CIAO A COSTANTINOPOLI

Situato nel centro di vecchio mondo, Costantinopoli è una delle città grandi del mondo famose per i relativi monumenti storici e beauties.It scenico magnifico è l'unica città nel mondo che ha esteso per due bugie di continents:it ad un punto in cui l'Asia ed Europa sono separate da uno strait-the-stretto Bosphorus.Istanbul ha una storia in 2.500 anni e dalla relativa istituzione su questa giunzione strategica delle terre e dei mari, la città è stata un centro commerciale cruciale.

La città storica di Costantinopoli è situata su una penisola fiancheggiata da tre lati dal mare di Marmara, il Bosphorus ed il Horn.It dorato è stato il capitale di tre imperi grandi, degli imperi romani, di Byzantine e del ottoman e per più di 1.600 anno oltre 120 imperatori e sultans ha regolato il mondo da here.No che l'altra città nel mondo può esigere una tal distinzione.

Durante il relativo sviluppo, la città è stata ingrandita quattro volte, ogni volta le pareti della città che sono ricostruite più ulteriormente all'ovest.

Circondato le pareti romane della città di quinto secolo ed allungando oltre sette colline, Costantinopoli adorned dai masterpieces dell'arte turca, i mosques grandi del Sultans che crown le colline. La città presenta uno squisito, maestoso e la siluetta del serene da tutto il corno dorato di directions.The, che è un porto naturale molto sicuro, ha svolto un ruolo significativo nello sviluppo della città.

La fortuna ha fornito tali vantaggi a Costantinopoli come posizione ad una giunzione in cui gli itinerari della conduttura per terra raggiungono il mare, una penisola facilmente difendibile, un clima ideale, una natura ricca e generosa, il controllo del Bosphorus strategico e una posizione geografica centrale nel mondo antico.

Come capitale degli imperi, la città era non soltanto un centro amministrativo, ma anche religioso. Patriarchate orientale cristiano essere acquartier qui relativo istituzione, e gran in anticipo chiesa e monasteries cristiano mondo aument questo città in cima pagan temples.Within un secolo dopo che città essere conquist, esso essere arricch con mosques, palazzo, scuola, bagno e altro architettonico monumento che d esso un turco carattere, mentre alcuno attuale chiesa rovina essere ripar, alter e convert mosques.Between sedicesimo secolo quando ottoman sultans acquist se stesso titolo "Caliph islam" e 1924, primo anno repubblica, Costantinopoli essere anche sede Caliphate.More ebreo deposit Costantinopoli che sono stati salvati dalla Spagna dai Turchi nel quindicesimo century.Istanbul sempre sono stati una città di tolleranza in cui i mosques, le chiese e gli synagogues hanno esistito lato dalla città di side.The adorned con tantissimi impianti d'abbagliamento ed impressionanti persino durante il periodo di declino dei ottomans.

Durante questo tempo, l'influenza dell'arte europea si è reso il feltro nei nuovi palazzi, mentre i pendii nordici dei distretti dorati del corno, di Galata e di Beyoglu hanno presupposto un carattere europeo. Anche quando l'impero, che era un partito alla guerra mondiale I, è sprofondato e la Repubblica giovane che ha sostituito esso ha spostato il capitale verso Ankara, Costantinopoli non ha perso la relativa importanza.


Lo sviluppo aleatorio che ha cominciato durante gli anni che seguono guerra mondiale II ed è accelerare negli anni 50 purtroppo ha avuto un effetto negativo sul tessuto di vecchia città e mentre le vecchie case di legno sono sparito velocemente, costruzioni concrete proliferate. Costantinopoli ha avvertito un'esplosione demografica dovuto l'immigrazione e durante un periodo molto corto ha espanso lontano oltre le pareti storiche della città. Le zone all'interno delle pareti sono state invase dalle officine, dai laminatoi e dagli uffici; neppure le nuove vie pubbliche non potrebbero risolvere i problemi di traffico e la deficienza dell'infrastruttura ha provocato un problema di inquinamento del mare, cominciando dal corno dorato.

Con le iniziative per conservare la città negli anni 80, Costantinopoli intrapresa un processo della ristrutturazione su una scala unseen nel relativo history.Thousands delle costruzioni lungo il corno dorato è stata demolita per fare il senso per una fascia verde sui relativi puntelli; i parchi ed i giardini sono stati costruiti sulla terra esatta riempiendosi sulle spiagge del mare di ordine di Marmara.In per impedire le reti di fognatura di inquinamento del mare erano completati e gli stabilimenti di trasformazione fisici e biologici dell'acqua di scarico sono stati eretti; l'uso di gas naturale per il heating ha ridotto considerevolmente l'inquinamento atmosferico.


Gli sforzi stanno continuando per il ripristino delle pareti romane della città e Beyoglu, l'arteria principale, è stato salvato sviluppando un newavenue. I miglioramenti sono stati apportati nella pulizia generale del ihe, manutenzione, campi dell'accumulazione dell'immondizia e questi servizi sono ora ai campioni d'Europa occidentale. Squilli la traversa delle strade il Bosphorus oltre due ponticelli della sospensione per collegare i due continenti. Il lato europeo ora ha un sistema veloce della linea tranviaria e un sottopassaggio e la comodità e la velocità è stata accertata in trasporto del mare con i terminali del hydrofoil sviluppati sul seashores.All che le imprese industriali sulla penisola storica sono state spostate verso le nuove facilità nei sobborghi ed il nuovo terminale di bus internazionale ha ridotto l'intensità di traffico. La vecchia prigione e la prima grande costruzione concreta della città sono state date a turismo e sono state convertite in hotel 5-star.

La città sta sviluppandosi dinamicamente e sta sviluppandosi a velocità completa su un asse est-ovest lungo i puntelli del Marmara.

COSTANTINOPOLI Dalla VISTA Dell'cOcchio Dell'cUccello

I mari e le terre generate, con un'armonia grande, la geografia di Costantinopoli come un lavoro in merletto, che si divide naturalmente in una vecchia città ed in Galata di quattro regions:the sui puntelli opposti del corno dorato ed i due lati del Bosphorus.What hanno usato essere piccoli diversi villaggi sul Bosphorus ora sono uniti per formare le zone abitate un whole.The che allungano lungo i puntelli del Marmara, il più piccolo mare su terra, indicano che le dimensioni ampie la città ora ha raggiunto.

La vecchia città è sparsa sulle sette colline di un promontory triangolare circondate da 22 chilometri delle pareti della città. Ciò è lo stabilimento storico che ai tempi differenti è stato denominato Byzantium, nuovo o in secondo luogo Roma, Constantinopolis o semplicemente "pareti di Polis"(The City).The lungo il Marmara ed il corno dorato principalmente è stata distrutta sopra le età, ma le pareti principali dal lato di landward ancora stanno levandosi in piedi nello stato relativamente buon.

