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This long public square, now called Sultan Ahmet Square, was, in Roman times, the racetrack of Constantinople! This monumental horse arena where chariot races took place was built by Emperor Septimius Severus in Byzantium, ending during the reign of Emperor Constantine, in his new capital of Constantinople.
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Tanks in Constantinople were the most common type of construction in the capital of the Byzantine Empire. As there were no rivers nearby, it was necessary to organize to supply the city with water through a whole system of water.
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See on your right, this other vestige of the Roman era, the column of Constantine. It is the last one still standing, but try to realize, it was part of a huge Roman forum, built on the edge of the walls of Septimius Severus and which would become the center of the new capital. But it was not one column among many.
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This mini mosque you see on your right is the Ottoman mosque of Sinan Pasha. It dates from the 16th century and was built by Mimar Sinan, the chief architect of Suleiman the Magnificent, who was responsible for at least 300 major projects.
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Grand Bazaar
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This is the one you have been waiting for since you planned to go to Istanbul, welcome to the Grand Bazaar!! For centuries goods from the East, spices, wheat, silk and honey have met here goods from the West, metals, furs, wood! Then you can easily imagine the wealth of the city!
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Near the Grand Bazaar stands the Nuruosmaniye Mosque. You notice that its style is completely different from the other mosques you have seen so far, it is what is called Ottoman Baroque, and it is the first to have been built in this style in Istanbul.
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Buyuk Valide Han
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On your left is the access to the Büyük valid han, one of the many Hans that dot Istanbul. The Hans are caravanserai where merchants came on camels from the far east to bring their goods to this legendary merchant crossroads.
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You arrive at the mosque of Suleiman the magnificent. Often shunned by the tourist circuits of the city center, it is nevertheless extraordinary and finally rather easy to access. Moreover, its position on a hill offers a sublime view that will leave you an exquisite souvenir and downright hot photos.
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Here you are on the esplanade of the mosque. It has a portico crowned with 28 domes supported by 24 antique columns. In the center you see a small white marble construction.
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Istanbul
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You are now in the gardens behind the mosque, and you understand better why Suleiman chose to have his mosque built on a hill. This sea of gray domes with slender chimneys that descend opposite the Bosphorus opens up a splendid view of the Golden Horn, the city and the bridge of Galata as well as the famous tower of the same name.
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Here you are at the entrance to the Egyptian Bazaar, the famous Istanbul Spice Point of Sale. A must during a trip to Turkey, discovering the spices, but also the nuts and sweets of this country is a treat for the senses. The carefully stocked stalls offer an incredible choice of sweets and spices of all kinds.
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Now you are facing another iconic mosque in Istanbul. The so-called new mosque was built in 1663. Yeah, I know, with a name like that, you expected it to be a little more recent.
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The animation is at its height. Fishermen bring up fish, passers-by roam between musicians and cartoonists, restaurants are packed and grill fresh fish with lemon and coriander, and seagulls make a hell of a fuss.
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From here you have a breathtaking view of the Bosphorus. Closely linked to the evolution of Istanbul, the Bosphorus has been a coveted strait since time immemorial. Indeed, if you control the Bosphorus as well as the Dardanelles, on the other side of the Sea of Marmara, you have control over the trade in the Mediterranean.
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You pass on your right, the tomb of Sultan Abdul Hamid I. He is the 27th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The mausoleum contains a total of 20 sarcophagi, including that of his murdered son, Sultan Mustafa IV.
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Sirkeci Station
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Look at this nice train station. It is not a station like the others, it is the old terminus of the Orient Express! It was built in 1890 by a Prussian architect, invited by the Sultan to work for the Ottoman Empire.
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For 400 years, from the 15th to the beginning of the 19th century, the heart of the Ottoman Empire beats here at Topkapi Palace. Built above the Golden Horn at the Pointe du Sérail, it will be the residence of 30 Sultans of the Dynasty, each transforming the palace in turn to his taste.
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Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque
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Let’s talk a little about the famous Basilica of St. Sophie that you have before you. The building alone sums up the complexity of the city and the turmoil of its past. Today it is again a mosque, but Hagia Sophia, from its little Christian name was long a church then a mosque from the 15th to the 20th century, then a museum before being converted again into a mosque in 2020.
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Basilica Cistern
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Here you are at the entrance to the mythical and mystical basilica cistern. This is probably the most mysterious and intriguing place in Istanbul. It is a water reservoir built for the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I in the 6th century.
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Here you are in the heart of Sultanahmet district, the most touristic place in Istanbul. It is here that most of the tourist elements of the city are gathered. If the Sultanahmet district is so full of history, it is simply because it is here, around you, that the Greeks founded Byzantium, almost 3000 years ago!
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Blue Mosque
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Here you are in front of the most famous mosque in Istanbul, Sultan Ahmet’s mosque, in Turkish Sultanahmet Camii. You probably know it by the nickname Blue Mosque, for its interior covered with blue and white ceramic tiles inspired by Chinese porcelain.
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You are now in front of the German fountain. This pretty well, topped by a neo-Byzantine gazebo, was donated by the German Emperor and Prussian King William II. It was built to commemorate the second anniversary of the Emperor’s visit to Istanbul in 1898.
