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Grand Bazaar is the oldest and largest shopping mall of the world and offering excellent shooping with 64 avenues and streets, 2 bedesten, 22 gates and about 3600 stores. It has indoor area of 45.000 meter square, and about 20.000 persons work here. Cevahir Bedesten, being one of the two covered bazaars. Bedesten forming the heart of Grand Bazaar and it is more likely to be built in Byzantine times. Bedesten called Sandal Bedesten is the second important structure of Grand Bazaar, and its construction started on 1461. It is called as Sandal Bedesten because a type of cloth woven of cotton and silk fibers, named Sandal was sold here.

  Topkapi Palace was the brain of empire, and Grand Bazaar became the heart of economy. At the beginning of 19th century, when banks and bankers started to settle in Galata, the heart of economy of the empire started to beat here. Then the brain of the empire, i.e. the Palace also moved to that side and settled in Dolmabahce, Yildiz and Ciragan.

  In Grand Bazaar, where the functionality of guild system was maintained until Constitutional Period, any kind of profession was taught and held operatively through master-apprentice relations. After Constitutional Period, as a result of changing conditions, the guild system was impaired and trading was according to the conditions of that time.

  Bedesten and Bazaar suffered more than 20 earthquake and fire disasters during its history.

  Since the avenues and streets of Grand Bazaar were where the persons doing same business gather together, they were given the names according to the branches of business, such as Kalpakcilar (Fur Cap Sellers), Kuyumcular (Jewellers), Aynacilar (Mirror Sellers), etc. Grand Bazaar was always kept alive in every era as a world of fairytale in the books of foreign itinerants and in the paintings of foreign artists.

  Being the oldest bank, the greatest and the oldest shopping mall, one of the most mysterious and gorgeous places in the world, possibly the eighth wonder.

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The Golden Horn is a historical inlet dividing Istanbul into two parts and forming an excelent natural and extremely secure harbor since thousands of years. In the develepments of city the harbor played very important role. The inlet has a horn shape but the designation of “golden” in not known, probably because of the color the water get “golden” before sundown. The Golden Horn is about 8 kilometers long and about 35 meters deep very close to the Bosphorus. At its far end of Golden Horn two streams drain into this inlet. During Byzantine period a chain at the entrance to the gulf prevented unwanted fleets entry in to the Golden Horn. Along the seashore, walls were constructed to protect the city from naval attacks.

  In Ottoman period after the city was conquered by Mehmet II Greeks, Jews, Italians and other non-muslims were living along the Golden Horn in Fener and Balat districts.

  In recent years, over four thousand buildings on the shores of the Golden Horn have been demolished, the businesses moved to new centers outside the city, the shores turned into parks and gardens, and wastewater treatment plants involving vast canal systems and collectors constructed.

  The Golden Horn today spanned by four bridges: Galata Bridge (replaced with Old Galata Bridge), Unkapani Bridge (Ataturk bridge), Old Galata Bridge and Halic Bridge. A fifth bridge is currently under construction to connect the subway lines to connect both side of Golden Horn.

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Galatasaray means literally means “Galata Palace”, as the school is located near Galata neighborhood. Galatasaray Lisesi was known in Turkish as the “Galata Sarayi Enderun-u Humayunu” means Galata Palace Imperial School. The school was established in 1481. Galata Palace Imperial School remained open until the 1830s, until Mahmut II abolished the Ottoman Empire’s old establishment. Then replaced with the Ottoman Medical School by Mahmut II. The Medical School functioned at the Galata Palace buildings for some thirty years.

  Sultan Abdulaziz (1861-1876) was the first Ottoman sultan to travel to Europe. He was impressed by the French educational system during his visit. On his return to Istanbul he announced the Edict of Public Education, which established a free compulsory education system for all children until they became twelve. In September 1868, influenced by the French Lycee model, a school was established under the name “Lycee Imperial Ottoman de Galata-Sérai”, it means Galatasaray Mekteb-i Sultanisi. The students included members of all religious and ethnic communities of the Ottoman Empire. Many students of school became prominent statesmen, academicians, educators, writers, doctors, architects, engineers, journalists, artists, film directors, poets, painters and many other professionals in Turkey during both Ottoman and Republic periods.

  After the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, the name of the school was changed to “Galatasaray Lisesi”. The school became co-educational in 1965. In the 1990s, Galatasaray entered another period of transformation. The signing of the Turkish-French Bilateral Agreement of 1992 led to the foundation of Galatasaray University which essentially grew out of the Lycee. With the addition of a new primary education school, the three units have emerged as autonomous components of an integrated education system under the aegis of the University.

  Galatasaray, being a boarding school, has a richly diverse student body, with boys and girls coming from every corner of the country. The current curriculum consists of a blend of Turkish and French curricula, plus a number of additional language and elective courses. Being an Anatolian High School, access to the school is open to students with a high Nationwide High School Entrance score.

  Galatasaray Lisesi is one of the most important members of Galatasaray Community as Galatasaray University and Galatasaray Sport Club. The first players of Galatasaray football team were members of this school.

