City: Sultanahmet
Top Things to do in Sultanahmet
Countries
The 6 Best Ancient Ruins in Sultanahmet, Turkey
The mosques, bazaars, and Turkish baths of Istanbul could keep you happily occupied for your entire trip: an eyeful of breathtaking architecture here, a good-natured haggle over a carpet there. Kick your trip off at the awe-inspiring Sultan Ahmet Camii (Blue Mosque), which is visible from many points of the city. Stroll the Galata Bridge and stop by the Miniaturk Park to see its tiny artifacts. The Grand Bazaar has thousands of shops to browse, while the Egyptian Bazaar is a fragrant trove of spices and fruits.
Restaurants in Istanbul
1. Boukoleon Palace
2. Basilica Cistern
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 31,242 reviews
The Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns beneath the city that provided a water filtration system for the buildings nearby. This underground chamber measures approximately 138 meters (453 ft) by 64.6 meters (212 ft) and is capable of holding 80,000 cubic meters (2,800,000 cu ft) of water. The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns.
Reviewed By IvanaM2363
Truly interesting place and if you're there during a hot summer, this is a great place to visit, because it's cool and you get break from the heat :) I loved the dark atmosphere. It was magical. The head of Medusa was also lovely. There are still fish swimming around and that makes it even more interesting. If you have great guides like I had my Turkish friends, who told me so much about the history, etc., you will love every little place in Turkey :) When in Basilica Cistern, please be careful, it is slippery, but on the other hand, you're sightseeing so you most probably will not be running around :)
3. Bab-i Ali Kapisi
4. Catladi Kapi
5. Great Palace Mosaics Museum
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 634 reviews
Reviewed By apricot44 - Turkey, null
Mosaic museum with mosaics of the great and magnificent palace that served as a palace to the Byzantine Empire between 330 and 1081 AD. The Great Palace occupied a rectangular area in the southeastern corner of the historical peninsula where Constantinople is located, just east of the Hippodrome, to the southeast against the city's sea walls, to the east towards the Hagia Sophia church. It is estimated that the size of the palace is approximately 20,000 m2. The palace has been named by many names throughout history.. Basileos Oikia , Hieron Palation , Palaion Palation, Hippodromou palation , Magnum Palation Many additions were made to the palace by the Roman and Byzantine emperors. During the Fourth Crusade, the Palace was plundered by the soldiers of Boniface In Montferrat.(1200-1204 AD.) Latin Emperor Baodouin II removed the lead roof of the palace and sold it. second and seventh Constantine , first and second Justinian (Iustinianos), Theofilos Basileus ,Lekapanos ,Nikephoros ,Tzimikes,Theodosius Sections of the Grand Palace Among the parts of the palace included: Daphne (residence), Kathisma (hippodrome, lodge),Consistorium (assembly) Magna Aula (throne and reception hall),Nea Ekklesia (Church),Tribunal (Court),Skholai, (guard ward),prison cells,many great halls, a gorgeous,throne room,Coronation hall,Reception halls,Churches and chapels,School Bath,Library,Treasure,Pharos lantern Palace guards barracks,Polo with playground with terrace... Some of the distinctive legacies of the Great Palace that remain today are its magnificent mosaics. The mosaics from the fifth and sixth centuries are exhibited in the Great Palace Mosaics Museum affiliated to the Hagia Sophia Museum Directorate. Many archaeologists attach great importance to these mosaics, both in terms of reflecting the ornaments and culture of that period and in terms of art. Because both the technique used is very successful and there are important descriptions about daily life. It has been understood that the mosaics, which were unearthed in an area of approximately 200m2, were made of terracotta, limestone and various colored stones of different structures.
