Hanedan Hotel Advisor & Blog

17. The museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts

Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art

The Palace of Ibrahim Pasa (16th century), situated on the west side of Sultan Ahmet Square, now functions as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. It is the only extant private palace, except for the imperial palaces. The building, elevated on arches, surrounds three sides of a central courtyard. A staircase leads from the terrace to the first section of the museum. Rare works of art created in various Islamic lands are on display in the hallways and the rooms. The stone, baked clay and metal objects, ceramic wares and handwritten books are some of the most valuable examples of their period. The carpets exhibited in the section fitted with glass panes near the large chambers are magnificent examples of 13th-20th century handmade Turkish carpets. This matchless collection is the richest of its kind in the world. 13th century Seljuk carpets and other examples from subsequent centuries are exhibited with much care. The floor below the carpet section is the ethnographic collection where one can get a glimpse of everyday Turkish life and objects in daily household use in the past.

web site

16. Rumeli Fortress

Rumeli Fortress

Istanbul had been besieged many times before Mehmet the Conqueror took the city in 1453, but it managed to defend itself with the help of the Roman city walls.

During very long sieges, provisions were supplied to the city through sea routes. The Rumeli Fortress was built before the siege in 1453 opposite an earlier Turkish fortress on the other shore to prevent any reinforcements and help to the city from the Black Sea.

The fortress was completed in the amazingly short time of four months in 1452. This largest and strongest fortress of the Middle Ages lost its importance after the fall of the city.

A fine example of classic Turkish military architecture, the fortress adorns the Bosphorus in all its impressiveness.

It was restored in the 1950’s and turned into a museum. During the annual Istanbul Festival of Arts, the interior of the fortress is used as an amphitheater. It is best viewed from the Asian shore or from the boats operating on the Bosphorus.

http://english.istanbul.gov.tr/Default.aspx?pid=363

15. Gulhane Park

Gulhane Park

14. The Haghia Irene Museum

Hagia Irene means “Divine Peace” in Greek, so it was a church dedicated to holly peace, not to a Saint Irene as it’s wrongly pronounced today. It’s beleived that the church was first built in the 4th century AD over the ruins of a pagan temple by the Byzantine Emperor Constantine I. The wooden construction was burned during the Nika Riot in 532 AD and it was renovated by Justinian I, rapresenting typical characteristics of early Byzantine architecture. During the following centuries the church was restored several times because of the earthquakes and some big fires…….

Web Site

Hagia Irene Museum

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13. The Turkish bath

12. The Spice Bazaar

The Spice Bazaar, the second largest covered market in the city, was part of the mosque complex. Other surviving parts of the complex are the tombs and the magnificent fountain. On the mosque side of the L-shaped Spice Bazaar, there is a popular flower market and cafes, and fish, vegetable and grocery stores occupy the other side. Once all of the shops inside the bazaar used to sell spices, but over the time some have turned into dried fruit, grocery and gift shops or jewelers. It is one of the attractive sites in Istanbul with its vivacious and distinctive atmosphere.

http://english.istanbul.gov.tr/Default.aspx?pid=365

11. The Grand Bazaar

Grand Bazaar

Our Grand Bazaar, located between Nuruosmaniye, Mercan and Beyazıt, is the oldest and largest shopping mall of the world with 64 avenues and streets, 2 covered bazaar (bedesten), 16 inns, 22 gates and about 3600 stores. It has indoor area of 45.000 meter square, and about 20.000 persons work and depending on the season, 300 to 500 persons per day visit.

please visit web site for more info :

http://www.kapalicarsi.org.tr/eng/index.asp

10. The Basilica Cistern ( 3 min walk from Hanedan Hotel)

Basilica Cistern is open everyday between 9 am – 5:30pm

and it costs 10 Turkish Liras each person.

http://www.yerebatan.com/english/index.html

9. Princess Islands

There are public ferry services to Islands from Kabatas, You will get on the tram from Sultanahmet till Kabatas.

Click for time table www.ido.com.tr

8. Sufi Music Concert and Whirling Dervishes Ceremony