Spend your vacation by visiting Sultanahmet Istanbul

Spend your vacation by visiting Sultanahmet Istanbul
If you haven`t visited Turkey and especially Sultanahmet in Istanbul then you must have to visit this place in your first coming vacations. This is a place that you will love to go again and again after your first visit. This is an old historic place in the city and modern Turkey. Here you can find some great historic scenes and building that you may not be able to find anywhere else in Turkey. The other thing is that here you can have excellent hotel facility. You can find different hotels which are offering you stay at different rates. So you can select the one according to your affordability and taste. One of the best hotels which you can find there is http://www.hotelceline.com/  because it is offering you excellent services and facilities but charging you very nominal rates for your stay. So you can try them for your stay to Sultanahmet.

The Eternal Mystery

Istanbul Tourism has grown because of the cities mystery. Her dance has dazzled some of the greatest men in history: Justinian, Constantine and Mehmet the Conqueror, who all made her the queen of their empires. With each marriage, her name changed from Byzantium, to Constantinople to Istanbul.

Istanbul has always been a stunning beauty: from head to toe, her curvaceous shores are lined with grand palaces and villas; her seven hills are dressed in green parks and red roofs; her accessories are glittering domes and minarets. But her main attraction has to be her dowry: the waters of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus.

Haseki Hürrem Sultan Hamam (Bath)

Hürrem Bath is also known as Haseki Bath, Hagia Sophia Bath or Haseki Hürrem Bath and located between the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul’s Sultanahmet. The bath was built with an order of Hürrem, Hürrem was Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent’s wife, by Architect Sinan in 1556.

According to a rumor, the bath was built because Hürrem Sultan, when she was pregnant for Şehzade Cihangir, was assassinated an exposure by Haseki Gülbahar and Ibrahim Pasha. Hürrem was left alone with a snake in the bath of palace and subsequently she said to Sultan Süleyman that she wanted to make a bath built.

Istanbul

Istanbul is a world metropolis with a population of 10 million and a very wide stretch of  inhabited area. One's first impression is that Istanbul is a lively city. You feel its heartbeats in the most unlikely street corner.  In spite of its magnitude, it has the human qualities of a small community because Istanbul is a city of contrasts where the ancient allies with the modern, not only in terms of organization, but the way people think and behave.

The history of this bewitching city dates back 2500 years.It was founded by Greek colonists (660 BC) in Khalkedon (Kadikoy) known as the Land of the Blind because the founders did not prefer the more attractive European shores.

Arrival in Istanbul

Istanbul has two international airports; Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Mostly the Ataturk Airport is used by major airlines as it is in the European side of Istanbul. The conference venue and hotels are in European side close to Taksim Sqauare, as well.

From the Ataturk Airport to the City Centre –Taksim Square (~25 km):

Ataturk International Airport is located 25 km from Taksim Square (city centre)

By Taxi: A taxi from the airport to the Taksim Square costs between 17€ to 20€. The trip takes between 35 and 65 minutes depending on stream of traffic.
Note: The taxi rates are same all day and night long.

Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)

The cascading domes and six slender minarets of the Sultanahmet Mosque (better known as the “Blue Mosque“) dominate the skyline of Istanbul. In the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet I wished to build an Islamic place of worship that would be even better than the Hagia Sophia, and the mosque named for him is the result. The two great architectural achievements now stand next to each other in Istanbul’s main square, and it is up to visitors to decide which is more impressive.