La vecchia città è sparsa sulle sette colline di un promontory triangolare circondate da 22 chilometri della città walls.This è lo stabilimento storico che ai tempi differenti è stato denominato Byzantium, nuovo o in secondo luogo Roma, Constantinopolis o semplicemente "Polis" (le pareti di City).The lungo il Marmara ed il corno dorato principalmente sono state distrutte sopra le età, ma le pareti principali dal lato di landward ancora stanno levandosi in piedi in condition.The relativamente buon largamente che il lato occidentale della penisola triangolare è limitato dalle pareti della terra, gli altri 2 lati dalle pareti del mare. Le pareti e gli argini della forma del palazzo di Topkapi l'apex al east.The posteriore è situata sul primo delle sette colline, che è il più largo e palazzo di longest.The Topkapi sia un complesso imponente circondato dalle pareti, come una città all'interno di una città ed ora è un museo in cui gli impianti estremamente importanti ed importanti sono displayed.Hagia Eirene, la sede della riunione incomparabile degli eventi di festival e del museo archeological de Costantinopoli, unico fra i relativi pari, è situato nel primo courtyard del palace.One degli ottavi wonders del mondo, del museo di Hagia Sophia, dell'azzurro) di Sultan Ahmet(the Mosque di cui le bellezze meritano la relativa fama, il Hippodrome romano ed il Basilica

La seconda collina alloggia il più vecchio e più grande bazaar coperto, Nuruosmaniye Mosque e Cemberlitas (la colonna dei ons di C abbronza il tine), un regalo alla città quando si è transformato in nel capitale dell'impero romano.

Il Suleymaniye Mosque ed il Fatih Mosque aumenta, rispettivamente, sulle terze e quarte colline e una stirata romana dell'aquedotto fra i due hills.Sehzade Mosque e la costruzione del comune è inoltre cisterne romane aperte gigantesche di here.The che hanno usato fornire l'acqua alla città sono situate sulle altre più alte colline. Sultan Selim Mosque è situato sulla quinta collina ed il museo di Kariye sul pendio delle seste strade attuali di hill.The comincia dal quadrato di Hagia Sophia, passa sopra le creste di queste colline e la forcella per raggiungere i cancelli differenti della città, tutto il seguenti gli itinerari romani precedenti.

Le pareti della terra con i battlements di tre-corso che formano il contorno occidentale sono esempi splendidi di architettura militare romana. Le pareti funzionano giù al corno dorato in Eyup nel nord. Eytip Sultan Mosque, che dà al distretto il relativo nome, è identificato come il primo mosque costruito nella città.

Il corno dorato è un ingresso stretto, 8 chilometri di lunghezza ed a forma di come un corno. Il punto migliore per guardare la siluetta incomparabile di Costantinopoli proviene dal mare, a bordo delle navi che navigano dal lato asiatico o dall'entrata al corno dorato.

Le acque inquinanti del corno dorato sono state trattate ed alcuna della relativa popolazione originale dei pesci ora ha rinviato, circondato dai parchi e giardini intorno al corno dorato, attendono il giorno in cui i dockyards saranno rimossi da queste acque. Il Patriarchate ortodosso e la piccola, chiesa bulgara affascinante ora sono collegati al puntello opposto con il vecchio ponticello di Galata che è stato riassegnato a questo nuovo museo di area.The della famiglia di Koc oggetti interessanti delle esposizioni di questo distretto nei vari.

La regione di Galata ed il Pera contiguo presentano una vista che è abbastanza differente dal vecchio distretto di town.This, simbolizzato la torretta di Galata ed ascendendo lentamente sulla collina verso Beyoglu, mantiene la relativa apparenza originale, l'eredità della relativa architettura Europeo-influenzata diciannovesimo secolo.

Qui è la seconda più vecchia metropolitana in Europa, il traforo, che è ancora il più corto nel mondo. L'estremità superiore del traforo contrassegna l'inizio del viale di Istiklal. Ciò è una via pedonale, tranne le linee tranviarie antiquate che sono state messe ancora in servizio ed è circondato dalle costruzioni delle missioni straniere - ambasciate precedenti che sono state convertite in consolati nell'era repubblicana.

Il museo della letteratura di Divan all'estremità del traforo del viale è alloggiato in una costruzione bella che era un Mevlevi Tekke (monastery di Dervish) (diciottesimo cent.).Halfway sul viale là è la High School ben nota di Galatasaray ed attraverso la via il mercato del fiore con i relativi ristoranti e basamenti colorful ed affascinanti della verdura e dei pesci. I cinematografi, i teatri, i caffè, i ristoranti e le barre allineano il viale fino al quadrato di Taksim. Il viale ha recuperato oggi il relativo abbagliamento precedente, vivace, ammucchiato giorni e notti. Un monumento notevole che descrive la guerra nazionale di liberazione dei Turchi, di Ataturk e dei suoi amici adorns il quadrato di Taksim. Sotto il quadrato è il terminale principale di nuovo sistema di metro ed il lato nordico è occupato dal centro culturale di Ataturk.

I 5-star Hyatt ed hotel intercontinentali sono situati nel parco di Taksim e Costantinopoli Hilton è vicina. Hilton era il primo hotel di questo codice categoria sviluppato in Turchia (1955) ed è ancora il più famoso e meglio.

La Camera radiofonica, museo militare de Costantinopoli che è uno dei musei più ricchi di questo tipo, del palazzo del congresso di Lutfu Kirdar e del Amphitheater è inoltre in questa zona. Al nord, ci sono il Nisantasi ed i distretti $$i§li vivaci con i loro piccoli boutiques e gallerie numerose di arte e della pittura. Più ulteriormente al nord, in Etiler, Akmerkez presenta le nuove ed occasioni varie di shopping. Le costruzioni alte costruite in questa zona hanno cambiato lo skyline della città.

È un piacere senza pari levarsi in piedi sul nuovo ponticello di Galata e guardare la vista maestosa ed impressionante di Suleymaniye Mosque, uno degli impianti monumental più bei nella storia di architecture.Across il ponticello è il Valide Mosque e Misir Carsisi (mercato egiziano). Il mercato, che era originalmente riservato per i commercianti della spezia, è la seconda più grande e località più vivace nella città con 100 negozi.

Accanto ai negozi tradizionali delle erbe e delle spezie, ci ora sono altri che commerciano nei vari prodotti e nelle frutte secche e la parte esterna la costruzione là è fornitori dei pesci, della frutta e del fiore. Funzionamento normale di viaggi della barca ai puntelli asiatici, a Uskudar ed a Kadikoy, al Bosphorus ed all'Islands dei principi dai pilastri vicino al ponticello. I passers-by hanno sempre la probabilità godere i panini dei pesci, del pane e della cipolla venduti sul waterfront.

