If you are looking for a guide about historical places of Sultanahmet, you are in the right place. In this article, we will talk about the important historical locations in Sultanahmet, which is seen as the historical capital of Istanbul.
Sultanahmet is located in the Historical Peninsula of Istanbul and is famous for its historical buildings, museums and tourist attractions. Here are some of the historical places in Istanbul for tourist attractions in Sultanahmet.
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Guide to the Historical Places of Sultanahmet
Hagia Sophia Museum: Hagia Sophia Museum is a museum located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. It was built as a church by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537 and converted into a mosque in 1453 when Istanbul was conquered by the Ottoman Empire. In 1935, it was opened by the Republic of Turkey to be used as a museum.
Hagia Sophia Museum is famous for its architectural features built during the Byzantine Empire. The great dome, half domes, mosaics and marble columns are some of the features that visitors can admire. Also, since it was used as a mosque during the Islamic period, some changes were added to the mosque architecture.
Inside the museum, mosaics, frescoes and various artifacts from the Byzantine Empire are on display. These include the birth and crucifixion of Jesus, depictions of the Virgin Mary and saints, portraits of emperors and various items used in Christianity.
The Hagia Sophia Mosque is one of the most important tourist attractions in Istanbul and is visited by thousands of visitors every year. Its historical and architectural values are an important source for understanding Istanbul’s historical heritage. Used as a museum, Hagia Sophia was reopened as a mosque in July 2020 by the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Blue Mosque: The Blue Mosque is one of the first things that come to mind among the Historical Places of Sultanahmet. The Blue Mosque is one of the most important mosques in Turkey, located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Officially known as Sultan Ahmet Mosque, it was built in 1616 during the Ottoman Empire.
Blue Mosque attracts attention with its domes and minarets. In addition, over 20 thousand Iznik tiles in the mosque are one of the features that visitors can admire. The blue tones of these tiles gave the mosque the name “Blue Mosque”.
The interior of the mosque covers a very large and spacious area. The mihrab, minbar and calligraphy works of the mosque, which reflect Islamic architectural features, are among the features admired by visitors.
Blue Mosque is one of the important places tourists want to visit in Istanbul. There is also a beautiful view from the exterior of the mosque. The mosque can be visited free of charge, but the mosque is closed to visitors during prayer hours.
Topkapi Palace: Topkapi Palace is among the most important historical places in Sultanahmet. Topkapi Palace is the main palace of the Ottoman Empire, located on the historical peninsula of Istanbul. It was built in the 15th century by Mehmed the Conqueror and was used as the palace of the Ottoman sultans until the 19th century.
Topkapi Palace was built as a complex with three courtyards. The first courtyard contains the gates, gardens and military structures, while the second courtyard houses the sacred objects, treasure rooms, workshops and residences. The third courtyard was reserved for the sultan’s private life.
There are many historical buildings and museums inside the palace. These include the Enderun School (the palace school), the Ottoman treasury, the Holy Relics section with various items of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the throne rooms of the Ottoman sultans. There are also many museums inside the palace, such as the Topkapı Palace Museum, the Museum of Islamic Art and the Tiled Pavilion Museum.
Topkapi Palace is one of the most important historical sites to visit in Istanbul. The museums inside the palace are an important source for understanding the history of the Ottoman Empire. The gardens of the palace are also very beautiful and ideal for visitors to spend a pleasant time.
Basilica Cistern: Basilica Cistern is a historical water reservoir from the Byzantine period located in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. Although the exact date of construction is unknown, it was probably built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century. The cistern was used to store the underground water resources of Istanbul.
The Basilica Cistern is 140 meters long and 70 meters wide and is supported by 336 columns. Most of the columns were taken from old buildings and the heads of the columns have different depictions. Especially the capitals in the shape of Medusa’s head stand out as an interesting feature.
The Cistern was opened to tourists in 1985. Visitors can have an interesting experience of the history of water storage by wandering through the columned galleries. The Cistern can also be preferred as a cool stopover point on hot summer days.
Basilica Cistern is an important part of Istanbul’s historical heritage. It is an important tourist attraction visited by tourists and locals interested in history.
Grand Bazaar: The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest covered bazaars in the world, located on the historical peninsula of Istanbul. It was built in 1461 and still operates in Istanbul.
The Grand Bazaar is a huge structure covering 60 streets and about 4,000 shops. The bazaar sells handmade carpets, silver jewelry, leather goods, spices, souvenirs and much more. There are also many cafes, restaurants and tea gardens.
Grand Bazaar is one of the most visited places in Istanbul by tourists. Visitors come here to shop, feel the historical atmosphere and experience the colorful atmosphere of the bazaar. However, bargaining is quite common in the bazaar and prices are often set below the initial asking price.
Grand Bazaar is an important shopping center that reflects the historical heritage of Istanbul and tourists will want to visit in Istanbul.
Istanbul Archaeology Museums: Istanbul Archaeology Museum is a museum located in the historical peninsula of Istanbul, where many artifacts from ancient times are exhibited. Founded in the 19th century, it is one of the largest archaeological museums in the world.
The museum’s collection includes many artifacts from ancient Roman, Greek and Anatolian civilizations. These include sculptures, mosaics, ceramics, coins, sarcophagi and other works of decorative art. The museum also exhibits the famous sarcophagus known as the Sarcophagus of Alexander.
One of the most important artifacts of the museum is the statue of Meleager, the statue of the ancient sculptor Skopas, who designed the Milas Mausoleum. There is also a section of the museum where artifacts from the Ottoman Empire period are exhibited.
The Istanbul Archaeology Museum is an important museum that reflects the historical heritage of Istanbul and offers a rich cultural history. The artifacts exhibited in the museum give important clues to the cultural heritage of ancient history and the Ottoman Empire.
Sultanahmet is home to many buildings that reflect the historical heritage of Istanbul. These places are an indispensable point of visit for tourists coming to Istanbul.