Kadıköy ve Bağlı Semtler

Kadıköy ve Bağlı Semtler

Kadıköy İstanbul'un Anadolu yakasında bulunan en büyük ilçelerinden

biri. Kuzeyde Üsküdar ile doğusunda ise Ataşehir ve Maltepe ilçeleri

yer alır. batısında ve güneyinde ise Marmara denizi vardır. Kadıköy

çok eski zamanlara dayanan bir yerleşim birimidir. Fikirtepe'de

yapılan arkeolojik kazılar neticesinde Kadıköy’ün milattan önce 3000

li yıllara dayanan bir yerleşim birimi olduğu saptandı. bunun yanında

Kadıköy bir çok tarihi esere de sahiptir moda da bulunan deniz

fenerlerinde Fenikelilerden kalma kandillere rastlanmıştır. Kadıköy

Osmanlı zamanında Üsküdar sancağına bağlı kaldı. Cumhuriyet

yıllarında ise bir ilçe olarak hızla gelişmeye ve büyümeye başladı.

Kadıköy ekonomik, sanatsal, ve spor bakımından İstanbul'un en önemli

ilçelerinden biridir. Bahariye, Moda Bostancı, Cadde bostan, Bağdat

caddesi gibi semtlerinde özellikle eğlenceye yönelik işletmeler,

giyim mağazaları ve alışveriş merkezleri bulunur. Söğütlüçeşme

civarında ki Fenerbahçe'de ise Fenerbahçe Futbol Kulübünün maçlarını

oynadığı Şükrü Saraçoğlu stadı yer almaktadır. Kadıköy İstanbul'un en

merkezi ilçelerinden biri olduğundan 24 saat rahat bir ulaşıma

sahiptir. İett ve halk otobüsleri, deniz otobüsleri, vapur seferleri,

minibüsler, metrobüs ve tren gibi bir çok toplu taşıma aracının yolu

Kadıköy'de kesişir. Kadıköy eğitim yönünden de önemli bir merkezdir.

İlçede birçok dershane okul, tiyatro müze ve kültür sanat tesisleri

bulunmaktadır. İlçenin belediye başkanlığını uzun yıllardır Chp’li

Selami Özdemir yapmaktadır. 2008 yılında çıkarılan yeni ilçeler

yasasıyla Kadıköy bazı semtlerinin ilçe yapılarak kaybetmesine rağmen

hala İstanbul'un en önemli merkezlerinden biridir.

Arnavutköy

Arnavutköy

İstanbul’da 2 tane Arnavutköy bulunmakta. 1.si Bebek kıyısında ki Arnavutköy, 2. si eski Eyüp ilçesi Arnavutköy.

Arnavutköy ismini Osmanlı zamanında mübadele sırasında Arnavutluk’dan getirilen getirilen Arnavutlar ve Yunanistan’ın Drama ilçesinde yaşayan Türklerim Rumlarla takası sırasında buraya yerleştirilmesinden alıyor. Aynı zamanda Osmanlı Rus harbinden sonra bölgeye bir kısım Tatar göçmeni de yerleştirildi. Daha önce Arnavutköy’de önemli ölçüde Rumlar yaşamak da idi. Mübadele ile Arnavutlar ve Türklerin bu bölgeye yerleştirilmesi ile Rumların bir kısmı Yunanistan’a gönderildi bir kısmı da bölgeyi yavaş yavaş terk ettiler.

İlçeye bağlı 29 mahalle, 6 tane belde var. Bunlar Boğazköy, boyalık, Bolluca, Durusu, haraççı ve taşoluk. Aynı zamanda 12 tane de köy Arnavutköy’e bağlı. İlçenin belediye başkanlığını AKP li Ahmet Haşim Baltacı yapmakta.

Arnavutköy İstanbul’un yeni gelişmekte olan bölgelerinden biri. Bölgeye ulaşım daha çok Eyüp Aksaray ve Kadıköy üzerinden İett otobüsleriyle yapılıyor. Aynı zamanda Eyüp’ten minibüs seferleri de mevcut. Arnavutköy bünyesinde bir çok sanayi kuruluşunda barındırmakta Bunlardan en önemlisi Apikoğlu Et sanayi Fabrikası. 2008 yılında yeni yasa ile Eyüp’ten ayrılarak ilçe olma hakkını kazanmıştır. Son sayımlara göre üçlenin nüfusu 170 bin civarında. Bu rakam ile bir çok Anadolu ilinden kalabalık gözüken Arnavutköy İstanbul’un yeni yeni değer kazanmaya başlayan yerlerinden biri konumuna geldi.

http://tr.visit2istanbul.com/arnavutkoy/

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

The Eyüp Sultan Mosque is the holiest site in Istanbul and one of the most sacred places in the Islamic world.