La stazione di treno di Sirkeci, tranquilla ricordandosi dei tempi glorious precedenti dell'Oriente esprime, adorns il quadrato di Sirkeci con la relativa architettura interessante ed il Sepetciler Kasri sul puntello serve i relatori internazionali mentre un centro della pressa. L'ufficio del regolatore di Costantinopoli è situato sulla via storica di Bab-i Ali che si arrampica in salita dal quadrato di Sirkeci.

Il quay che allunga fra Tophane ed il ponticello di Galata è riservato per le navi turistiche. Milioni di turisti visitano la città in barca durante la stagione fra aprile ed ottobre. La costruzione della Parte superiore-hane è stata riorganizzata in una galleria per servire la durata culturale della città.

Alcuni chilometri più ulteriormente, il palazzo di Dolmabahge ed il Mosque assomiglia alle scatole dei monili che embellishing i puntelli del Bosphorus.On che la collina dietro il palazzo aumenta l'hotel dello svizzero 5-star. Di qui, una latta Europe.see Uskudar e le colline di Camhca sul puntello opposto e sulle bellezze del palazzo di Topkapi e del Hagia Sophia all'ovest.

La lunghezza completa (30 chilometri) del Bosphorus come che esso i venti come un fiume verso il Mar Nero possono essere visti soltanto dal air.As uno viaggia sul Bosphorus una serie lago-come di viste spiega intorno ad ogni curvatura. I puntelli sono rivestiti con i palazzi, i mosques e le residenze di waterside ed il greenery dei pendii e delle colline è riflesso nei vecchi fortresses di waters.The e due ponticelli moderni della sospensione si levano in piedi guardanti queste bellezze della natura.

I gulls bianchi seguono i yachts bianchi di ships.While e le navi scivolano lungo le acque blu scuro, petroliere giganti riempite di olio dalle terre del Mar Nero compaiono come i fantasmi scuri intorno ai promontories, proponenti le minacce serie a questo canale navigabile incomparabile. Mentre il resto delle acque dello scintillio di Bosphorus alla notte con le luci riflesse, le sezioni nordiche verdi è chiuso a sviluppo.

Uskudar è un distretto storico che si è sviluppato mentre l'ultimo arresto delle strade dai mosques di Asia.Beautiful decora il distretto che è il passaggio più corto ad Europa.

I pendii delle colline di £amlica sono coperti di cipressi e di nuovi e vecchi cimiteri. La collina grande di Camhca è un posto di picnic e dal parco qui uno può vedere un Vista della città intera.

Una strada lungo la spiaggia conduce a Kadikoy, offrente un panorama della torretta del Leander e gli impianti maestosi sulla penisola opposite.Some delle costruzioni caratteristiche di questa zona sono i barracks di Selimiye (o ospedale del nightingale de Firenze, poichè esso sono migliore conosciuto nel west), che è più grande vecchia costruzione nella città, la High School di Haydarpasa che ora fa parte di una città universitaria dell'università e la stazione di treno di Haydarpasa ha costruito nelle facilità port commerciali architettoniche prussiane di style.The della linea della città il puntello.

Secondo i miti, Kadikoy era il primo stabilimento in questa regione. È un distretto pacifico conosciuto per il relativo mercato tipico, la baia bella di Moda, il parco ed i marinas di Fenerbahge ed il viale moderno di Bagdat. Purtroppo, la maggior parte di vecchi mansions bei e le ville con i grandi giardini che hanno caratterizzato la regione sono stati le vittime delle attività eccessive di sviluppo. L'Islands dei principi ancora effettui la distinzione di essere fra i ricorsi principali della città.

Il tempo mobile alle isole è stato ridotto dai nuovi carrelli estratti catamarans.Horse è gli unici veicoli permessi là. Summerhouses ed i giardini bene-preoccupati sono situati vicino al piers.It è alla moda prendere a giri su questi le isole pino-coperte in primavera e l'estate, ma deserted nell'inverno, anche se ogni stagione ha relative proprie bellezze. L'Islands dei principi sia particolarmente popolare per i picnic, bagnandosi e yachting alle fine settimane.

SULTANAHMET SQUARE

The first of the seven hills on the promontory has been the most important and dynamic part of the city in all ages. When the city was first founded, the acropolis was a typical Mediterranean trading center surrounded by city walls. This trading center was enlarged and rebuilt during Roman times. The most prominent buildings and monuments of the Roman era were built in the vicinity of the Hippodrome. Very few relics of these works have endured to the present day.

The imperial palace, known as the "Great Palace", used to spread over an area extending from the Hippodrome down to the seashore. Only the mosaic floor panel of a large hall remains from this palace today. The Augusteion, the most important square of the city, used to be here, and between the square and the main avenue there was the Millairium victory arch. The road used to extend as far as Rome and the stone marking the first kilometer was located here. The baths, temples, religious, cultural, administrative and social centers were all in this district. The area maintained its importance in the Byzantine and Turkish eras. Therefore some of the most important monuments of Istanbul such as the Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art and the Basilica Cistern are all located around the Hippodrome.




The main streets in the city (those leading down to the harbor and those extending toward the city walls in the west) started at the Hippodrome and followed the slopes of the hills. The streets were lined with business establishments and mansions. The side streets were narrow and some were stepped. Some of the main streets had two-galleried sidewalks. There were spacious squares along the route and the side roads forking from these squares led to the city gates. The main avenue was called the Mese, and Via Egnetia, the road to Rome, started at the Golden Gate (Altmkapi).

Hippodrome means square for horses. The Hippodrome was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus towards the end of the 2nc* century and it was extended to an immense size by Constantine the Great. Some historians claim that it could seat thirty thousand spectators, while others put the figure at sixty thousand. The main attraction was the two or four-horse chariot races. In Roman and Byzantine times, the Hippodrome served as the city's main meeting, entertainment and sports center until the 10tn century. Like many of the other monuments in the city, it lost its importance with the Latin invasion in 1204. Besides the chariot races and gladiator fights with wild animals, there were performances by musicians, dancers and acrobats. There were many public holidays during Roman times to allow opportunities for all these activities.

The Hippodrome was shaped like a gigantic "U" and the imperial box, built like a balcony with four bronze horses on its roof, was situated on the eastern side. The sand-covered surface of the Hippodrome was divided into two by a low wall around which the chariots raced. On this wall stood monuments brought here from different corners of the empire and the statues of famous riders and their horses. Successful chariot drivers were very wealthy and could have anything they wanted. Originally there were 4 teams of drivers whose supporters' clubs formed large quarrelling factions and competed for position and prestige in the city. From time to time politics intermingled with the races, and the clashes between competing forces turned into bloody massacres.

