Night Istanbul

Usually, the sights of Istanbul are all inspecting in the afternoon when museums and parks are open, and only rare tourists go for a walk through the night Istanbul. Armed with a map of the attractions of the former Constantinople, we go on a night walk to the most popular places of the city. If you think Istanbul at night is only clubs and discos, then you are mistaken (although it is granted here) – Our night Istanbul is completely different!

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Constantinople (Ayasofya Camii)

Ayasofya Müzi’s Museum in Istanbul – one of Istanbul’s most popular sights. If you want to get inside, of course you need to come here during the day when it is open, and we came to admire the symbol of the "Golden Age" Byzantia at night.

The first temple in this place was built under the Byzantine Emperor Konstantine I in 324-337 in the Square of Auguston (Augustion). In 380, the emperor Feodosius I handed over the Council of Orthodox, but in 404 during the uprising the temple burned. The new church, built in this place, also did not stood for a long time – already in 415 she was destroyed by another fire. The Emperor Feodosiy II built a new cathedral, but during the largest uprising in the history of Constantinople and Byzantium "Nika’s uprising" (Bunk), in January 532, the Basilica of Feodosia was destroyed to the ground. The ruins of this cathedral were found more than 1000 years – in 1936, during the excavations. And again, the new Emperor Justian II ordered the new church on this place, which will decorate the capital. Building materials brought around the world. The new Basilica cost the Byzantium in three annual budget, but the magnificence of the temple was struck by everyone who saw him. The solemn discovery took place in December 537.

After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, Sultan Mehmed II turned the Cathedral of Saint Sophia Konstantinople in a mosque. Four minaret were built, and the temple received a new name, which is popular and today – Mosque Aya-Sofya (Ayia Sofia).

In 1935, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk turned his decree Mosque Aya Sofya, the former Orthodox Cathedral of St. Sophia Konstantinople, Museum. We will not talk about the inner decoration of the cathedral, about its magnificent mosaics and frescoes (it will be a separate report), and we will go further to walk along the night Istanbul.

Hours of the Museum of Ayia Sofia

Daily, except Monday at 9:00 to 19:00 (April-October) or from 9:00 to 16:30 (November-March), ticket cash regulations stop working for half an hour before closing.

How to get to the Cathedral of Saint Sophia Konstantinople

Stop the tram Sultanahmet (SultanahMet), then on foot. It is difficult not to notice this monumental building, so do not worry – you will not pass by.

Bani Roksolana (Ayasofya Hurrem Sultan Hamam)

If you stand face to the Museum "Ayia Sofia", and with your back to the famous blue mosque, then the building of the famous bathsolanes baths are located on the right – part of their facade can be seen in the photo. The Turkish bath is called "Hammam" (Hamam) from the Arabic word "Ham" – "hot". The favorite wife of Sultan Suleiman – Haseki Sultan (Hürrem Haseki Sultan), more famous for Roksolana, ordered the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinanan to build khmamam, and in 1556 the most beautiful Baths of Istanbul were built.

The length of the building is 75 meters, it consists of two symmetric departments (male and female) in each of which leads a separate entrance. At the end of the XIX century, the Hamam building was abandoned, but during restoration work in 1916-1917 and 1957-1958, the baths were restored. A long time in Hammam’s building was a state store of carpets and carpet products, but in 2007, Istanbul authorities decided to return the baths of their historical function. Now on the official website of Hammam you can Book online Visit to the most famous Banch of Istanbul.

Blue Mosque in Istanbul (Sultanahmet Camii)

Opposite Ayia Sofia rises one of the most beautiful mosques of Istanbul – Sultanahmet’s mosque, also known as "Blue Mosque".

Where did the name "Blue Mosque"? The mosque was obtained due to the large number of white and blue ceramic tips, the total number of which more than 20 thousand. Ceramic tires were used for internal decoration of premises. But to see all the beauty of the inner decoration of the mosque must come here during the day. We will specifically send here at night to enjoy the magnificent illumination of the historic building.

Construction of the Akhmedia Mosque began in the summer of 1609, when the then Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Ahmed I was only 19 years old. At the very beginning of the board of this great Vizier, the country was in a state of two wars at once – with Austria and Iran. After signing in 1606 of the provortatory world, the authority of the country was seriously undermined, and so that Allah helped the Ottoman Empire, Ahmed I decided to build a mosque. At that time, Turkish sultans have not built new mosques for more than 40 years, and the current ruler decided that that was why Allah turned away from them. Construction financing was carried out from the Treasury of Sultan. Although before that, as a rule, the money was spent on the construction, mined during the wars, but Ahmed I was very young and did not benefit any of his wars.

