THEODOSIUS CISTERN - 6

FATIH, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

This cistern is one of the best works that show how water civilization was developed in these lands before the Byzantine and Ottoman periods and how it was protected and enriched as technically and architecturally by the Ottoman Empire.

– Realm of History

THEODOSIUS CISTERN - 5

FATIH, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Spread across an area of 148 feet by 82 feet (around 45 meters by 25 meters).

The ancient cistern features a roof that is supported by 32 marble columns, each measuring over 30 feet (or 9 meters) in height.

– Realm of History

THEODOSIUS CISTERN - 4

FATIH, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Built by Roman Emperor Theodosius II between circa 428 AD and 443 AD, the Theodosius Cistern was used to store water from the Valens Aqueduct, which was the chief water-supplying system of the Eastern Roman capital of Constantinople. 

During Theodosius’ reign, the aqueduct was redistributed from its original supply to the Nymphaeum, the Baths of Zeuxippus and the Great Palace of Constantinople. 

This, in turn, involved the construction of the Theodosius Cistern. 

– Realm of History

THEODOSIUS CISTERN - 3

FATIH, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Iranian artist Ahmet Nejat presented an exhibition titled “Hiç Hali” (meaning “state of nothingness”) inside the cistern. 

The show included a golden globe with the inscription “Aşk ve Hiç” (Love and None) as well as a sound design created with the poems of Rumi.

– Realm of History

THEODOSIUS CISTERN - 2

FATIH, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Istanbul regains an important and 1,600-year-old construction which is being opened to service with a solemn, rare and modest presentation today. 

We are starting to live the Istanbul, which we cannot apprehend when we read, today. Therefore, Istanbul begins to show itself. 

It is decorated with important works which carry the traces of old civilizations and beauties again.

– Realm of History

THEODOSIUS CISTERN

FATIH, ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Theodosius Cistern, one of the most prominent ancient cisterns of Constantinople, has recently opened its doors to the public after an eight-year-long restoration project. 

Lying underneath the modern-day city of Istanbul, with its modern entrance located at Piyer Loti Street in Turkey’s Fatih district, the ancient structure has been restored by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB).

– Realm of History

GOLDEN HORN METRO BRIDGE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn Metro Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge along the M2 line of the Istanbul Metro, spanning the Golen Horn in Istanbul, Turkey.

It connects the Beyoglu and Fatish districts on the European side of Istanbul, and is located between the GalataBridge and Ataturk Bridge, approximately 200 m (660 ft) east of the latter.

The bridge enables a direct connection between the Hacıosman metro station in the Sariyer district (at the northern end of the M2 line), with the Yenikapi transport hub in the Fatih district (at the southern end of the M2 line.

--Wiki

THE LIGHT OF ISTANBUL

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Savvy photographers start lining up about an hour from sundown along the Galata Bridge.

They aim toward the northwest to photograph the amazing light show -- in red, orange, yellow and purple -- that the sun makes setting over mosques, bridges and water.

BOSPHORUS CRUISE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Tour boats line up to take tourists and locals on magical tours of the Bosphorus.

Some take short tours and turn around near the bridge by Ortakoy.

Some go all the way to the mouth of the Black Sea.

The tours are very inexpensive. 

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

To the right (southeast) of the main entrance to Süleymaniye Mosque is the cemetery, home to the octagonal tombs of Süleyman and his wife Haseki Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana). 

The tile work surrounding the entrances to both is superb and the ivory-inlaid panels in Süleyman's tomb are lovely.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The main entrance to the Süleymaniye Mosque is accessed from Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi, formerly known as Tiryaki Çarşışı (Market of the Addicts).

The buildings here once housed three medreses and a primary school; they're now home to the Süleymaniye Library and a raft of popular streetside fasulye (bean) restaurants that used to be teahouses selling opium (hence the street's former name). 

On the corner of Professor Sıddık Sami Onar Caddesi and Şifahane Sokak is the darüşşifa, also under restoration.

The still-functioning Süleymaniye Hamamı is on the eastern side of the mosque.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Süleyman specified that his mosque should have the full complement of public services: imaret (soup kitchen), medrese, hamam, darüşşifa (hospital) etc. 

Today the imaret, with its charming garden courtyard, houses the Daruzziyafe cafe and is a lovely place to enjoy a çay. 

