Sultanahmet to Beyazit
Sultanahmet is really like an open air museum. At the side of the
Park in between the great Aya Sophia and the Blue Mosque, the Baths
of Lady Hurrem ( a twin haman - turned carpet shop) overlook the
surrounding area. Cinili Kosk, Aya Irini and Topkapi Palace (with
harem, huge kitchens and relic of the prophet) are on the right
side of Aya Sophia and the Yerebatan Saray, which is an ancient
Roman Aqueduct is on the left, the Medusa head which is standing
upside down in this watery museum is worth a look. The 302 year
old Cagaloglu Hamam also is located down this street. At the back
of Aya Sophia is Sogukcesme Sokak, which is a line of Ottoman styled
town houses in a lovely cobbled alley way, with the Archaeology
Museum in at the back on Osman Hamdi Yokusu. Behind the Blue Mosque
is the busy Arasta Bazaar and the Mosaic Museum which is also worth
a stroll. The Hippodrome across from the mosque has an Egyptian
Obelisk and Serpentine Column. The Fountain of Kaiser Wilhelm is
nearby as well as the Pasa Palace. Just beside the Palace is the
tourist office also.
When you go down towards Divan Yolu in the direction of Beyazit,
one comes across the historical Cemberlitas Hamam beckoning you
for a good scrub. The Cemberlitas burnt column is in the square
outside the Hamam. Behind the walls of the Atik Alie Pasa Medresesi
are a load of Ottoman cemeteries and tombs and where there are
a few secluded gardens where sweet tea and nargile (oriental tobacco)
are served. The Grand Bazaar which is composed of almost 3800 shops
needs in itself an entire day to explore the labyrinthine streets
and alleyways. Beside the Bazaar is the Nuruosmaniye Mosque. Istanbul
University is very picturesque and is just around the corner from
the Bazaar, and so is the Calligraphy Museum and the hectic Russian
Bazaar. From the top of the hill, Suleymaniye Mosque looks down
on all this area, and down the hill from Sultanahmet Square toward
Gulhane, is the Egyptian Spice Bazaar and the Yeni Camii stand
on Eminonu Square, which overlooks the beautiful Golden Horn and
the ferry terminals.
Tour 2
Beyoglu to Karakoy
The main thoroughfare in Beyoglu is the Istiklal Caddesi. Ottoman
majestic buildings line up with modern architecture to blend
into this ever changing city. Taksim Square holds the monument
to the Republic and nearby is the splendid Greek Orthodox Aya
Triade Church. An Armenian church called Surp Asdvadzadvin is
on Sakiz Agaci Sokak. Down further is Atlas Passage and Beyoglu
Passage, Yicek Passage in the Cite de Pera and the fish market.
Nevizade Sokak is also around here. The Tunel is the oldest metro
in Europe and the red Taksim tram is the only one of its kind
still running. The Galata Mevlana Evi is down Galip Dede Street
in the direction of Galata Tower. Karakoy has lost a lot of its
splendour although there are still a few majestic bank buildings
along Bankalar Caddesi. The Church of St. Gregory, the illuminator
(Kirkor LusavoriA) is also in the area. Kilic Ali Pasa, a mosque
and Hamam is also here.
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