The mosque is located on the Sprodrome Square, for this, the large Byzantine Palace, the remains of the audience, as well as other buildings of the Byzantine and early-grade periods were destroyed. The architect was the chief assistant and a student of Sinana (built the balls of roxolants) – Sadpark Mehmet Aha.

Sultanahmet Mosque included in a large complex, where the hospital, caravansery, kitchens, madrasas, charitable institutions were also. Some of them were destroyed in the XIX century. The courtyard of the blue mosque is not just big – he is huge! It is impossible to get inside at night, but we managed to visit it during the evening namaz, before closing, while the guard did not seem to suggest us to leave the territory of the mosque. That is why on our photos from the courtyard of the blue mosque in Istanbul, you will not see people – besides us there was no one. &# 128578;

Hippodrome in Istanbul, Sultanahmet Meydanı Square (Sultanahmet Meydanı)

Sultanahmet Square – the most famous area of ​​Istanbul. Part of the area is located on the site of the former hippodrome, the construction of which began in 203 during the reign of the Roman emperor septimia of the North – then Istanbul was called Byzantine. When creating a new capital in 330-334, the main reforist of the Byzantine Empire Konstantin I completely rebuilt the hippodrome. The length of the hippodrome was 450 meters, and the width is more than 120 meters, and more than 100,000 people could accommodate on its stands. The entrance to the hippodrome was approximately in the place where the German fountain is now located. One of the decorations of the hippodrome was the famous quadriga of St. Mark, which is now stored in the Basilica of San Marco in Venice.

How it is not difficult to guess, the main purpose of the hippodrome is to carry out races on the chariots, but after the fall of Constantinople in 1453, it was used only for presentations, fairs and urban holidays. Nowadays, a number of monuments of the Byzantine era (columns and obeliski) are installed on the IPPodrome Square, as well as the German fountain, presented by the Ottoman Sultan Abdul Hamid II by the German Emperor and King of Prussia Wilhelm II.

German fountain in Istanbul (Alman çeşmes)

The fountain was fully designed and made in Germany, and on the square IPPodrome it was simply collected. Fountain became a gift of the German Empire in memory of the second visit of the German Emperor Wilhelm II in 1898, but instead of the Ottoman Empire had to provide the Hermann permission to build the Baghdad Istanbul railway. The road had strategically important, its main task was to provide the shortest path from Europe to Asia. The Ottoman Empire could not afford such large-scale construction, and was grateful to the proposal of Wilhelm Second. True, there is a version that the construction of the road is only distracting maneuver, and the main task of the Germans was to divide oil fields – oil wars were then conducted. So the gift turned out with a surprise. &# 128578;

Egyptian Obelisk or Obelisk Feodosia (Dikilitaş)

Walking in Istanbul, do not expect to see in the very center of the city of Egyptian Obelisk. But Istanbul is an unusual city – everything is possible here. Obelisk was installed on the orders of the Emperor of the Roman Empire Feodosius the Great in 390 of our era and for more than 1600 years he is located in the very center of Istanbul. But I must say that the history of obelisk began long before its installation on the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Initially, Obelisk from Aswan granite was located in the southern part of the famous Karnak Temple in Egypt. It was installed in 1460 BC, in honor of the thirty-year anniversary of the rule of Pharaoh Tutmos III, but on the orders of Feodosia Obelisk was transported to Constantinople. During transportation, Obelisk burst into two parts. Egyptian obelisk height in Istanbul, together with a marble pedestal of 25.6 meters, although initially had a length of 37.77m.

Snake Column in Istanbul (Yılanlı Sütun)

At the racetrack there is another oldest ancient monument of Istanbul – "Snake Column" or, as it is sometimes called, a snake-shaped column. But, in our opinion, if you do not know her stories, snakes to recognize in it. But everything in order: the snake column was brought to Istanbul by order of Emperor Konstantin I in 326 from Delph. It was created in 479 BC from the weapons of Persians who died during the Greek-Persian wars, or rather after the battle with the plates.

Snake column was once part of a bronze tripod: three snake heads held a large golden boiler. The boiler disappeared long before the column got into Istanbul, but the serpent head of the column was lost during the Ottoman. One of the heads is now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum, the second – in the British Museum in London, but the third head or lost, or asslaved in some private collection. Now tourists who come to Istanbul can see the Sultanahn Sultanov Square only "hard" of this column.

