The Galata Tower, a cylindrical structure with a pointed apex, stands prominently in Istanbul’s changing skyline, embodying a rich historical narrative. This iconic structure in the Beyoğlu area embodies the city’s diverse heritage, with its stone façade reflecting Byzantine, Genoese, and Ottoman influences. The Galata Tower Museum serves as a historical portal, attracting tourists who […]

Hagia Sophia (Turkish: Ayasofya; Ancient Greek: Ἁγία Σoφία, romanized: Hagía Sophía; Latin: Sancta Sapientia; meaning ‘Holy Wisdom’) is one of the most historically significant structures in Istanbul. 125 Initially erected as a Byzantine church, it was the final of three consecutive churches constructed on the same location by the Eastern Roman Empire. Completed in AD […]

Rumeli Hisarı, also known as Yenicehisar, Boğazkesen Hisarı, Yenikale, Başkesen Hisarı and Kara Kale, is a unique witness of Ottoman military construction. This stronghold, located in Istanbul’s Sarıyer district on the European side of the Bosphorus, plays a vital role in the city’s historical environment. Its name refers not only to its architectural splendor, but […]

On the Asian coast of the Bosphorus, architectural wonder Beylerbeyi Palace is evidence of the magnificence and wealth of the Ottoman Empire. Built between 1861 and 1865 and commissioned by Sultan Abdülaziz, the palace was designed as a vacation home as well as a prestigious guesthouse for foreign officials. Its appeal was reinforced by its […]

The Maiden’s Tower (Kız Kulesi), alternatively referred to as Leander’s Tower (Tower of Leandros), is prominently situated on a diminutive islet near the southern entrance of the Bosphorus strait. This landmark monument, situated just 200 meters from the Üsküdar coast in Istanbul, Turkey, has been pivotal in the city’s history, mythology, and cultural landscape for […]

The Şerefiye Cistern, also known as the Theodosius Cistern (Greek: Κινστέρνα Θεοδοσίου, Kisterna Theodosiou), is one of the most significant remnants of Byzantine engineering located within the Historic Peninsula of Istanbul. Positioned in the heart of the Fatih district, it rests south of a building block bordered by Divan Yolu Street, Piyer Loti Street, Boyacı […]

Sirkeci Train Station, set at the intersection of history and modernity, is a tribute to Istanbul’s rich past and growing transit landscape. Located on the European side of the Bosphorus, this ancient terminal has long acted as a bridge between continents, receiving visitors from far away and providing access to the Ottoman and Turkish capitals. […]

The Hippodrome of Constantinople, known in Greek as Ἱππόδρoμος τῆς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως and in Latin as Circus Maximus Constantinopolitanus, was a large arena that functioned as the sports and social hub of Byzantium. It was located in the heart of the imperial capital and is now known as Sultanahmet Square in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. The title […]

The Historic Areas of Istanbul, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1985, comprise a collection of culturally and architecturally important zones within the Fatih district of the city. These regions have experienced millennia of human history, encompassing the ascendance and decline of empires, as well as the conservation of massive architectural treasures that […]

The Basilica Cistern, referred to in Greek as Βασιλική Κιvστέρνα and in Turkish as Yerebatan Sarnıcı, is one of the most fascinating and majestic historical landmarks in Istanbul. In the city center, near Hagia Sophia, it is the largest of hundreds of old cisterns in Istanbul that supplied water to the city. Reflecting both their […]