Istanbul is the most important and most croeded city of Turkey. This
bridge that connects Asia to Europe became the capital of the Byzantines
and Ottomans for many centuries is Istanbul is unique with it is natural
beauties and history. It spread out on teo sides of the Bosphors that
separates Asia and Europe an approximately 5710 km2 area. To define the
place the city was called ''Byzantion'' until the II. century. It was
surrounded with walls with 27 towers. After the Roman Emperor Constantin
captured the city in 324 it's name become. ''Constantinopolis'' one the
city become the capital of Byzantion in 394. The conquest of Istanbul by
Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 29th May 1453 brought an end to the Byzantine
Emire The Ottomans lost the 1st World War on 16th March 1920 and the
allied states captured Istanbul. But they left the city on 2nd September
1923. After the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923, the capital
of the state moved to Ankara but Istanbul never lost It's popularity.
Today Istanbul is still the largest and the most lively city of Turkey.
There are 9 island parallel to Anatolia. The biggest one this 5.4 km2
and the smallest one is 8000 km2. These island axe called ''Princes
Island'' because they were the place of exile for nobles, princess and
patriarches.
ANADOLU CASTLE (ANADOLU HISARI)
It is located on the opposite dhore of the Rumeli castle and on the
nerrowest part of the Bosphorus (780). It was built by Yildirim Beyazit
between 1360-1403 as a military station against possible enemy attacks
from sea. After the additions made by Fatih Sultan Mehmet it was
transformed into a castle for attack from a castle for defence. The
thickness at the walls changes between 1.5-5m. and the height is 7 m.
There is a 25 m. high tower in the center at the walls.
RUMELI HISARI (RUMELI CASTLE)
Rumeli Castle was built in 1452 by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in order the
control the Bosphorus. Construction was completed in 4 months. It is
said that 9000 workers look part 5 in the construction. It has 3 big
towers and it was used as a prison in 16th-18th centuries. It was
restored in 1953 and today it serves as a museum.
Construction of the bridge that connects Asia and Europe began in 1970
and it was in augurated ob 29 Sep. 1973. The lenght of the bridge is
1560 m. and the distance between it's two legs is 1074m. The height of
from the sea in the middle of the bridge is 64 m.
The gardens of the palace was created by filling up the sea with soil,
so it is called ''dolmabahce'' (filled up garden) (palace today it is
called ''Marble Palace'' is one of the workers at the Ermenian Bulyon
family). The palace was built on a 25.000 m2 area and it is fascinating
with it's front ornaments, decorations and furniture on inside. It cost
5 million gold coins. In the main building there one more than 200 rooms
and 8 big halls. Atatrk stayed the during his visits to Istanbul and
died here on 10 Nov. 1938. The Palace has been used as a museum since
1938.
KIZ KULESI - THE MAIDENS'S LIGH HOUSE
Many myths about the tower have come down to our day. According to
mythology. Leondros drowned while trying to cross the Bosphorus by
swimming to reach his love Hero. In memory at him this tower was built
here and it is called ''Leondros (Maiden) Tower'' The towere served as a
lighthouse for a period. Restorationof Madien's power still continues.
It is to be transformed into a restaurant and teahall.
The first bridge was built of wood in 1844. On 14th April 1912 an iron
bridge which was constructed on pantoos was completed by a German firm.
There are wings in the middle at bridge to make possible for ships go
through the Halic. The current bridge is the fourth one and it connets
Eminonu and Karakoy.
It was built on a 700.000 m2 area by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. Some additions
were made at different times. The Palace consist of many sections and
pavillions. It is imposible not to be fascinated by tiles and miniatures
inside. The Topkap Palace had been the special residence and
govermental administrative center of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years.
Topkap Palace was transformed to a museum in 1924. It is very
attracrive with strongr collection and brillant treasures.Topkap Palace
is one of the biggest nd the richest museums of the world with
approximatelly 86.000 items exhibited.
The Harem is the place were wives, children and concubines of the Sultan
lived. It was forbidden to go in from outside and to go out from inside.
It attracted the attentions of the Western World for many years.
The Golden Horn is a natural by about 8 km long in the Marmara sea. It
is formed by classing Alibeykoy and Kagthane rivers. So called because
it looks like a curved horn. The widest part is approximately 700
meters. When you look down from the hills of Eyuo the view is fantastic.
Later the surrounding of Hali become an industrial place with it is
factories small business centers and arsenal.
Mimar Sinan Built this mosque in 1550 for Rustem Pasha. Most brillant
and richest tile collection at Turkey is on the walls of this mosque.
This mosque was used as shelter for homeless children during Republican
period.
It is most imposing and the largest mosque in Istanbul. Mimar Sinan
built it between 1550-1557 on the order of the 10th Ottoman Sultan,
Kanuni Sultan Suleyman. The Dome of the mosque is 26.5 m. in diameter
and 50 m. in height. It is decorations are worth seeing. The walls are
covered by 16th century tiles. The mosque damaged because at a tire in
1660 but it was restored. Inside the mosque is well lighted because
there are 138 windows. There a mosque, caravansaray, bath, school the
tomb of Kanuni Sultan Suleyman's wife guest many shopsin the garden. The
tomb of Mimar Sinan is behind the mosque.
