GRAND BAZAARThe tantalizing myriad of jewelleries, antiques, carpetries all of which clustered under a huge hstorical Bazaar offers a unique shopping experince which is to be blended with the irressitable spell of the orientalism. Grand Covered Bazaar houses more than 4000 shops which are classified in accordance with the quarter they take place: the goldsmiths’ street, the carpet sellers’ street, the srteet of the skullcap makers. These streets were attached to a maze of roads and alleys. The most important of the streets which numbered up to fifty were the streets of the Clog - Makers (Kavaflar), Printed - Clothier (Basmacilar), Sandal Bedesten and Aga Sokak. Having long sustained the beat of the commercial life, the grand covered bazaar is the original shopping mall with something to suit every taste and pocket. Turkish crafts, the world-renowned carpets, brilliant handpaiinted ceramics, copperware, brassware, and meerschaum pipes make charming souvenirs and gifts.
HIPPODROME SQUAREThe square in front of the Blue Mosque encircling the famous Hippodrome area stands as a historical stamping ground for the propaganda activities, rebellions, fightings and eventually chariot races in Byzantium era swhich was to preserve its preponderance for social gatherings during Ottoman era as well. The original Hippodrome was constructed in 200 AD. by Emperor Septimus Severus, when he rebuilt the town of Byzantium. After Severus, Constantine the Great made Constantinople new capital which marked the prominance of Hippodrome Square. Hippodrome Square with the various strewn monuments can be taken as a point of vantage where to capture the glory of the whole Sultanahmet precinct. Namely,these monuments are Eqyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and German Fountain-Fountain of Kaiser Wilhelm II.
BLUE MOSQUEBuith the unusual number of six minarets and a great cascade of domes and semi-domes, The Blue Mosque was built from 1610-1619 during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I. beside the Hagia Sophia on the site of the Great Palace of Byzantium, The interior of the mosque is prepossesingly decorated with Iznik tiles that stand aloof around the arched domes of the structure where the daylight sneaks through the stained glass windows and filters onto the ornate painted decors. The whiff of spiritual devotion resonating under the domes of Blue Mosque will strike you and let you get drifted with the luscious timbres of prayers that still exude from the colossal house of worship with its 6 imposing minarets. The precinct embraces the nearby St Sophia where the glory of past epimomizes its zenith.
HAGIA SOPHIABuilt in 6th century during reign of the Emperor Constantinus St Sophia is acknowledged to be the most important Byzantine architecture found in Istanbul. The Hagia Sophia covers an area of 100 x 70 m., and the plan consists of a wide central nave flanked by two smaller naves, an apse, an inner and outer narthex and a central dome reaching 55.6 m. in height, with a diameter of 31-33 meters. The church was considerably damaged by the earthquake of 557 and the nephew of the Architect Isidorus undertook the repair of the structure. The church had several different restorations. After the conquest of Istanbul, Mehmet the Conqueror had the church restored once again, and converted into a mosque. The four minarets, one on each corner of the building were added at various times during the Ottoman period. After Fatih captured the city this massive edifice was used for worship by Moslems. Eventually, following the republican period, St Sophia eas converted into a museum.