The original ground level of the Hippodrome was 4 or 5 meters lower than the present surface. Three monuments have remained to our day: the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpent Column and the Walled Obelisk. In the Turkish era, too, festivals, ^ceremonies and performances used to be organized here. The Palace of Ibrahim Pasa opposite Sultan Ahmet Mosque is the sole example of the imposing private residences of the 16th century. This elegant building now houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.

Only the round southern end of the vast Hippodrome has survived. This is a brick structure decorated with tall vaults. In later ages, all of the stone blocks and columns of the Hippodrome were used for building material. The ruins in the park to the right of the entrance to the Hippodrome belong to 4th" and 5th century private palaces, and a little further along there are the remains of the Byzantine Hagia Euphemia church.

THE EGYPTIAN OBELISK(THE OBELISK OF THEODOSIUS I)

Around 1490 BC the Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III erected two obelisks before the Karnak temple in Luxor to commemorate the victories of his forces in Mesopotamia. The obelisks were made of rare pink granite.

In the 4th century AD, an unknown Roman emperor who wanted to accomplish something impressive that would create excitement among his people had the colossal obelisk brought to Istanbul.

For years it was left lying in a corner of the Hippodrome. In 390, during the reign of Theodosius I, it was erected with great difficulty by Proclus, a city administrator. It is the oldest monument in the city and has always been considered magical. The obelisk rests on four bronze blocks on a Roman base decorated with reliefs. These depict the emperor, his children and other prominent personalities watching the races from the imperial box, as well as the spectators, musicians, dancers and chariot races. The obelisk measures 25.60 m including the base.

HAGIA SOPHIA MUSEUM

Hagia Sophia, which is considered as one of the eight wonders of the world, also occupies a prominent place in the history of art and architecture. It is one of the rare works of this size and age that has survived to our day. The church (called Ayasofya in Turkish) is erroneously known as Saint Sophia in the west. The basilica was not dedicated to a saint named Sophia, but to Divine Wisdom.

This was the site of a pagan temple, and the three separate basilicas built here in different times were all called by the same name. Although no churches were built during the reign of Constantine the Great, some sources maintain that the first Hagia Sophia basilica was built by him. Actually, the first small basilica with a wooden roof was constructed in the second half of the 4th century by Constantinius, the son of Constantine the Great.

This church burnt during the riots in 404, and a second and larger basilica that replaced it was inaugurated in 415. During the bloody uprising of 532 that broke out at a chariot race in the Hippodrome, ten thousands of the inhabitants of the city were killed and numerous building destroyed.

The Hagia Sophia church was among the structures burnt during this so-called "Nika" revolt which was directed against Emperor Justinian.

When Justinian finally suppressed the revolt, he decided to build a house of worship "the like of which has not been seen since Adam, nor will it be seen in the future." Construction started in 532 over the remains of the previous basilica and it was completed in five years. In the year 537, elaborate ceremonies were organized for the dedication of this largest church of Christendom. The emperor spared no expense for his church and placed the state treasury at the disposal of the architects, Antheius of Tralles and mathematician Isidorus of Miletus. The design of the dome followed in the tradition of Roman architecture, and the plan of the basilica was even older. Round buildings had been successfully covered with domes before. But in Hagia Sophia, Justinian was attempting for the first time in the history of architecture to build a gigantic central dome over a rectangular plan.

Priests kept intoning prayers throughout the construction. Marbles and columns taken from the remains of earlier eras from almost all parts of the empire were used for building material. Later many esoteric stories were invented to explain the origin of these materials, particularly the columns, which were gathered from such far ranging sources.

During the reign of Justinian, Hagia Sophia was a manifestation of refinement and pomp, but in later eras it turned into a legend and a symbol.

Because of its dimensions which could not be surpassed for the next thousand years and the financial and technical difficulties involved in its construction, people believed that such a building could not have been achieved without the assistance of supernatural powers. Although Hagia Sophia is a 6th century Byzantine work, it is an "experiment" in the Roman architectural tradition that has neither a predecessor nor a duplicate. The contrast between the interior and the exterior and the large dome are legacies of Rome. The outer appearance is not elegant; it was built as a shell, without much care for proportions. On the other hand, the interior is as splendid and captivating as a palace. As a whole, it is an "imperial" structure.

During the dedication ceremony, the emperor could not suppress his excitement. He entered the church in a chariot, thanked God, and shouted that he had outdone King Solomon.

The basilica developed into a large religious center with tall buildings surrounding it. The scene was now set for the clashes between the Byzantine emperors and the Eastern Church that would last for centuries.

Despite its uniqueness and magnificence, the structure has some vital faults. The most important problem was the enormous size of the dome and the pressure it exerted on the side walls. The architectural elements necessary for transmitting the weight of such a dome to the foundations were not fully developed at that time.

In time the side walls kept leaning outwards and the original low dome collapsed in 558. The second dome to be constructed was much higher and reduced in diameter, but almost half of this dome also collapsed twice, in the 10th and 14th centuries. Vast sums were spent in all ages for the upkeep of Hagia Sophia. The immediate restorations undertaken after the Turkish conquest in 1453 to convert it into a mosque saved this beautiful building. Among the major restorations at later times were the buttresses built by Turkish architect Sinan in the 16th century, the restoration by the Fossafi brothers in mid-19th century, and the repairs including the fortification of the dome with iron bands after 1930. Existing modern portable metal scaffolding will make future restoration work easier.

After serving two different religions with the same god, 916 years as a church and 477 years as a mosque, Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum on Ataturk's orders. Between 1930 and 1935 the whitewash on the walls was cleaned to reveal mosaics, which are among the most important examples of Byzantine art.


A TOUR OF THE MUSEUM

The entrance to the museum from the courtyard is the original west gate, which has now been put to use again after centuries. Next to the entrance is the remains of the earlier (the second) basilica. Those who were not baptized could only enter to the outer nartexs, from which five doors give entrance to the inner narthex (porch), and from here nine more doors lead into the nave.

The tall door in the middle was the Imperial Entrance. The mosaic panel above the door dates to end-9th century. In the center of the panel Christ the Pantocrator (Almighty) sits on a throne and an emperor pleads him for divine mercy. One of the two roundels on both sides depicts Virgin Mary and the other Archangel Gabriel. The non-figurative mosaics on the ceiling of the inner narthex and the side naves are from the time of Justinian.




An overwhelmingly magnificent nave welcomes the visitor. The dome makes itself felt from the very first step. It gives the impression of being suspended in the air and covers the entire space. The walls and the ceilings are covered with marble and mosaics, creating a colorful appearance. The three different tones of color observed in the mosaic decorations of the dome indicate three different restorations. It is still one of the largest domes in the world with its height and diameter. Due to later restorations, the 55.60 meter high dome is not perfectly round. Its diameter measures 31.87 m from north to south and 30.87 m from east to west. Four winged angels with their faces covered decorate the four pendentives which support the dome. The wide rectangular central space, measuring 74.67 x 69.80 m, is divided from the dark side naves by columns. There are altogether 107 columns on the ground floor and the galleries. The marble column capitals of Hagia Sophia are the most characteristic and distinctive examples of the 6th century classical Byzantine decorative art in the building. The deep carvings on the marble, in typical medieval style, produce impressive effects of light and shadow. In the center there are imperial monograms.

