Istanbul Attractions

Along Divanyolu in Istanbul, on the second of the seven hills of New Rome (on the right), rises the so-called Burned Column (Cembererlitas, Hooped Stone), the stump (still 40m/130ft high) of a porphyry column, originally 57m/185ft high, set up by Constantine the Great in his Forum. Until 1105 it bore a bronze statue of Constantine.

Northwest of the square in Yerebatan Street in Istanbul is the entrance to the Yerebatan Sarayi (Underground Palace), a huge underground cistern (now lit by electricity) built in the time of Justinian (sixth century). It is the largest of Istanbul's cisterns, 140m/150yds long by 70m/75yds across, with 336 columns set in 12 rows.

Immediately west of the Yeni Cami in Istanbul is the Egyptian Bazaar (Misir Çarsisi), originally intended only for goods from Egypt but now the most important market in the Old Town after the Great Bazaar.

The Great Bazaar (Kapali Carsi, covered market) in Istanbul in the depression between the Nure Osmaniye and Bayazit Mosques, is a whole quarter on its own, surrounded by a wall and entered through eleven gates, a maze of vaulted and dimly lit streets and lanes which even after a major fire in 1954 remains one of the great sights of Istanbul. The various trades are still mostly segregated into particular streets or sections of the bazaar.

A road northwest under Bayazit in Istanbul in a 300m/330yd long tunnel leads into Vezneciler Caddesi (on the left, university buildings) and Sehzadebasi Caddesi, on the right-hand side of which is the Sehzade Mosque (Prince's Mosque), an early master work by the great architect Sinan, built in 1543-47 during the reign of Süleiman and Roxolana in memory of their favorite son Mohammed; it has a charmingly decorated interior.

On the southwest side of the Seraglio walls in Istanbul stands the magnificent Sultan's Gate (Bab-i Hümayun), facing Hagia Sophia. Outside the gate is the Fountain of Ahmet III (1728).

On the south side of Eminönü Square in Istanbul stands the large Yeni Cami, the New Mosque of the Sultan's mother, which was begun in 1615, on the model of the Ahmet I Mosque, for Ahmet's mother but completed only in 1663. The interior of the mosque and the adjoining royal apartments are richly decorated with tiles.

The second street along Atmedydani Dian Street from the Kuçuk Ayasofya on the left leads to the Binbirdirek (1001 Columns) Cistern in Istanbul, which dates from the sixth century (54m/175ft by 56m/185ft; 212 columns). Since 1966 it has been dry.

At the end of Fevzipasa Caddesi in Istanbul, in the land walls, is the Edirne Gate (Edirnekapi), which was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1894.

West of the aqueduct, on Istanbul's fourth hill, is the Fatih Mosque (Fatih Camii, Sultan Mehmet Camii), built in 1463-71 on the site of the church of the Holy Apostles (founded by Constantine the Great and rebuilt by Justinian) and almost completely rebuilt after an earthquake in 1765. It is the holiest mosque in Istanbul after the Eyüp Mosque. In the first türbe behind the mosque is the Tomb of Sultan Mehmet.

At the center of Gulhane Park is an avenue of giant oriental plane trees. The park enclosed planes, elm, oak, ash, terebinth, ilex and wild pear from the forests of the Gulf of Izmit.

Istanbul's public transportation consists of Light Rail, Trams, a Metro system, along with buses and funiculars. The Light Rail has two lines servicing large sections of the city. Historically trams were used for public transport in Istanbul and then eventually fell out of use. Trams were re-introduced to the city in modern times and are part of Istanbul's public transportation system once again.

Construction started in 1993 on the Istanbul Metro. Since that time the system has expanded and is today an important element in Istanbul's public transportation system. The metro is still in the process of expansion.

South of Atmeydani in Istanbul, near the Sea of Marmara, stands the Küçük Ayasofya Mosque, the Little Ayasofya. It was originally the church of SS Sergius and Bacchus, built in the reign of Justinian, at the same time as San Vitale in Ravenna. From the north end of Atmeydani Dian Street (Divanyolu) runs west, following the line of the old main street of the Byzantine city.

Just before the gate, on the sixth and highest of Istanbul's hills (to the left), is the Mihrimah Mosque, built by Sinan in 1556 for the daughter of Süleiman I (numerous windows).

On the southeast side of the Blue Mosque in Istanbul is the very fine Mosaic Museum.

The Istanbul City Museum dates to the late 1930s but moved to the Fine Arts Hall of Yildiz Palace in 1988. On display are paintings, textiles, glass wear, porcelains and other items pertaining to daily life.

To the west of the Süleiman Mosque in Istanbul, in the street along its outer court, is the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art (Türk ve Islam Eserleri Müzesi), with both sacred and secular works of art.

Very important rug collections are included in the collection.

North of the Burned Column in Istanbul, on the east side of the Great Bazaar, we come to the Nuru Osmaniye Mosque, constructed entirely of marble (1748-55).

At the south end of the Galata Bridge in Istanbul is Eminönü Square, at the beginning of the oldest part of Istanbul. From here a beautiful seafront road, Florya Sahil Yolu, encircles Seraglio Point and runs along the Sea of Marmara to Yesilköy.

To the north of the Fatih Mosque, on Istanbul's fifth hill, stands the Sultan Selim Mosque (Selimiye; 1520-26), the plainest of Istanbul's royal mosques, built by Süleiman the Magnificent in memory of his warrior father Selim I. From the terrace there is a fine view of the Golden Horn.

The Toy Museum in Istanbul opened in 2005. It contains the private collection of Sunay Ak

On the north side of Bayazit Square in Istanbul stands a large gate, the entrance to the University (Istanbul Üniversitesi; previously the War Ministry, Seras Kerat), on the site of the earliest palace of the Sultans. To the right of the University is the 60m/200ft high Bayazit Tower (Bayazit Kulesi, 1823), now a fire-watch tower; from the top (180 steps) there are superb views of Istanbul, finest atsunset or early in the morning (mostly closed).