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Before the city was conquered by Ottomans the land where palace occupy was a part of sea, a bay. Later it was filled by soil and arranged as royal garden and called Dolmabahce. Dolmabahce literally means filled garden. Dolmabahce Palace was constructed by Abdulmecid between 1843 -1856 and is the largest and grandest of the imperial palaces on the Bosphorus; at the same time one of the most glamorous palaces in the world. The palace was used as the principal imperial recidence by all of the latter sultans except Abdul Hamid II, who preferred his own palace at Yildiz. It has a European baroque, rococo and imperial style. The plan arrangement of Dolmabahce Palace is an adaptation of traditional Turkish house in grandeur scale, constructed with brick internal walls, stone external walls and timber floors. The three-storied palace, including the basement floor, built on a symmetrical plan and it has 285 rooms and 46 halls, 6 Turkish baths, 68 toilets and carpets covering a floor. It is said that 40 tons of silver and 14 tons of gold were used for the decoration of the palace. After your visit with the breezes in the halls of the palace, it will be a great pleasure for you to rest at the cafe in the garden and have a cup of coffee with the fascinating Bosphorus scene. Dolmabahce has the largest collection of Bohemian and Baccarat crystal chandeliers in the world.

  The main palace is an L-shaped building, with a long facade along the Bosphorus that accommodates, from west to east:

• Selamlik ( Men’s administrative section ): Selamlik is where state affairs take place and the most important and also prominent section in terms of function and splendor. That section has a highly symmetrical and formalized plan consisting of four major halls on two floors, linked by a monumental staircase at the center.
• Grand Hall / Ceremonial Hall in the Middle : Ceremonial Hall is situated between Harem and Selamlik, is the highest and the most magnificent section of Palace as a large square hall of monumental proportions, over 2.000 square meters of area and 36 meters high ceiling and also this hall is distinguished from other part of the Palace with 56 columns.
• The Harem: Harem is the private house of sultan and his family. That section was connected to the Selamlik section by a long corridor decorated with paintings from famous painters of that time. Harem was strictly prohibited by any man to go in, except the sultan himself of course and the eunuch servants. After the end of the Ottoman Empire, Dolmabahce served for a time as a state residence and was used to entertain visiting royalty and other distinguised visitors. When Ataturk visited Istanbul, he used Dolmabahce Palace as his residence. On 10th of November 1938 Ataturk passed away in this palace after a long period of sickness.

After the end of the Ottoman Empire, Dolmabahce served for a time as a state residence and was used to entertain visiting royalty and other distinguised visitors. When Ataturk visited Istanbul, he used Dolmabahce Palace as his residence. On 10th of November 1938 Ataturk passed away in this palace after a long period of sickness.

In 1984 it was converted into a museum. The Dolmabahce Palace Complex is administered by the National Palaces Trust under the TBMM (auspices of the Turkish Grand National Assembly).

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He doesn’t know exactly when the first city walls was constructed. The first city walls more or less comprising todays Topkapi Palace area. But they were destroyed when Byzantium found itself on the losing side in a civil war against Septimos Severus in 196 A.D. Just a few years later bacuse of strategic importance of the region Septimus Severus reconstructed a new city wall but that time double size of the first walls and is thougt to have begun somewhere downstream a short distance from Galata bridge at the Golden Horn, and to have ended at somewhere very close near the ligthhouse at Marmara sea. The third city walls was constructed during reign of Costantine the Great when he decided to move his capital from Rome to Byzas in 326. And his decision would affect world history for the next millennium. Emperor personnally traced out the limites of the new city. Costantine city walls was beginning somewhere upstream todays Ataturk Bridge on the Golden Horn; making a a great circular arc, ending in the bay on Samatya. The last city walls was constructed first part of 5th century by Teodosius II on the triangular promontory and totally are about 21 km long.

  Although today the city walls are in ruin, still are splendid and impressive and many of the original gates have survived to our day. As a result of the restoration that began in the 1980’s, the vicinity of the walls has been improved and the some areas turned into public parks.

  The most impressive gate in the walls was the “Golden Gate”. That door was build as an triumph arch and when victorious armies returning from a war entering through this door. In Teodosius period the city walls was enlarged and Golden Gate became a part of city walls. During Ottoman period three more towers was added inside the walls connected with four curtain walls to the city walls and formed a five sided inner castle. These added parts in Ottoman period called seven towers but never they were used as a castle, they were used as prison and storage places.

  Today seven towers restored in 1959 and serve as a museum. In summer time concerts and other cultural activities take place here

City Walls and Seven Towers on Google Maps

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The palace replaced an earlier wooden palace, commissioned by Abdulaziz and completed in 1874. The ceilings and the interior partitions were made of wood, the walls were covered by marble. Abdulaziz didn’t lived to much in his magnificent palace. Five days after he was deposed he had found dead in Ciragan palace. About three decades Murat V. lived here under house arrest until his dead 1904. After two months the palace was used as parliament, same year it was fired in 1910.

