Short excursion in the Old Town (Constantinople)

Dear guests,

Visit:

1. Hagia Sophia Temple

2. Basilica Cistern

3. Blue Mosque

4. Roman Hippodrome

(walking tour)

1. Hagia Sophia – This masterpiece of ancient Byzantine architecture was built in the VI century by order of Emperor Justinian. Emperor Justinian opened it on Christmas Day, raising his hands to the sky and saying, “I have surpassed you, Solomon!” The cost of building the temple was huge and amounted to three annual revenues of the Byzantine state, approximately 130 tons of gold. It is a symbol of the golden age of Byzantium. When it was built, the world began to separate Eastern churches from Western churches. It is the oldest Orthodox church in the world and is 1,479 years old. It remained the largest Christian temple in the world for 916 years (until the building of St. Peter in the Vatican in the seventeenth century). At the beginning of the XIII century, it was looted by the Crusaders, and in the XV century, the Osmans who captured the city turned it into a mosque. After the founding of the Republic of Turkey (1923) in 1935, it was turned into a museum by decree of the state. Now it became the most popular object of the Byzantine period. The temple amazes with its scale and beautiful interior.

2. Basilica Cistern (Underground Reservoir) - In the VI century, under the rule of the Byzantine emperor Justinian, a huge reservoir was built in the acropolis of the old city. It is located in the historical center near the temple of Hagia Sophia. The cistern kept a large supply of drinking water in case of drought or siege of the city. About 100,000 tons of water are placed here. At the base of the two columns are the inverted heads of Medusa Gorgon - one looking down and the other to the side. Historians still can't figure out where these Medusa heads came from. Even today it is the largest Roman underground reservoir in Europe.

3. The Blue Mosque was built in the XVII century directly opposite the Sophia temple by order of Sultan Ahmed I. The name “Blue Mosque” was derived from 21,043 blue, green and white ceramic tiles used in the interior decorations. Flowers of tulips, hyacinths, pomegranate, roses, grapes and cypress decorate the tiles. The mosque has more than 50 different completed compositions and patterns. In addition, thanks to 260 stained glass windows, the spaciousness and grandeur of the mosque is felt. Due to the unique location of the windows, it seems as if the dome is suspended in the air. It is the only mosque with 6 minarets in Turkey. The Blue Mosque is one of the symbols of the city.

4. After the city became part of the Roman Empire, Emperor Septimius Severus built a large Hippodrome in the third century to entertain the people, where chariot races, gladiatorial fights and circuses were held, as in the Colosseum in Rome. The capacity of the racetrack was about 100,000 people. It has been the heart of Constantinople’s political and sporting life for 500 years. Here you can see the oldest monument of Istanbul - the Egyptian Obelisk, which is 3,500 years old. It was brought in the IV century from Egypt, its weight is about 100 tons. Here are also the obelisk of Constantine VII and the Serpent Column. The Crusaders took away the precious monuments that were on the Hippodrome, and today only these three monuments remain there.

The price includes the services of a licensed guide. Entrance tickets to museums (Temple of Sofia, Basilica Cistern) Tour duration: 3-4 hours

The cost of entrance tickets to museums:

Hagia Sophia 40 tl = $11

Basilica Cistern 20 TL = $5

Entrance to the Blue Mosque and the Roman Hippodrome is free.