The mosque gives its name to the district which it has placed in and we must say Eyüp Sultan Mosque is also a complex. Eyüp Sultan Mosque and Complex is located on the north coast of the Golden Horn. The mosque was a one of the most important holy places which is accepted by the Turks. Hz.Eyübbi El-Ensari, who was one of first people accepting Islam and was killed during the siege of Constantinople in 7^th century, was buried in the area of the complex; therefore, a mausoleum and a mosque were made in this area by the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmet.

The complex was stared to be built with mausoleum in 1458 and continued to be built mosque, kitchen, madrasas and baths. There is a centuries-old plane tree in the middle of the courtyard and the structures have been standing proudly as the plane tree, of course, the structures were repaired several times after 1458.

The mausoleum was decorated with tiles in 16^th century but silver candlesticks in the mausoleum were placed in the last periods. The mausoleum has a dome 8-pointed. The mosque is in the group of 8 pillars mosques in terms of its plan. There are cypress trees and cemeteries around the mosque. Cemeteries belong to Necip Fazıl, Fevzi Çakmak, Ferhat Pasha, Mehmet Pasha, Ahmet Haşim, Sivavuş Pasha, Ziya Osman Saba and Sokullu Mehmet Pasha.

In ancient times, Sultans came to the Bostan wharf from Mansion of Sinan Pasha by boats and after prayed, they were got on the sword of Şeyhülislam and they completed to dress the sword weeding ceremony. The tradition was started by Fatih Sultan Mehmet and its sword was encompassed by Akşemsettin who was the teacher of Fatih.

The kitchen and madrasas can’t be seen today but one of the most beautiful Turkish baths has come up today. The masterpiece is too crowded during Ramadan also very crowded on every Friday. You can be fascinated by old trees, doves, people who are praying. You will feel yourself in a different atmosphere. You can reach by buses 99 and 99Afrom Eminönü to Eyüp Sultan Mosque.

What to See

Eyüp is a popular spot animated by the small bazaar nearby, crowds relaxing by the spray of the fountains, and little boys in blue and white satin celebrating their impending circumcisions. Unfortunately, it’s a natural magnet for beggars as well.

The baroque mosque replaces the original that was destroyed in the earthquake of 1766, but the real attraction here is thetürbe, a sacred burial site that draws masses of pilgrims waiting in line to stand in the presence of the contents of the solid silver sarcophagus or meditate in prayer.

http://www.visit2istanbul.com/eyup-sultan-mosque/

Address:	Eyüp. Meydani, off of Camii Kebir Caddesi and north of the Golden Horn bridge
Phone:	No phone
Hours:	Daily 9am-6pm
Cost:	Free
Dress code:	No shorts, and heads covered for women.
Tip:	The line moves quickly in spite of the bottleneck inside the tomb; take a few moments to sense the power of the site.

Conqueror’s Mosque (Fatih Camii)

The Fatih Mosque Complex (Fatih Camii ve Külliyesi) in Istanbul has a lovely interior like many Turkish mosques, but the primary importance of this mosque is its illustrious permanent resident, Mehmet the Conqueror (Fatih Mehmet).

Fatih Mosque and Complex

Fatih Mosque and Complex is located in Fatih district, one of the seven hills of Istanbul. Fatih Mosque was built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet and the architect of the mosque was Sinaüddin Yusuf bin Abdullah (Atik Sinan).