On its right-hand side (north) is a tabhane (inn for travelling dervishes) that was being restored at the time of writing, and on its left-hand side (south) is Lale Bahcesi, a popular tea garden set in a sunken courtyard.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque mihrab (niche in a minaret indicating the direction of Mecca) is covered in fine İznik tiles.

Other interior decoration includes window shutters inlaid with mother-of-pearl, gorgeous stained-glass windows, painted muqarnas (corbels with honeycomb detail), a spectacular persimmon-coloured floor carpet, painted pendentives and medallions featuring fine calligraphy.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

In the garden behind the Süleymaniye Mosque is a terrace offering lovely views of the Golden Horn and Bosphorus. 

The street underneath once housed the mosque complex's arasta (street of shops), which was built into the retaining wall of the terrace. Close by was a five-level mülazim(preparatory school).

Inside, the building is breathtaking in its size and pleasing in its simplicity. Sinan incorporated the four buttresses into the walls of the building.

The result is wonderfully 'transparent' (ie open and airy) and highly reminiscent of Aya Sofya, especially as the dome is nearly as large as the one that crowns the Byzantine basilica.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque was built between 1550 and 1557. 

Its setting and plan are particularly pleasing, featuring gardens and a three-sided forecourt with a central domed ablutions fountain. 

The four minarets with their 10 beautiful şerefes (balconies) are said to represent the fact that Süleyman was the fourth of the Osmanlı sultans to rule the city and the 10th sultan after the establishment of the empire.

--Lonely Planet

SÜLEYMANIYE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Süleymaniye Mosque crowns one of İstanbul's seven hills and dominates the Golden Horn, providing a landmark for the entire city. 

Though it's not the largest of the Ottoman mosques, it is certainly one of the grandest and most beautiful. 

It's also unusual in that many of its original külliye (mosque complex) buildings have been retained and sympathetically adapted for reuse.

Commissioned by Süleyman I, known as 'the Magnificent', the Süleymaniye was the fourth imperial mosque built in İstanbul and it certainly lives up to its patron's nickname.

The mosque and its surrounding buildings were designed by Mimar Sinan, the most famous and talented of all imperial architects. 

Sinan's türbe (tomb) is just outside the mosque's walled garden, next to a disused medrese (seminary) building.

--Lonely Planet

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Byzantine Empire had its naval headquarters there, and walls were built along the shoreline to protect the city of Constantinople from naval attacks. 

At the entrance to the Golden Horn on the northern side, a large chain was pulled across from Constantinople to the old Tower of Galata to prevent unwanted ships from entering. 

Known among the Byzantines as the Megàlos Pyrgos (meaning "Great Tower" in Greek), this tower was largely destroyed by the Latin Crusaders during the Fourth Crusade in 1204.

In 1348, the Genoese built a new tower nearby which they called Christea Turris (Tower of Christ), now called Galata Tower.

--Wikipedia

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

Archaeological records show a significant urban presence on and around the Golden Horn dating back to at least the 7th century BC, with smaller settlements going as far back as 6700 BC as confirmed by recent discoveries of ancient ports, storage facilities, and fleets of trade ships unearthed during the construction works of the Yenikapi subway station and the Marmaray tunnel project.

Indeed, the deep natural harbor provided by the Golden Horn has always been a major economic attraction and strategic military advantage for inhabitants of the area, and the Eastern Roman colonizers that established Nova Roma along its shores, which became, in order, Byzantium, Constantinople, , and ultimately, Istanbul, were no different.

--Wiki

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

The Golden Horn’s Greek and English names mean the same, while its Turkish name, Haliç, simply means "estuary", and is derived from the Arabic word khaleej, meaning “gulf". 

Throughout its storied past, the Golden Horn has witnessed many tumultuous historical incidents, and its dramatic vistas have been the subject of countless works of art.

--Wikipedia

THE GOLDEN HORN

ISTANBUL, TURKEY

While the reference to a "horn" is understood to refer to the inlet's general shape, the significance of the designation "golden" is more obscure.

Historians believe it to refer to either the riches brought into the city through the bustling historic harbor located along its shores, or to romantic artistic interpretations of the rich yellow light blazing upon the estuary's waters as the sun sets over the city. 

--Wiki