Full Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour - Historical Peninsula

The current structure was built by the Byzantine emperor Justinian I as the Christian cathedral of Constantinople for the Byzantine Empire between 532 and 537, and was designed by the Greek geometers Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles. It was formally called the Church of God's Holy Wisdom and upon completion became the world's largest interior space and among the first to employ a fully pendentive dome.

Crowds deter some from visiting the Sultanahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque. It is also held in low esteem by art historians: the elephant feet supporting its dome, and its dodgy tiles, illustrate the classical age when it was past its best. Admire it from afar, from the draughty terrace café of the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.

The German Fountain A gazebo styled fountain in the northern end of old hippodrome (Sultanahmet Square), Istanbul, Turkey and across from the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I. It was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898. It was built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900. The neo-Byzantine style fountain's octagonal dome has eight marble columns, and dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics.

The Hippodrome of Constantinople It was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek. Horse racing and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world and hippodromes were common features of Greek cities in the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine eras.

Another structure that speaks a lot of the rich history of Istanbul is the Column of Constantine. This 35-meter-long column was erected in 330 CE by the empire Constantine in honor of Constantinople’s declaration as to the seat of the Roman Empire. The majestic column decorates the streets of Istanbul and is made from porphyry blocks.

Ancient texts indicated that the basilica cistern contained gardens surrounded by a colonnade that faced the Hagia Sophia.[1] According to ancient historians, Emperor Constantine built a structure that was later reconstructed and enlarged by Emperor Justinian after the Nika riots of 532, which devastated the city. Historical texts claim that 7,000 slaves were involved in the construction of the cistern.

Over the centuries, Istanbul’s Grand bazaar has acquired a justly legendary reputation as one of the most famous shopping emporiums in the world. Everything the heart desires can be found in this ancient, hectic maze. With more than 3,000 shops in 61 covered streets, the Grand Bazaar is like a medieval shopping mall, and one of the most animated and colorful parts of the city.