According to the inscription at the top of the public gate, the construction of the mosque was started in1462 and finished in 1470. It was severely damaged by the earthquake in 1509 and restored in the period of Beyazıt II. However, the mosque was damaged again by the earthquake in 1766 and it was repaired by Architect Mehmet Tahir Aga so its original appearance was changed, but it has been open to worship since 1771.

It is not known that is true or not but it is claimed that Byzantine Emperor Constantine’s grave was placed in here, after years the mosque was built on the grave. In the period of the Byzantine, there was the Havariyun Church and many Byzantine Emperor’s tombs on the hill. Also it is interesting but according to Evliya Çelebi’s “Travelogues”, the hands of the architect Atik Sinan were cut because the mosque t was shorter than Hagia Sophia.

There is found the first university of Istanbul in the Fatih Complex which includes 16 madrasas, hospital, soup kitchen, a library, tombs and bath. Some of them were unfortunately demolished and the walls of fountain’s courtyard, the crown gate, the minaret remained originally. There are many graves of Ottoman members as the first the tomb of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Tombs of wife of Fatih, Gülbahar Sultan, Gazi Osman Pasha, grand viziers and many scientists are found in the complex.

One of the most notable works of Fatih Mosque is an old historical carpet which was made in Hereke Abdülhamid II. There is ostrich egg under the dome of the mosque because it prevents the dome to make networks of spiders. Caravanserai of the complex is used as shops.

The mosque is crowded in five times. Every day, nearly a thousand people come to worship. Tourists both domestic and foreign don’t leave the mosque alone thanks to be a mosque built by Fatih Sultan Mehmet.

 http://www.visit2istanbul.com/conquerors-mosque-fatih-camii/

New Mosque (Yeni Camii)

The New Mosque (Yeni Camii) in Istanbul is not that new – it was built in the 1600s. Located on the water’s edge next to the Galata Bridge, the Yeni Camii has become a defining feature of Istanbul’s skyline.

The New Mosque which is also known as Mosque of Valide Sultan or the New Valide Sultan Mosque is located in the Eminönü Square and net to the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar). The mosque had been built for 68 years opened to worship after a Friday prayer in 1663 and it has the feature being also a complex.

In 1597 the mosque began to be built by order of Safiye Sultan who was wife of Sultan Murad III. The New Mosque also began to be built by the architect Davud Aga who was a student of Architect Sinan. Pits of foundation started to fill water so large piles heads of which were lead were prepared and entrenched to stones of the foundation. Davud Aga died during the plague epidemic in 1598, therefore, architect Mehmet Çavuş continued to construct this mosque but unfortunately in 1603 Safiye Sultan and Mehmet III died so the mosque couldn’t be completed. After 66 years started to be built, Hatice Sultan who was mother of Mehmet IV ordered to continue to build this mosque. The New Mosque was continued to be built by Architect Mustafa Aga and completed in 1663. The most important feature of the mosque is containing different architects’ perspectives. Another important feature is its dome which resembles to the pyramid. The frame of its courtyard has 23 small domes and it has two minarets.

The tomb of Valide Sultan, the Spice Bazaar, Sultan’s cistern, the mosque and foundations are placed in the New Mosque and Complex. Primary school of the complex was destroyed so we can’t see it. The complex also includes tombs of five rulers of Ottoman Empire and the most noticeable place of complex is undoubtedly the Spice or Egyptian Bazaar which is preferred by tourists.

Eminönü is one of the most crowded places in Istanbul and the New Mosque has become a symbol of Eminönü. You can visit the Spice Bazaar after you have seen the mosque and you can feel the Turkish Culture also if you want, you can take gifts. Another thing you can do is that you can feed the pigeons or eat fish under the Galata Bridge.

Quick Facts

Names:	Valide Sultan Camii (Mosque of the Queen Mother); Yeni Camii (New Mosque)
Type of site:	Mosque
Dates:	1597-1640
Architecture:	Ottoman
Location:	Eminönü, Istanbul
Coordinates:	41.01683° N, 28.972106° E
Phone:	No phone
Hours:	Dawn-dusk
Cost:	Free http://www.visit2istanbul.com/yeni-camii-new-mosque/

Rüstem Pasha Mosque

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Rüstem Paşa Camii, 1560) in Istanbul’s Eminönü district by the Golden Horn, is among the city’s architectural gems—yet seen by few foreign visitors.

