Dolmabahçe Palace. Dolmabahçe Palace (Turkish: Dolmabahçe Sarayı, IPA: [doɫmabahˈtʃe saɾaˈjɯ]) located in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on the European coastline of the Bosphorus strait, served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1922, apart from a 22-year interval (1887–1909) in which Yıldız Palace was used. Location[edit] Close-up view of the Palace from the Bosphorus The site of Dolmabahçe was originally a bay on the Bosphorus which was used for the anchorage of the Ottoman fleet. The area was reclaimed gradually during the 18th century to become an imperial garden, much appreciated by the Ottoman sultans; it is from this garden that the name Dolmabahçe (Filled-in Garden) comes from the Turkish dolma meaning "filled" and bahçe meaning "garden.
" Various small summer palaces and wooden pavilions were built here during the 18th and 19th centuries ultimately forming a palace complex named Beşiktaş Waterfront Palace. History[edit] Dolmabahçe Palace Décor[edit] Three Perfect Days: Istanbul. The fabled capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires is a glittering, glorious muddle of influences and impulses Author Jacqueline Detwiler Photography Jan McGready Istanbul, seen from Topkapi Palace AS THE SUN RISES ON ISTANBUL, the first call to prayer sounds from the eastern edge of the city and ripples inward, from Asia into Europe, drifting over the ruins of several empires, past the glimmering lights of the Bosporus Bridge and the late-night stragglers still dreamily dancing on riverboats. For almost three millennia, Istanbul’s position on the Bosporus, the narrow strait that connects the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, has made it a trading hub for gold, silk, oil and spices, as well as a stomping ground for generations of merchants, hustlers and romantics.
Location also made Istanbul the desideratum of conquerors the world over, many of whom decided that this place, and only this place, would suffice as the seat of an empire. Leave your comments. 5 Star Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey: The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul Luxury Hotel. Located at the crossroads of two continents – Europe and Asia – The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul is a luxury hotel that offers a perfect blend of culture, hospitality and sophistication. Featuring exceptional accommodations, world-class cuisine, a nurturing spa and impeccable service, the five star amenities and services at this hotel provide an unforgettable retreat in the heart of one of the most fascinating cities in the world.
Conveniently located on the Bosphorus – the Istanbul straight – in Istanbul City Centre, our luxury hotel offers a prime location and impressive amenities that will not disappoint. Indulge at The Ritz-Carlton Spa where the ancient water therapies of the Turkish Hamam inspire renewal, delight in the culinary treasures of the savory menu options at the hotel, or spend the day immersed in the rich history and culture surrounding this luxury hotel in Istanbul. The Ritz-Carlton, Istanbul is a Tier 3 property in The Ritz-Carlton Rewards.
Istanbul. Süleymaniye Mosque. The Süleymaniye Mosque (Turkish: Süleymaniye Camii, Turkish pronunciation: [sylejˈmaːnije]) is an Ottoman imperial mosque located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, Turkey. It is the largest mosque in the city, and one of the best-known sights of Istanbul. History[edit] Süleymaniye Mosque, 1890 The Süleymaniye Mosque, built on the order of Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent), "was fortunate to be able to draw on the talents of the architectural genius of Mimar Sinan" (481 Traditions and Encounters: Brief Global History). The construction work began in 1550 and the mosque was finished in 1558. This "vast religious complex called the Süleymaniye...blended Islamic and Byzantine architectural elements. It combines tall, slender minarets with large domed buildings supported by half domes in the style of the Byzantine church Hagia Sophia (which the Ottomans converted into the mosque of Aya Sofya)" (481 Traditions and Encounters: Brief Global History).
Architecture[edit] Exterior[edit] Blue (Sultan Ahmed) Mosque. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultan Ahmet Camii) is a historic mosque in Istanbul. The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built from 1609 to 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Its Külliye contains a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is still popularly used as a mosque. History[edit] After the Peace of Zsitvatorok and the unfavorable result of the war with Persia, Sultan Ahmet the First decided to build a big mosque in Istanbul to calm God. Architecture[edit] The Sultan Ahmed Mosque has one main dome, six minarets, and eight secondary domes. Exterior[edit] Courtyard of the mosque, at dusk. The facade of the spacious forecourt was built in the same manner as the facade of the Süleymaniye Mosque, except for the addition of the turrets on the corner domes. A heavy iron chain hangs in the upper part of the court entrance on the western side.