Obelisk Constantine in Istanbul (Örme Dikilitaş)

It is not known for certain, but according to the official version of Obelisk Konstantin or Colossus, unlike Egyptian obelis, the serpentine column and even the German fountain was initially established on the square of the hippodrome, and did not arrive from other places. Obelisk Constantine Porphirogenetic (Bagryanorogennoe) was built in 944 of our era on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Konstantin VII, in honor of his grandfather, Vasily I. Initially, the column was covered with copper sheets with images of battles in which the famous Byzantine emperor participated, but during the Cross campaign of 1204 they were destroyed. Did not spare the openwork column and earthquakes – the monument is regularly restored, but his condition leaves much to be desired.

Dolmabach’s Mosque in Istanbul (Dolmabahçe Camii)

From the historic center of Istanbul, the district of Sultanahmet, we will be transferred to the other coast of the Bay "Golden Rog" to the famous Palace of Ottoman Sultanov Dolmabach (Dolmabahçe). We will not go to the palace himself, but we will admire only the elegant backlight of the mosque of the same name, located nearby. The second name of one of the most beautiful and richly decorated mosques of Istanbul – Mosque Fair Valida Sultan (BEZM-I ALEM VALIDE SULTAN CAMII). Construction of the south mosque from the Sultansky Palace began in 1853 by order of Valida Sultan Referentially and-ale – Mother Sultan Abdul-Medzhida I. But she did not survive until the end of construction, after her death in 1855 the case completed her son.

Taksim Meydanı Square (Taksim Meydanı)

In the narrow streets of the District of Beioglu from the Dolmabach Mosque, we climb Taksim Square – Places of Mass Walls of Istanbulse and Foreign Tourists. Once at the site of the modern area was located the old Armenian cemetery of Pangalti, belonging to the Armenian hospital "SURV AKKOP" (St. Jacob), but in the 1930s it was destroyed and in its place rose popular five-star hotels in Istanbul: Divan Istambul Hotel, Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, Grand Hyatt Istanbul, as well as the TRT television and radio station building.

Students Istanbul at night

We have already talked about our walks on Streets of Istanbul day, but it is worth noting that at night Istanbul does not lose his charm.

At night, there are almost no people on the streets of the city – maybe they are all in nightclubs and restaurants, and maybe just resting at home, but inside the quarters away from tourist trail almost no one.

We were very surprised, but in Istanbul nights are highlighted not only the main attractions, but also very minor fountains and streets. For lovers of night photos – the perfect city.

But not all at home at the light are equally beautiful, there are also such houses. &# 128578;

Istanbul is a city where you should always look around – you will definitely notice anything interesting. For example, while you are waiting for a tram at the bus stop, which will take you to the hotel, you can admire the Tourists at the tourists Atik Ali Pasha.

Mosque Atik Ali Pasi (Gazi Atik Ali Paşa Camii)

Mosque Atik Ali Pasha was built in 1486-1497 for the means of the future Great Vizier Atik Ali Pasha. It is believed that Atik Ali Pasi Camii is a reduced copy of the Fatih mosque, before it was destroyed by the earthquake of 1766. O Mosque Fatih We have already written, so we will not repeat.

Square Chablitash: Column of Constantine (çEmberlitaş Sütunu)

At the base of the city by Emperor Konstantin Great on the site of the modern area, Chablitash was an ancient forum – Forum Constantine. It was built in about 328 of our era. The 37-meter column of Constantine I Great, the grand opening of which took place in 330, on the founding day of Constantinople, was erected in the center of the forum. At the top of the column, the Golden Statue of the Emperor was towers, where Konstantin was presented in the image of Apollo. During the strong storm of 1150, the statue, and together with it and the three top levels of the columns, collapsed.

This article was stolen from http: // poznamka.Ru.

And then emperor Mikhail I Comnne replaced the statue of a big cross. During the cross campaign, the column suffered greatly, and when Turks-Ottomans came to power, the cross on top of the column was destroyed. But on this misadventures, Constantine’s columns were not over: during the fire of 1779, the column was black and cracked, and then to prevent destruction, it was reinforced with additional iron rings. Since then, the column has another name – "the burnt column", although the Turks called it the "rock with hoops" ("Chablitash"). By the way, it is here that one of the central entrances to the most famous Turkish Market Grand Bazaar.

On this we finish walking on sleeping night Istanbul. If you have only a few days in Istanbul, and there is a desire to see as much as possible, then go for a night walk around the city – you can see popular sights in a completely different light.

And not only sights – even the usual stop can store small secrets of Istanbul, but they are another time – do not switch! &# 128578;