The antique porphyry columns in the corners, the central columns of green Salonika marble, and the richly decorated white marble capitals on all columns take the visitor back to ancient times.

To appreciate Hagia Sophia fully, one should try to look at it not just as an empty museum, but as the magnificent and mystical church or mosque it once was. While it was the mother church of a great empire, the section in front of the apse, the altar, the ambo (pulpit) and the ceremonial objects were all plated in gold and silver and decorated with ivory and jewels. Even some of the doors were covered with such precious metals. The Latin invaders of the 4th Crusade tore all of these down and carried them to Europe, together with some architectural fragments.

A mosaic panel depicting the Christ-Child and the Virgin decorates the conch of the apse. Another angels figure on the opposite wall has not survived intact.

The huge leather medallions, 7.5 in in diameter, hanging from the walls at gallery level and the inscriptions on the dome remind us of its days as a mosque.

These are the works of master calligraphers of the mid-19th century. The medallions contain the word "Allah" and the names of Prophet Mohammed, the first four caliphs, and Hasan and Huseyin, the grandchildren of the prophet. The mihrab in the apse, the stained glass windows over the mihrab and minber, the raised platform for the chanters are Turkish additions.

On the floor of the nave, there is a square area paved with colored marble pieces. Emperors used to be crowned here and it dates probably to the 12th century.

Two round urns made of high quality marble are placed on each side of the entrance to the central nave. These antique urns were brought from Pergamum in the 16th century.

In the northern corner of the church is the "sweating column". A bronze belt encircles the lower section and there is a hole big enough to insert a finger. There are many legends and stories about the column. A ramp inside the first northern buttress gives access to the upper galleries. The magnificent central nave looks completely different when seen trom the galleries surrounding the three sides.

In the galleries there were sections reserved for the ladies of the imperial family and the meetings of the church council. In the northern wing there is a mosaic panel, and there are three panels, each with groups of three figures, in the southern wing.

In the southern gallery the light from a window nearby illuminates a masterpiece of Byzantine mosaic art. The panel, called "Deesis", represents the last judgment and is a composition of three figures: Jesus is seen in the center, flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. The unusual arrangement of the mosaics in the background highlights the beauty of the figures, and the facial expressions are extremely realistic.

At the far end of the southern gallery a panel from the 12th century depicts the Virgin Mary and Christ-Child, the Emperor Comnenus II, and the Empress Eirene, while the panel on the side wall portrays the ailing Prince Alexius. The racial features of the Empress, who was of Hungarian origin, i.e. her light complexion and hair, can be clearly distinguished.

In a second panel here, Christ is seated on the throne and beside him stand the Empress Zoe and her third husband Constantine Monomachos. The mosaic originally depicted the first husband of Zoe, but the face and the inscription above were redone to suit Constantine. In this panel, the offerings of the members of the royal family, a pouch and a scroll symbolize their donations to the church.

The large panel seen while leaving the inner narthex is from the 10th century. The figures with distorted perspectives represent the Virgin and the Christ-Child in the center, with Constantine the Great offering a model of the city on the right, and Justinian offering a model of Hagia Sophia on the left. The huge bronze doors at the exit that are partially embedded in the floor are from the 2nd century BC and were probably brought here from a pagan temple in Tarsus.

In the garden of the museum there are Turkish buildings from various periods, such as the tombs of sultans, a school, the clock-winding house and the ablution fountain. The minarets on the eastern side were added in the 15th century and those on the west side in the 16th century.

HISTORY OF ISTANBUL

Across the country,there are thousands of archeological sites,historical places and ancient cities,as well as magnificent scenic spots and natural wonders.Since Roman times, Asiatic Turkey has been known as both "Asia Minor" and "Anatolia".The European part of Turkey is called Thrace.

These lands have been continually inhabited since the Stone Age.Because Anatolia is located like a natural bridge between continents, no other country in the world has acquired so many historical treasures.

The Aegean Sea, the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus form the western boundaries of the Anatolian peninsula.Be side the Dardanelles are the ruins of the famous city of Troy — a memento of thousands of years of history- and on the shores of the Bosphorus rises Istanbul in all her beauty and splendor,keeping the memories of her past alive.

There are many legends related to the foundation of Istanbul.According to the best known one, around 650 BC, a sea tribe from the Aegean left their city Megara and began to look for a new homeland under the leadership of Byzas.

According to the customs of the age,before any such undertaking an oracle had to be consulted. The oracle in the Apollo temple in the famous town of Delphi advised Byzas to settle opposite the "land of the blind".The migrants searched for such a land for a long time. When they came to the headland of present-day Istanbul,they were delighted with the fertile lands and the advantages offered by the natural harbor,the Golden Horn.They also noticed the people living across the stretch of water. The migrants decided that those people must have been blind if they could not appreciate the opportunities of this ideal place and settled on the opposite shore,and they were convinced that they had found the land the oracle had described.

Excavations have revealed finds dating back to the 3rd millennium BC at the tip of the Golden Horn and on the Asian side.

The city of Byzantium existed as an independent state, but succumbed from time to time to the superior powers ruling the region.The acropolis of the city stood where Topkapi Palace stands today.It had a well-protected harbor,still used today, in the Golden Horn.A fortified city wall starting here surrounded the city and reached the Sea of Marmara.Byzantium was an important seaport and a center of trade under the Roman Empire. However,it sided with the wrong party during a struggle for the throne in 191 AD, and after a siege that lasted two years,it was conquered and razed by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus.The same emperor later reconstructed the city on a larger scale.New city walls were built and the city was adorned with new buildings.

By the 4th century AD the Roman Empire had expanded considerably,and the capital Rome lost its central position in the empire.While looking for another city as his new capital,the Emperor Constantine the Great finally chose Istanbul, realizing the strategic position of the city at the intersection of sea and land routes and the importance of its perfect climate.

New city walls were constructed,enlarging the city again,and numerous temples,governments, palaces,baths and a hippodrome were built .

Finally in 330 AD it was officially declared . the capital of the Roman Empire.Many ceremonies were organized for the occasion,which marked the beginning of a golden age.Although the city was initially called the Second Rome or New Rome,these names were soon forgotten to be replaced by "Byzantium" and in later ages by "Constantinopolis",while the people favored the name "Polis".

The successors of Constantine the Great continued to improve and beautify the city by building new avenues, aqueducts, monuments and edifices. The first churches in the city were also built after the time of Constantine.