Interior[edit] Interior view See also[edit] Hagia Sophia. The church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 15-metre (49 ft) silver iconostasis. The focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly one thousand years, the building witnessed the excommunication of Patriarch Michael I Cerularius on the part of Pope Leo IX in 1054, an act which is commonly considered the start of the Great Schism. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II, who ordered this main church of the Orthodox Christianity converted into a mosque.
By this point, the Church had fallen into a state of disrepair. Nevertheless, the Christian cathedral made a strong impression on the new Ottoman rulers and they decided to convert it into a mosque.[9][10] The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels and other relics were removed and the mosaics depicting Jesus, his Mother Mary, Christian saints and angels were also removed or plastered over. History[edit] First church[edit] Topkapı Palace. The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı[1] or in Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى) is a large palace in Istanbul, Turkey, that was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign.[2] As well as a royal residence, the palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments.
It is now a major tourist attraction and contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed's cloak and sword.[2] The Topkapı Palace is among the monuments contained within the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described under UNESCO's criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces [...] of the Ottoman period. "[3] The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At its peak, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people,[2] and covered a large area with a long shoreline. History[edit] Site[edit] Initial construction[edit] Basilica Cistern. Basilica Cistern The Basilica Cistern (Turkish: Yerebatan Sarayı - "Sunken Palace", or Yerebatan Sarnıcı - "Sunken Cistern"), is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul (formerly Constantinople), Turkey.
The cistern, located 500 feet (150 m) southwest of the Hagia Sophia on the historical peninsula of Sarayburnu, was built in the 6th century during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I.[1] History[edit] The second Medusa head pillar The name of this subterranean structure derives from a large public square on the First Hill of Constantinople, the Stoa Basilica, beneath which it was originally constructed. Ancient texts indicated that the basilica contained gardens, surrounded by a colonnade and facing the Hagia Sophia.[3] According to ancient historians, Emperor Constantine built a structure that was later rebuilt and enlarged by Emperor Justinian after the Nika riots of 532, which devastated the city.
Measurements and data[edit] Hippodrome of Constantinople. Coordinates: The Hippodrome today, with the Walled Obelisk in the foreground and Thutmosis' Obelisk on the right. Location of the Hippodrome in Constantinople. Procession of the guilds in front of the Sultan in the Hippodrome, Ottoman miniature from the Surname-i Vehbi (1582). The base of the Obelisk of Thutmosis III showing Emperor Theodosius as he offers a laurel wreath to the victor from the Kathisma at the Hippodrome. The Walled Obelisk. The Hippodrome of Constantinople (Turkish: Sultanahmet Meydanı, At Meydanı, Turkish pronunciation: [sulˌtanahˈmet]) was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos ('ιππος), horse, and dromos (δρομος), path or way.
History and use[edit] Although the Hippodrome is usually associated with Constantinople's days of glory as an imperial capital, it actually predates that era. Hippodrome monuments[edit] Serpent Column[edit] Obelisk of Thutmose III[edit] Taksim Square. View of Taksim Square from Burger King. The Marmara Hotel on Taksim Square.
Taksim Square (Turkish: Taksim Meydanı), situated in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops, and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of the Istanbul Metro network. Taksim Square is also the location of the Monument of the Republic (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Anıtı) which was crafted by Pietro Canonica and inaugurated in 1928. The monument commemorates the 5th anniversary of the foundation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923, following the Turkish War of Independence. History[edit] The word Taksim means "division" or "distribution".
Today[edit] Taksim is also a favourite location for public events such as parades, New Year celebrations, or other social gatherings. Atatürk Cultural Center (Atatürk Kültür Merkezi), a multi-purpose cultural center and opera house, is also located at Taksim Square. 2013[edit] İstiklal Avenue. Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage), also known by its French name Cité de Péra, is one of the many historic buildings that adorn the avenue. İstiklal Avenue or Istiklal Street (Turkish: İstiklâl Caddesi, French: Grande Rue de Péra, English: Independence Avenue) is one of the most famous avenues in Istanbul, Turkey, visited by nearly 3 million people in a single day over the course of weekends.
Located in the historic Beyoğlu (Pera) district, it is an elegant pedestrian street, 1.4 kilometers long, which houses boutiques, music stores, bookstores, art galleries, cinemas, theatres, libraries, cafés, pubs, night clubs with live music, historical patisseries, chocolateries and restaurants. A historic red tram on İstiklal Avenue In the historic Karaköy (Galata) district towards the southern end of the avenue, it is possible to see the world's second-oldest subway station, generally known and referred to as simply Tünel (The Tunnel) which entered service in 1875.
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