In 1989 the palace was restored and a new modern hotel complex added next to it in its garden. Today Ciragan Palace serves as luxury suites for the five star seashore, Kempinski Hotel.

Cicek Pasaji literally means flower passage; also known as Cite de Pera in French. It is one of the many historic buildings that adorn the Istiklal avenue. On the site of Cicek Pasaji originally there was the Naum Theatre which was burned during the great fire of Pera in 1870. After the fire of 1870, the theatre was purchased by the local Greek banker Hristaki Zografos Efendi. The actual building designed by italian architect Zanno. First years the building was called Cite de Pera or Hristaki Pasaji.

  The Ottoman Grand Vizier Sait Pasa purchased the building in 1908 and it became known as the Sait Pasa Passage. By the 1940s the building was mostly occupied by flower shops, hence the present Turkish name Cicek Pasaji (Flower Passage). Following the restoration of the building in 1988, it was reopened as a galleria of pubs and restaurants. The most recent restoration was made in December 2005.

The Chora museum or The Church of St. Savior in Chora is one of the most beautiful examples of Byzantine with its glorious mosaics and frescoes. According to legend the first churh constructed outside the walls of Constantinople. But from that chuch can’t be seen any trace of remains or anything known about its origin. The present building date 1077 – 1081 and was build by Maria Doukaina, according popular architectural style of that time. Because of unkown reasons the apse of church was collapsed in the 12th century. That part of the building was reconstructed and a narrow chapel added to the south of main nave by by Isaac Comnenus, Alexius’s third son. The church took its actual appareance two centries later with additions of inner and outer nartex to the west side, two storied galleries on the north side and parecclesion south side by Theodore Metochites between 1315 and 1321. The mosaic work is the finest example of Byzantine Renaissance. The artist who embellished the churh is not known. The church is not big but the mosaics and frescos make it one of the most important monument in the world.

  The building has three main sections : Entrance hall or Nartex, the main body of the church or Naos and side chapel or Parecclesion. There are two nartexes outer and inner nartex. Outer nartex is the first transverse corridor, from south open to the parecclesion. At that part scenes from Joseph’s dream to Jesus entering to Jerusalem for Passover and Jesus miracles are depicted. On the inner nartex on three north vaults the scenes from rejection of Joachim’s offerings by Zacharias to Joseph reproaching the Virgin Mary scenes are depicted. These scenes are taken from Gospel of Saint James, better known as the Protoevangelium. On the south part of inner nartex miracle of Jesus are depicted. In the two domes of the same nartex Jesus ancestries are depicted. On the main nave there are only mosaic : The dormition of the Virgin Mary, Jesus with a book in hand and baby Jesus with Virgin Mary. On the parecclesion part Anastasia, last Judgement and other prophets frescos can be seen.

  The churh was converted into a mosque by Atik Ali Pasa in 1510. The church bell tower, constructed in the southwest corner of the building replaced by the present minaret. In mosque period due to the prohibition of iconic images in Islam, the mosaics and frescos covered with plaster or paint but never obliterated. But in time many of the mosaics was shaken down by earthquakes.

  The building between 1948 and 1958 restored by Byzantine Institute of America and open to visitors as Kariye Museum.

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Camlica literally means pine grove and the hill is the highest point on both side of Bosphorus. From sea level it is 263 meters high and one of the oldest places to promenade in Istanbul. The hill is covered with pine trees and commands a panoramic view of the entire city. During history has been the topic of many songs and poems. In September and October very clearly bird migratory can be observed from here.

  The restaurants and cafes on Camlica hill run by the municipality

Camlica Hill on Google Maps

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The Beylerbeyi Palace was constructed by Abdul Aziz between 1861-1865 and it was an imperial summer residence and a place to entertain visiting heads of state. Empress Eugenie of France, Shah Nasruddin of Persia are two of its famous visitors.

  From the Bosphorus the palace looks very attractive with its two bathing pavilions, one for the women and the other for men. Its two bathing pavilions, one for the women and the other for men.

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  Its two bathing pavilions, one for the women and the other for men.

Beylerbeyi District – Beylerbeyi

  Beylerbeyi is a title given to the governers and means Lord of Lords. During reign of Murat III, the governer of Rumeli build a mansion on this site at that time, and though mansion vanish in time, the name Beylerbeyi lived on. During the Ottoman period, the area where the palace is constructed was an imperial garden and hunting place.

  The Beylerbeyi Palace build by Abdul Aziz between 1861-1865. It was an imperial summer residence and a place to entertain visiting heads of state. Empress Eugenie of France, Shah Nasruddin of Persia and Duke & Duchess of Windsor are few of its famous visitors.

  The deposed Sultan Abdulhamid II spend his last years of captivity in this palace from 1912 until he died in 1918. Some of the furniture in the palace was made by Abdulhamid II when he lived here in captivity.

  From the Bosphorus the palace looks very attractive with

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