Rüstem Paşa, who was born in Croatian and was a groom, is the husband of Mihrimah Sultan, daughter of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent) and the famous Ottoman vizier. Rüstem Pasha Mosque located in Eminönü was built in 1561 by Architect Sinan and completed in 1563.

The most significant element of the mosque is undoubtedly Iznik tiles and the mosque is away from the simplicity of Sinan and the period. Tiles are geometric floral and leafs motifs and look like a colorful flower garden. Although the coral red had been used for a short time during 16^thcentury, the color has come up today thanks to the mosque which is famous for the richest collection of tiles, but unfortunately some of these tiles were stolen. The mosque has only one minaret and its dome is completed with small scale four half domes and four full domes. In the lower parts of the mosque 24 windows are founded. The courtyard of the mosque is different from the courtyards of other mosques because its şadırvan (fountain) is on the street. Also it has spiral staircases in the two sides of the mosque. It had been damaged a fire in 1660 and repaired, but after the great earthquake (small judgment) in 1766 its dome and minaret were collapsed and they were reconstructed the period of Mustafa II so the style of Architect Sinan was lost.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque is located in a central location surrounded by shops and warehouses of the Hasırcılar Bazaar. When the mosque is seen by the same frame with Süleymaniye Mosque, there is a magnificent landscape. According to one of the most widely weekly magazine of U.S. ,Newsweek, Rüstem Pasha Mosque is the most beautiful mosque of Europe. The magazine mentions the peace and it is noted that the mosque has the most beautiful tiles of the Ottoman Empire.

Transportation can be provided from Sultanahmet easily. Although the mosque seems to lose among shops and is not known as much as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia or Eyüp Sultan Mosque, it is one of the beauties of Istanbul to be seen.

Rüstem Pasha Mosque (Camii)http://www.visit2istanbul.com/rustem-pasha-mosque-camii/

Şehzade Mosque

Şehzade Mosque and Complex is also known as Şehzade Mehmet Mosque. The structure is located in the Şehzadebaşı street, Eminönü district of Istanbul and was built between the years 1543 and 1548 by Mimar Sinan.

Şehzade Mehmet, son of Kanuni Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent), died when he was governor of Saruhan and 22 years old. After his death, Sultan Sülayman ordered to build the mosque and the mosque was built by Architect Sinan who said to the mosque “my apprenticeship work”. However, the mosque was a dream for the Renaissance architects. The mosque has a dome and four half- domes, two minarets in 12 columns with 16 domes. Soup kitchen, madrasa, tabhane, schools and tombs are located around the mosque. Simplicity seen in the Sinan’s works ia also seen in this mosque. The tomb of Şehzade was decorated with colorful tile, Cihangir lies on the right of Şehzade and Sultan Hümaşah lies on the left of Şehzade. A wooden throne was placed on the sarcophagus of Şehzade Mehmet, the throne might be the symbol of Sultan Süleyman’s will.

The courtyard has 6 doors and the mosque has 3 doors, also there is an inscription on the main door of the mosque. The madrasa, soup kitchen, primary school and quest rooms are located in the north and they serve to be a wall of the courtyard. The madrasa was decorated with multi- colored stones and it had 20 cells. Classrooms’ of the madrasa were built to face to the Kıble. Soup kitchen consists of kitchen, dining room, storeroom and cellar.

Şehzade Mosque is the original structure in terms of its decorative properties. The colorfulness and the care on the outside make humans feel the purity of the childhood. You should see the work of Architecture Sinan absolutely while you are visiting the historical buildings in Eminönü.

http://www.visit2istanbul.com/sehzade-mosque/