The Roman Empire was divided into two in 395 AD. Although the Western Empire collapsed in the 5th century, the Eastern Empire, which was administered from the capital, Istanbul survived for over 1,000 years afterwards.

This empire was named as the Byzantine Empire by modern historians.Byzantium had a very interesting history,because its development was influenced both by the earlier Anatolian civilizations and, more importantly, by Christianity; its laws and rules were adopted from Rome, but its pomp and ceremonies from the East.

The city was enlarged once more with the erection of new city walls in the first half of the 5th century. The magnificent city walls on the landward side that we see today were built by Emperor Theodosrus If. They are 6,492 m long. In the 6th century, the city, that now had a population of over half a million, lived through another golden age during the reign of Emperor Justinian. The famous Hagia Sophia is the work ot this emperor.

The later history of the Byzantine Empire and its capital Istanbul is filled with palace and church intrigues and Persian and Arab attacks. The throne frequently changed hands after bloody feuds between royal families. Between 726-842, all kinds of religious images were outlawed in the city during the iconoclastic movement.This led to much destruction (and much concealment) of paintings and statues.


The Latin invasion was a dark page in the history of Istanbul. It started with the invasion of the city by the armies of the Fourth Crusade in 1204,and for many years all the churches, monasteries and monuments in the city were robbed of their treasures.Although the Byzantines regained control of the city in 1261,Istanbul never fully recovered its former wealth.

increasing threats of the expanding Ottoman Empire finally came to an climax when, following a siege of fifty-three days in 1453, the city was captured by the Turks.The large caliber cannons of Sultan Mehmet,the Conqueror, used for the first time in history, were one of the factors that enabled the Turks to penetrate the city walls of Istanbul.Another factor contributing to the conquest was that the Byzantine Empire had reached the end of its natural life span.

Mehmet,who was only 21 years old then,moved the capital of the Ottoman Empire to Istanbul, increased the population of the city by bringing in immigrants from different regions of the country, and started to reconstruct the deserted and wrecked city.He granted freedom of worship and social rights to the former inhabitants.

It was thanks to the rights granted by Mehmet that the Patriarchate of the Greek Orthodox is even today located in Istanbul.Some of the dilapidated churches in the city, including Hagia Sophia,were renovated and converted into mosques.

Istanbul was fully reconstructed within a short period after it was conquered by the Turks.A century later,Turkish art had left its mark on the city, and domes and minarets dominated the skyline.

In the 16th century,when the Ottoman Sultans assumed the office of Caliphate,(chief civil and religious authority of Islam) Istanbul became the center of the Islamic world as well. The city was totally reconstructed and acquired a magical ambiance under the sultans. Although no wars featured in Istanbul's history during this time, frequent fires repeatedly devastated large sections of the city.

The Imperial Topkapi Palace built on the site of the old acropolis commands an extraordinarily beautiful view of the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. As a result of closer contacts with the West, mosques and palaces in European style were built along the shores of the Bosphorus by the 19th century.

These numerous palaces, built in a very short time, also symbolize the decline of another empire. For at the end of World War I Istanbul witnessed the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire was broken up and while the internal and external enemies were fighting among themselves for a larger share of the spoils, one of the valiant commanders of the Turkish army was engaged in a struggle on behalf of the Turkish Nation.

This national hero, Mustafa Kemal,founded the Republic of Turkey after a war of independence that lasted more than four years.

Mustafa Kemal Ataturk assumed the Presidency of this first republic in Asia, and changed the course of his country toward the principles of western civilization. The Sultan and his family were exiled, the Caliphate was abolished, the Latin alphabet was adopted, the fez and veil were outlawed,and women were granted voting rights.

By the time Ataturk died in 1938,the Republic of Turkey was already recognized as a member of the western world. The relocation of the capital to Ankara never reduced the importance of Istanbul,and this incomparable city continued to maintain its enchanting appearance and life style.

The Republic of Turkey has now proceeded for 75 years on the path of reason,based on scientific thought and facts,that was pointed out by Ataturk.

The people of the country are determined to continue their march in the direction of contemporary civilization.The next millennium will be an even more prosperous age for the secular and democratic republic.The citizens of the country will follow in the footsteps of Ataturk as individuals who are independent, enlightened,unfettered in life and religion, at liberty in prayer and education, free in will, and loyal to the country.

CLIMATE OF ISTANBUL

The inhabitants of Istanbul enjoy all four seasons. The characteristic weather here is a somewhat cooler version of the Mediterranean climate:a short spring,ideal summer temperatures, a long autumn with blue skies,and a rainy winter...The Bosphorus dons the purple of the Judas-tree groves in the spring.The parks and gardens are decorated with tulips and other flowers.March is a cool, rainy month,but April and May are exactly what one expects of the spring. June is half spring,half summer.An old saying advises one "not to bathe in the sea before you see the rind of a watermelon".It is possible to bathe in the seas of Istanbul until the end of September. In July and August, except for perhaps two or three hot weeks, there are sometimes even cloudy or cool days. The weather can be undependable in a region with such a blending of lands and seas.Morning clouds may clear toward noon and invite the sun. Autumn is the longest season,and during the larger part of the year the morning haze makes the skies as bright as mother-of-pearl. During the winter months from December to March one needs a raincoat,a thick coat,and sometimes even a fur. There are few days of frost or snow.The main winds throughout the year are the cool and rainy "poyraz" from the south,and the warm "lodos" from the south.The last severe winter within the city boundaries was experienced in 1978 when the airport had to be closed partially for three days.For those who long for the snow,the winter sports center in Uludag, Bursa is not far away.

Average annual temperature: 13.7°C (56.6 °F)
Coldest month: February 5°C (41°F)
Hottest months: July-August 22-23°C (72-74°F)
Average annual precipitation: 691mm (27 inches)
Average snowy days: 7

Alongside the efforts involving wastewater infrastructure, the seawaters are in the process of being cleaned and Istanbul is returning to its pre-pollution times of rich bathing opportunities.The beaches on the coast of the Black Sea,the Marmara, and the Princes' Islands are all less than one hour away from the center,and swimming is possible throughout the summer months.

Only experienced swimmers should attempt the currents of the cool Bosphorus.On windy days, the Black Sea is like the ocean.No other city in the world has beaches that are so safe and so close to the city,and seawaters with salt levels to suit every taste.Older inhabitants remember the days when they bathed in the Golden Horn;maybe it will be possible to do so again before the year 2004.

