4th century AD.

The Obelisk of Theodosius

Ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III re-erected in the Hippodrome of Constantinople by the Roman Emperor Theodosius I in the 4th century AD.

The Serpent Column of Delphi

Wikipedia:

It is part of an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally in Delphi and relocated to Constantinople by Constantine the Great in 324. It was built to commemorate the Greeks who fought and defeated the Persian Empire at the Battle of Plataea (479 BC). The serpent heads of the 8-metre (26 ft) high column remained intact until the end of the 17th century (one is on display at the nearby Istanbul Archaeology Museums).

Blue Mosque

Constructed 1609-1617 during rule of Ahmed I

Official name: Sultan Ahmed Mosque, an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque Functioning mosque today, capacity 10,000; Religion is Sunni Islam

Famous for: its stunning architecture, intricate tile work, and its six minarets Called Blue Mosque because it’s decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs in predominantly blue colors surrounding the walls of interior design.

Has a classical Ottoman layout with a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall. It’s fronted by a large courtyard and flanked by six minarets (210 ft. tall)

NOTE: Modest dress covering upper arms, shoulders and knees; Women should cover their heads with a scarf.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hagia Sophia

located Across from Blue Mosque

An important Byzantine structure and one of the world’s great monuments.
It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century AD (532-537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. When the Islamic Ottoman Empire conquered Constantinople, they transformed the church into a mosque removing or destroying most of the Christian artwork in the process. In subsequent centuries it became a museum (1935-2020) and a mosque again.

The Hagia Sophia has been around for 1600 years. The architecture is incredible, the history is rich, and the mosaics and paintings are breathtaking. Its dome gives off the impression that it is floating. A architectural challenge: The dome, a shape with a round base, was placed on a structure with a square base.

Meaning of name: Agia (holy, saint) and Sophos (wisdom) meaning holy/divine wisdom or literally “Holy Wisdom.” The original name of the church was "Church of God's Holy Wisdom" (Greek: Ναὸς τῆς Ἁγίας τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας)

NOTE: Wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Women wear head scarves. Visitors should remove shoes.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Basilica Cistern

The Basilica Cistern is the largest underground cistern of Byzantine Constantinople. It was built under the Basilica located west of Hagia Sophia. Also known by its Turkish name Yerebatan Sarayi (Sunken Palace), it is one of the major tourist attractions of modern Istanbul. There are Medusa heads here. The floor is wet and slippery, so wear footwear with a good grip. Cistern was used as a location for the 1963 James Bond film from Russia with Love.

Istanbul Archaeological Museum

A remarkable museum with stunning collections, well-presented exhibits, and a beautiful garden. It features greco-roman collections, Alexander’s sarcophagus, an exhibit about the excavation of Troy and a coin collection.

Grand Bazaar

Wikipedia says: The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops on a total area of 30,700 square meters or 7.5 acres, attracting between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily.

This is more than shopping, it’s a cultural experience. It’s a shopping market covered with domes. It has more than 550 years of history.

Other sites

• Topkapi Palace

More to come...

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