Best Historical Places To Visit İn Istanbul

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace, which was transformed into one of the largest palace museums in the world in the early years of the republic, is waiting for you with its sections designed with an architectural approach similar to Ottoman nomadic culture and its priceless collection

The construction of the Topkapi Palace, built on an area of ​​1000,000 square meters on the Eastern Roman Acropolis in Sarayburnu, Istanbul, began in 1460 after the conquest of Istanbul. Completed in 1478, the palace was used as the administrative, educational and artistic center of the Ottoman Empire for nearly 4 centuries.

Dolmabahce Palace

Dolmabahce Palace, its magnificent buildings of Istanbul, was built in the beautiful part of the Bosphorus. Before the Dolmabahce Palace was built, Evliya Celebi wrote that Yavuz Sultan Selim had built a mansion in this area. At the same time, the area where the Dolmabahce Palace was located just 400 years ago was a bay where the Ottoman Captain housed the navy ships. In time, maritime ceremonies were held in this bay.  But after a while, it began to become a swamp. the 17th century began to be filled. After a while, this filled bay was called a bahce. Sultans used it to relax and have fun. At this period, it was also known as Besiktas Coast Palace with its pavilions and mansions built in the region

The Palace, which was built by Abdulmecit I in 1842 and continued until 1853, was used by Abdulmecit for both living and official works. Abdulaziz, the brother of Abdulmecit, also lived here. But neither could sit here for long. After the declaration of the Republic of Turkey,  Dolmabahce Palace became the Presidential Residence of Ataturk with the proclamation of the republic. It is of great importance for the Turkish nation to be built during the Ottoman period, to be the Presidential Residence, and to be the place where Ataturk died on November 10, 1938.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Suleymaniye Mosque was built between 1551-1558 upon the request of Kanuni Sultan Suleyman (Magnificent Suleiman) the Architect Sinan in the Suleymaniye district of the Eminonu region of Istanbul. Mimar Sinan's 85 years old work is known as a masterwork. There are libraries, Turkish baths, a madrasah (school), shops, and graves around Suleimania Mosque. Together with the Suleimania Mosque, each is a part of the Suleymaniye Complex. The Mosque is one of the most important works and examples of Ottoman architecture. There is no single crack on the mosque, despite the fact that there have been earthquakes in Istanbul for centuries

Galata Tower

Galata Tower is a tower located in the Galata district of Istanbul. Built-in 528, it is one of the important symbols of the city. The Bosphorus and the Golden Horn can be viewed from the tower. It is believed that the name of the tower, which the Byzantines called Megalos Pyrgos (Great Horoscope) and the Genoese Christtea Turris (Christ Tower), was derived from the Greek word “gala” which means “milk“. There are also opinions that the word that gives the name to the structure may be of Thracian origin or Italian

''Two stories about Galata tower'' according to the beliefs of the Romans, “If a man and woman went to Galata Tower together for the first time at the same time, they would certainly get married”, if one of the two people had been alone before, this talisman would be broken. Another legend is the love of the Maiden Tower and Galata Tower. The duo is said to challenge centuries because of their feelings of love for each other.

Caferağa Madrasah 

CaferAga Madrasa Situated next to the Hagia Sophia Mosque, this historical place is a place where those who want to give a tea break and definitely seek alternatives for peaceful breakfasts on Sundays must definitely visit. Caferaga Madrasah, built by Architect Mimar Sinan and paid for by Babussaade lord Cafer Aga in 1599, gained an official status with the arrangements made in 1989. The foundation provides training in dozens of different fields such as the ney, oud, marbling, calligraphy, tile, painting, and mosaics. Today, it is still used as an art school and gives education to people on the one hand and shows the most hospitality to those who visit the historical peninsula.

Hagia Sophia (Museum, Mosque, Church)

Hagia Sophia is the largest church-(again becoming a mosque) built by the Eastern Roman Empire in Istanbul and was built three times in the same place. When it was first built, it was called Megale Ekklesia (Great Church) and from the 5th century, it was defined as Hagia Sophia (Sacred Wisdom). Hagia Sophia served as a cathedral as the capital's largest church, where the rulers were crowned during the Roman Empire period.

Chora Museum

Chora Museum is the Turkish word for the word Kariye museum, which means old rural in ancient Greek. It is known that there was a chapel outside the city walls before the city walls were built in the 5th century. Since it was near the Blachernae Palace during the Kommenos period, the church was used as a palace chapel in important religious ceremonies. Andronikos (1282- 1328), the church was repaired by Theodoros Metokhites (1313), the minister of the treasury of the palace. Mosaics and frescoes in Chora are the best examples of the last period of Byzantine painting. The depth and movement of these mosaics and frescoes are given in terms of movement and plastic values. Chora was used as a church after the conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and converted into a mosque by Vezir Hadim Ali Pasha in 1511.

Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern is among the most curious places to see, with interesting legends reported to be alive with columns rising in the water. Basilica cistern, which was used by the Byzantine Emperor to meet the palace's water needs, continued for a while during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. The reminiscence of the tears of the forms on the pillars is a legend and a rumor that it is important to represent the drama of many celibates lost in the Great Basilica. Because of this, many tourists have become the focus of interest with its structure, which attracts curiosity. Medusa's head, one of the unique masterpieces of Roman period sculpture art, is located in one of the columns in the Basilica cistern.

Binbirdirek Cistern

Binbirdirek cistern is one of the wondrous tourist places among the living historical sites from the time of the Great Constantine to the present day. It is a mysterious place that was built to meet the water needs of the city and now it is absolutely located inside the tourist sightseeing lists. For the Binbirdirek cistern located in Sultanahmet, we suggest you visit at weekend.

Hurrem Sultan Bath

Hurrem Sultan Bath, located between the Hagia Sophia Museum and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, was built by Hurrem Sultan, the wife of Kanuni Sultan Suleiman, between 1556 and 1557 by architect Sinan. Hurrem bath is still next to Hagia Sophia and is used as a luxury Turkish Bath. The bath, which was active until 1910, was closed in later periods. When the prison was overrun for a period, the prisoners were kept at Hurrem Sultan Bath and used in different periods as gas and paper stores. The Bath, one of the important architectural works in Istanbul, was restored between 1957 and 1958 and served as a carpet sales shop until 2008. The structure, which was designed as a classical bath in the Ottoman period, has a double bath shape and a length of 75 meters.

Tekfur Palace

Tekfur Palace is the only palace to survive the Blachernae Palace complex in Istanbul. It is located in the Edirnekapi district within the boundaries of the Fatih district in Istanbul; The thick-walled palace, built adjacent to the land walls and situated between Edirnekapı and Egrikapı, is called Tekfur Palace. There is no precise information about the construction date of the palace. It is estimated that the Tekfur Palace was built in the 10th or 11th century based on various architectural features. Some historians argue that the Blachernae Palace was built by Emperor Constantine in the 7th as Porfirogennetos, and some historians built it for the residence of the Blachernae Palace staff. The Romans called it the Palace of Constantine and then the house of Porfirogennetos. I understand that porphyrogenitus was a title given to the princes. 7. Constantin was also known for this title. It is known that he built a magnificent palace for his son Romanos. The prospect of this palace is Tekfur Palace.

Rumeli Fortress

Rumeli Fortress was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in the district of Sarıyer, which gives the district where it is located on the Bosphorus, just across the Anatolian Fortress before the conquest of Istanbul. Hisar (Fortress) was built to prevent attacks from the north of the Bosphorus. It is the narrowest point to ensure the safety of the sea. Rumeli Fortress was built before the city siege and was completed in 1452 in an incredibly short period of time, in order to prevent the help and reinforcements that may come from the Black Sea during the siege of Istanbul against an earlier Turkish fortress on the opposite shore.

Anatolian Fortress

Anatolian Fortress, is the first citadel built by Yıldırım Bayezid in the narrowest part of the Bosphorus. It is located on a hill consisting of lime layers between the Goksu stream and the Marmara Sea. In the old sources name was mentioned, “Guzelhisar, Akhisar”. It was built to prevent the arrival of aid to the Byzantine Empire through the Black Sea. The Anatolian Fortress consists of the main castle, inner castle walls, and three towers. The main castle is a tower rising on a rectangular plan.

Beylerbeyi Palace

Beylerbeyi Palace was used as a summer palace in the Ottoman period to host foreign statesmen. The palace, which was built by Sultan Abdulaziz in 1861, assumed the duty of a summer palace for the late Ottoman sultans and members of the dynasty.

It is one of the top places to visit in Istanbul to see many important details such as the marble craftsmanship in the palace, the furniture used, the unique view of the palace, and the incredible coolness it possesses even in hot weather. It is even possible to go for breakfast in the palace garden.

Princess  İslands

The İslands known as Princess Island (Buyukada), Heybel islands, Burgaz Island, and Kınalı islands were also known as Prince Islands in ancient times. The reason for this is that many members of the palace crowned during the Byzantine Empire were exiled to this island because they were away from Istanbul and had to live there

Nowadays, the nostalgic atmosphere has become the first address of weekend getaways because of the still-used phaetons and lack of traffic. The islands have become a sight to many local and foreign tourists who want to picnic, ride bicycles, and taste the nostalgia.

Sogukcesme Street

Sogukcesme Street is a historical street adjacent to Topkapı Palace. This street, with its bay windows and low-rise historic houses, used to be a residence of palace staff and wealthy families. Gulhane Park, Topkapı Palace, and Hagia Sophia church, this street are located in the triangle and are some of the places to be seen in and around Eminonu. There are twelve houses on the street. One of these houses is the house where former President Fahri Koruturk was born. Ottoman and Roman traces can be seen on the street. Naziki Tekke Ottoman, Roman Cistern, the important representatives of the traces of the Romans. Following renovation at the end of the 20th century, the street is now used as a hostel. Sogukcesme Street also features a hotel and a restaurant serving French and Turkish cuisine