CITY TOURS

The historic city of Istanbul forms a unified whole with the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Nowhere else can one find the wonders of nature, human artifacts,the testimony of the past and the bustle of everyday life in such close relationship.For those who will remain briefly in the city,there are day tours including the important historical sites, museums,the famous Covered Bazaar and its vicinity.These tours leave from the hotels or the port and visit the masterpieces on the historical promontory in half-day programs.The important sites are the Hagia Sophia,one of Galata Tower from which one can see the best view of the city; the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus, the richest palace in the world; the famous Archeological Museums;the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum;the Spice Bazaar,and many other historical sites. The performances of belly dancers and folk dancers add color to night tours. The air and seaports of Istanbul are located on the European side. For those who have never stepped on Asian soil before, a boat trip or the bridges over the Bosphorus offer a wonderful opportunity.Over the suspension bridges and from Great Camhca Hill on the Asian side, one can get a bird's eye view of the city and the Bosphorus.The Princes' Islands, one hour by ferryboat and the eight wonders of the world, the Suleymaniye Mosque,Sultan Ahmet Mosque,the Hippodrome and the Topkapi Palace Museum. This is the classical one-day tour, but there are many specialized tours for Roman, Byzantine and Turkish monuments,the Bosphorus or the Asian shores, which will make the visitor return to his country with unforgettable memories.Minimums of three or four days are necessary to really get to know Istanbul.

These should include a visit to the Roman city walls; the well-known Kariye Museum decorated with late Byzantine frescoes and mosaics;half an hour by catamarans from the city center,are ideal places for relaxation, recreation,hiking, swimming or phaeton tours.In addition to the city tours offered by travel agencies,luxury limousine services are also available for tours. Shopping opportunities are many and varied in Istanbul.The Covered Bazaar and the well-known shops at its entrance,Akmerkez, Galeria,Capitol and similar malls,the designer boutiques in Beyoglu and Nisantasi,and the stores on Bagdat Avenue are open the whole year.

TOPKAPI PALACE

Topkapi is the largest and oldest palace in the world to survive to our day. In 1924 it was turned into a museum at Atatiirk's request. Situated on the acropolis, the site of the first settlement in Istanbul, it commands an impressive view of the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The palace is a complex surrounded by 5 km of walls and occupies an area of 700,000 sq. m at the tip of the historical peninsula.

Following the conquest of the city in 1453, the young Sultan Mehmet moved the capital of the empire to Istanbul, His first palace was located in the middle of the town. The second palace, which he built in the 1470's, was initially called the New Palace, but in recent times it came to be known as the Topkapi Palace. Topkapi is a classical example of Turkish palace architecture. It consists of tree- shaded courtyards, each serving a different purpose and opening onto one another with monumental gates. The courtyards are surrounded by functional buildings. From the time of its construction, the palace developed constantly with alterations and additions made by each sultan.

When the sultans moved to the ostentatious Dolmabahce Palace in 1853, Topkapi lost its importance as the official royal residence and was left to deteriorate. It finally regained its former unpretentious beauty after fifty years of continuous restoration in the Republican era. Most of the objects exhibited in the palace today are unique masterpieces.

When it was used as a palace, it served more functions than one usually associates with royal residences. Although it was the residence of the Sultan, the sole ruler of the empire, it was at the same time the center of the administrative affairs, the place where the council of ministers met, and the treasury, mint, and state archives were located there. The highest educational institution of the empire, the university of the sultan and the state was also here. Therefore it was the heart, the brain, the very center of the Ottoman Empire. Much later, the harem (private quarters) of the sultans was moved here too.

Of the sixteen empires founded by the Turks, the Ottoman Empire was the longest lasting and the largest. It lasted for 622 years ruling over the Asian, European and African lands surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea.

Peoples of different races and religions were united under its rule. The only other empire in history that governed such vast lands for such a long period was the Roman Empire.

Thirty-six sultans reigned during this period, and starting from early 16th century, they also became the religious leaders of the Islamic world as caliphs.

Capable civil servants, after completing their education in the school in the private courtyard of the sultan, served faithfully and successfully in the administration and organization of the empire. Most of the viziers and grand viziers were graduates of this school. Life started at dawn in the palace and it was subject to strict rules and ceremonies. Everybody had to abide by the centuries-old customs and traditions, and these were observed rigorously even when the empire fell into a period of decline. The etiquette of this palace always influenced the rules of protocol in the Western world.

The seaside mansions and pavilions of Topkapi Palace were demolished at the end of the last century.

The different tiles, woodwork and architectural styles displayed in Topkapi Palace reflects the development of Turkish art and the harmonious existence of differing styles over the centuries.

VISITING THE PALACE THE FIRST COURTYARD

The first courtyard is entered through the so-called Imperial Gate. The monumental fountain seen outside the gate is a beautiful example of 18th century Turkish art. In this courtyard there are the palace bakery, the mint, the quarters of the palace guards, and the firewood depots. The vegetable gardens used to occupy the terraces below. The first building in the palace complex, the Tiled Pavilion, and the Archeological Museum are in this courtyard, too. To the left of the entrance is the Hagia Eirene Museum, a 6th century Byzantine church.

THE SECOND COURTYARD

The main entrance to the Palace Museum is the second gate, known as the Gate of Salutation. The second courtyard was the administrative center of the state and the government. Only the sultans could enter this yard on horseback. Citizens with official business were allowed here, as well as the representatives of the Janissary corps on special paydays.
br> The reception of foreign emissaries and state ceremonies took place in this courtyard. It is known that absolute silence prevailed in such ceremonies, sometimes attended by up to ten thousand people. When the sultan was present in the event, the imperial throne was placed in front of the gate at the other end of the courtyard, and as a demonstration of respect; that present would stand with their hands clasped in front. The only tower in the palace is located here too. It was called "the Tower of Justice" because it was the venue of the state court of justice. The entire city and the port could be kept under observation from this tower, the only entrance of which was from the harem section.

THE HAREM

The harem was the private zone of the palace, where the mother and siblings of the sultan, the other members of the family, and the concubines and eunuchs who served this large family lived. Until the mid-16th century the harem was housed in the Old Palace in another part of the town. The harem of Topkapi Palace consists of long narrow hallways and about 400 rooms scattered around small courtyards. It was altered and enlarged over the years.

The harem was strictly closed to outsiders, and it became the subject of many stories over the centuries. The concubines serving the sultan and his family were chosen from among the most beautiful and healthy girls of different races or they were presented to the court as gifts.

These girls came to the harem at a very early age and were brought up under strict discipline. After they became thoroughly acquainted with the customs of the palace, they were separated into different groups. Those who could attract the attention of the sultan had the chance of becoming his wife.

There was no such title in the empire as "empress". The sultan's mother was the sole ruler in the harem. Amid the entire splendor and wealth, rivalry, hatred and intrigues to get closer to the sultan were part of the daily life.

When a new sultan ascended to the throne, the harem of the former sultan was moved to another palace. The ladies of the harem and the chief eunuchs emerged as a political power influencing state administration if the reigning sultan was weak and ineffective. Still, life in the harem with all its intrigues, good and bad parts was superior to the life style of women of that period elsewhere.

