Travelling to Istanbul has given me another athmospere of european city's landscape to visit. By having two great histories from two different civilization at their time (Byzantine Empire and Ottoman Empire), again and again, Istanbul is falling in love with her grand imperial past. Since this city is located in two continents, Asia and Europe, and also just separated by Bosporus strait, I most recommend you to start exploring this city in European part, where the great history of this city founded to find out Istanbul's glorious imperial history.
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| Sultan Ahmed Mosque or known as Blue Mosque |
The historic area of Istanbul is located in Fatih district, here starting from Eminonu harbour you will easily find a lot of historical buildings and monuments from two different civilization. The great Aya Sofya will welcome you to tell about her great story. Aya Sofya is one of the historical buildings from Byzantine empire. Built in Byzantine era, Aya Sofya was used as the central of Eastern Roman Catholic church and also Byzantine empire until she lost her greatness when the Ottoman empire conquered Constantinople in 15th century. After Constantinople was conquered by Ottoman, the Sultan directly renamed the city as Istanbul and converted Aya Sofya as mosque. When Aya Sofya was converted as mosque, the Sultan ordered his fellows to cover all the wall which representative the christian symbols and he also ordered to put some Moslem ornaments to replace all of them. The Sultan also ordered to add four minarets in every side of Aya Sofya to represent as Moslem building. However, after Turkish revolution movement, Aya Sofya again converted to Museum and until now she becomes a Museum that always visited by many tourist from all over the world to explore her great history.
Not far away from Aya Sofya, we will meet her great brother, Sultan Ahmed mosque or known as Blue Mosque. It was purely built during Ottoman Empire's era to show to the world of the glorious of Ottoman Empire. The architecture a bit similar to old roman church style with six additional minarets on every corners. To enjoy this mosque, you dont have to pay for the ticket entrance, it is free of charge. However, during prayer times come, this mosque will be closed for tourist to respect the moslem follower to perform their prayer. For the woman, they also are asked to wear proper attire that cover all their body, including they have to wear scraf or hijab. Because a mosque is a holy place for moslem to perform their worship to God.
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| Sultan Ahmed mosque, taken from Aya Sofya |
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| The great of Sultan Ahmed Mosque from his main gate |
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| The main hall for Moslem Prayer hall of Sultan Ahmed Mosque |
Still in Ottoman historical area, if you walk along the trem railway, you will find another magnificent building from the glorious of Ottoman Empire. Well, it is the palace for all the sultan of Ottoman empire, named Topkapi Sarayi. If we look from the map, the location of Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Aya Sofya and Topkapi Sarayi is in a straight line. This palace is build as the place for sultan as well as the fort to protect Istanbul from enemy's attack. Nowadays, this palace has become a museum to keep many historical stuff from Ottoman Empire and other Moslem history. For the Moslem visitor, we can find out many historical stuff, from our prophet such as Mose's stick, Sword of David, Prophet Mohammed's robe and the first key of Ka'bah. Unfortunately, no camera allowed inside this museum and you will be charged about TRY 20 for the ticket entrance. From the Topkapi Sarayi, you can also enjoy the panorama of Bosporus strait and also you can see the Asian part of Istanbul.
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| The main gate of Topkapi Sarayi |
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| The miniatur of Topkapi Sarayi complex |
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| Bosporus starit panorama from Topkapi Sarayi |
I also would recommend you to explore further on this area. The great Ottoman Empire was genuinely multicultural and you will find out more historical buildings surrounding. Please have a stroll around Fener, the former Greek area, and neighbouring Balat, formerly the main Jewish quarter, with their Orthodox churches and synagogues and you will quickly appreciate the glorious of Ottoman Empire. Exploring Istanbul that having a great history from two different civilization is not enough in one or two days. Spend at least five days to find out other attractions from the glorious of Ottoman Empire.
Tips for travelling at Istanbul historical area:
1. Take the trem (red line) is the easiest way to reach this area and stop at Sultan Ahmed station. The historic area is located not so far from the trem station.
2. If you are coming from Asian part, you can reach this area by taking ferry from any harbour in Asia part to European part. The easy way take ferry to Eminonu harbour, because from here you can take trem to Sultan Ahmed station.
3. If you are using MetroBus, you can stop at Yenibosna and change to the trem station at Yenibosna and stop at Sultan Ahmed Station.
4. To make you easy travelling around Istanbul, please buy Istanbulkart for any kind of transportation. It is about TRY 10 with the initial balance TRY 8.
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