Only a section of the harem is open to the public. It is up to the imagination of the visitor to recreate the colorful and lively old days in these dim hallways and empty rooms.

The tour of the harem starts with the 40-room section allocated to the mother of the sultan. The next sections are the large Turkish bath and the spacious, domed hall reserved for the sultans.

There are fireplaces and fountains in all available places. The large hall with a pool filled by interesting fountains is decorated with exquisite 16th century tiles. It dates to the reign of Murat III. From the end of this hall, one enters the small library and the "fruit room" which is embellished with paintings of fruits and flowers.

The two 16th century rooms seen at the end of the harem tour have beautiful stained glass windows complementing the rich wall decorations. These rooms were allocated to the crown prince.


THE WEAPON COLLECTION AND THE COUNCIL HALL

The large structure next to the "council of state" building with broad eaves was the state treasury. This eight-domed building today houses rich collection of old weapons in a modern exhibition.

Besides the armor and weapons used by the sultans, those used by the members of the palace and the army is displayed here along with weapons conquered from other countries.

The Tower of Justice rises beside the "council of state" section. The council was composed of the viziers and secretaries, and the grand vizier chaired the meetings.

The sultans did not participate in the meetings, but could listen to the deliberations from a high window in one of the walls. This window opened to the harem section and a curtain masked it. The feasts given in honor of visiting foreign missions took place in this hall.

THE KITCHENS AND THE PORCELAIN COLLECTION

On the right side of the second courtyard are the palace kitchens with twenty chimneys. Of the 12,000 pieces of Chinese and Japanese porcelain in the palace collection, about 2,500 are on display in this section.

When these b uildings were used as kitchens, over one thousand cooks and their assistants prepared and served meals for the various sections of the palace.

Selected pieces of the largest such collection in the world are displayed in a chronological order. Sections of the kitchens have been kept as they were when in use, while another part is allocated to porcelain and glassware produced in Istanbul. Another section houses the collection of silverware and European porcelain. The unique Chinese celadons are in the room to the right. The exhibition of blue and white, mono- and polychrome porcelain objects ends with the Japanese porcelain collection. In the special kitchen where sweets used to be made, everyday kitchen utensils, coffee sets and gold-plated . copper wares are displayed.

THE THIRD COURTYARD

The third courtyard was the private domain of the sultan and it was entered —only by special permission- through the Gate of Felicity, guarded by the White Eunuchs. The imperial university, the throne room, the treasury of the sultan and the quarters housing the sacred relics were located in this section. The sultans received foreign ambassadors and high government officials in the throne room, which is directly opposite the entrance. For security reasons those serving in the throne room were selected from among deaf and mute persons.

The military officers who served the sultan in various capacities were at the same time the managers of the imperial school.

The library of Ahmet III in the center of the courtyard is an 18th century building that is a typical example of the harmonious blend of the baroque and Turkish architectural styles.

THE COSTUMES

Unique collections of the sultans' wardrobes are displayed in the section to the right of the courtyard. There are altogether 2,500 of these handmade costumes that were made of fabric woven on the palace looms and preserved carefully in special chests since the 15th century. Besides these garments embroidered with silk, gold and silver thread, there are also silk carpets and prayer rugs, masterpieces of Turkish art, used by the sultans.

THE TREASURY


The treasury section of the Topkapi Palace Museum is the richest collection of its kind in the world. All the pieces exhibited in the four rooms are authentic originals.

Masterpieces of the Turkish art of jewelry from different centuries and exquisite creations from the Far East, India and Europe entrance visitors. In each room there is an imperial throne from a different era. Ceremonial costumes, weapons, water pipes, Turkish coffee cups and other wares, all of them embellished with gold and precious stones are the most important items in the first room.

The second hall is known as the Emerald Room. It contains dazzling display of aigrettes and pendants decorated with emeralds and other jewels. Uncut emeralds, some weighing several kilograms each, and the famous Topkapi Dagger (the symbol of the museum) embellished with three large emeralds are also on display here.

The third room contains enameled objects, medals and decorations of state presented to the sultans by foreign monarchs, the twin solid gold candelabras each weighing 48 kilograms, and the most famous throne in the palace, the golden throne, which the sultans used during coronations and religious holidays. The 86-carat Spoon Maker's (or Pigot) Diamond, one of the most famous diamonds in the world, is also to be found here. The balcony connecting the third and the fourth rooms offers a breathtaking view of the entrance to the Bosphorus and the Asian coast. In the fourth room, a magnificent throne of Indian-Persian origin is on display. There are also many other objects encrusted with precious stones of different sizes to captivate visitors.

THE CLOCK COLLECTION

The richest collection of clocks in the world is exhibited in the room next to the Sacred Relics Section. To the right of the entrance there are clocks made by Turkish masters. These priceless wall and table clocks and watches are from the 16th-19th centuries. Clocks of a huge variety of makes were presented to the palace as gifts.

The largest clock in the room is one of English origin. It is 3.5 m high and 1 m wide, and contains an organ. Some pieces of special interest are the watches with the portraits of Abdulmecid and Abdulaziz, and a birdcage hanging from the dome, the underside of which is an enameled clock.

THE SACRED RELICS

The sacred relics of Islam were brought to the palace after the conquest of Egypt in the 16th century and have been preserved here since that time. This hall was used as the throne room before it was allocated to the sacred relics. The walls of the domed rooms are covered with tiles. Important pieces of the collection are the swords and bow of Mohammed and his mantle (cloak), which is kept in a priceless box. The seal of the Prophet, hairs from his beard, his footprint and a letter are other exhibits in the showcases in these rooms. Also on display are one of the first manuscripts of The Koran, the keys of the Ka'aba in Mecca, and the swords of prominent religious personalities.

PORTRAITS OF THE SULTANS

This gallery is located in the building with a colonnade, which stands between the Sacred Relics Section and the Treasury and also houses the museum offices. In the large hall, temporary exhibitions are organized from time to time.

The Palace Museum has a rich collection of manuscripts, books, miniatures and writing tools. Some of these rare items are displayed in this section. Oil portraits of the sultans adorn the walls of the balcony-shaped galleries of the hall.

THE FOURTH COURTYARD

A passageway leads from the third to the fourth courtyard where there are a number of pavilions set amidst gardens. The only wooden pavilion in the complex, the Revan and exquisitely decorated Baghdad Pavillions from the 17th century, and the last addition to the palace, the Mecidiye K6§ku, are some of the buildings here. On the ground floor of the last building there is a restaurant for visitors. The terrace in front of Baghdad Pavillion is the best place to Interior of Baghdad Pavilion (17th cent.). get an overall view of the Golden Horn, the Galata district, and the wonderful skyline of old Istanbul with its domes and minarets. The gardens of the palace sloping toward the sea have now been turned into a public park.