YEREBATAN SARNICI (Basilica Cistern)
It was constructed in 565 by I.Jastiniaus. It is the biggest cistern
that was built to supply water to the city. It has the capacity of
80.000 m3 water. It is 70m in width and there are 336 columns each with
a heighy of 12m.
This foundation was inaugurated on 1st January 1901 for the memory of
the Istanbul visit of the German Emperor II Wilhelm in 1895. The parts
were made in Germany and assembled in Istanbul. It is installed on eight
green marbles.
It was built between 1609-1616 by the architect Mehmet Aga. It is the
only mosque with 6 minarets in Istanbul. It is also called ''Blue
Mosque'' because it is decorated with Iznik tiles. It is construction
was completed in 7 years.
It is construction began in 1891 but it look on it is current in 1808
after some additions. Thrones, mosales, statues and busts belongind to
Greek, Romaa and Byzantine civilizations are exhibited in 20 different
halls.
It is oldest Byzantine Church. It is located on the 1st garden of
Topkap Palace and behind the Hagia Sofia. It was used as weapon store
from the capture of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet in 1453 to 1848. St.
Irine is used as a concert Hell because of this stunning acoustics and
fescinating atmosphere.
The Hagia Sofia has been used as a chruch, mosque and museum for many
years. It is biggest, most beautiful and most famous Byzantine work.
Construction of the Hagia Sofia began in the times of the Byzantine
Emparor Constantinus the Great and it was completed in the times of his
son Constantinus. It was opened to prayer in 360. The current building
was completed in 5 years by 1000 workers per day. With the vize of it is
tomb and decorations inside the Hagia Sofia was one of the most splendid
buildings of the time. It spreads out on 7570 m2 are. There are only 3
churches larger than the Hagia Sofia. The Hagia Sofia has been used as a
museum since 1935.
British archeologist Prof. J. H. Baxter found the floor mosaics of the
Byzantine Palace in the excavations in 1935-1938. Then this palace was
transformed to a museum. The mosaics in this museum are valuable works
of art the likes of whivh cannot be found anywhere else.
THE COVERED BAZAAR, ISTANBUL
The world wide know Covered Bazaar is had been first founded by Sultan
Mohammed the conqueror (Mehmet the lind) and was extended during the
reign of the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificant. This construction is
favored by rich medium class as wel as the poor people and was severely
damaged by a fire which broke out in 17000 A.D. Later on renovated and
restored.The bazaar has 65 streets together with banks, fountens,
jewelery stores, post office, mosque, drappery market stores and
souvenir shops.
COSTANTINIUS COLUMN (BUILD OBELIKS)
Byzantion Emperor Constantinus put up in 944. It is 34m. in height.
It sybolizes the victory of the Greek city states against the Persions.
It was imported from Greece by the Roman Emperor I.Constantin in the
9.century and it was put up in the Hippodrome. It had a shape of 3
tengled snakes. On top there were a bronze cauldron and an object with
three legs carrying and gold earthenware. The Byzantine Emperor
Theophilius believed that heads of snakes symbolized evil and demolished
them. So, the height of the column sharnk 5 m. from 8 m.
It is called also ''The column of I. Theodosius''. It was imported by I.
Theodosius and put up in its current place in 390, in 32 days. There are
reliefs showing victories of the monarch toutmesis scenes from the
Hippodrome and the putting up of the column on it.
The Bozdogan arch was built between 368 and 378 by the Byzantine Emporer
Valentius. It was used to carry water to Byzantion and Palaces of the
Ottoman Emperors. This water way was 19 in leight and 1 km. in lenght.
Today only 800m. of the acqueduct exists.
They were bulit around Istanbul to protect the city from attacks. They
still attract the attention of tourists. A though they aren't in good
shape nowadays, the restoration is still continuing very strictly. (From
Eminonu to Kumkap) the walls were built by roman Emperpr Semiptimus
Severius. From Unkapan to Samatya by Constantine the Great and From
Ayvansaray to Yedikule by Theodosius the firs. Totally there are three
important walls in Istanbul. the one which Odosius the First built is
approximately 6 km long.
It was built by St. Teodoros in 509. It is one of the Mosques
transformed from a Byzantine Chruch. n 1511, it was transformed to a
mosque by covering the mosaics with plaster and adding a minaret. The
value at the chruch is frscoes from the 14th century and mosaics. The
mosaics on the ceiling and the walls of the corridor on the first outer
entrence one about birth and miracles of jews and mosaics on the walls
of the inner corridors are about the Virgin Mary.
Geographical Position
The surface area of Turkey is divided by the Dardanelles, the sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus. In the west, Turkey has boundaries with Greece (212km) and Bulgaria (269km). In the east and south east, Turkey has boundaries with four countries: The Soviet Union (610km) , Iran (454km), Iraq (331km), and Syria (870km). Geographically, Turkey is a land-bridge between Europe and Asia.
The european section of Turkey is a fertile hilly land. The Asian part of Turkey consist of an inner high plateau (1000m) with mountain ranges along the north and south coasts. The plaeau extends from the west to the Aegean coast, with many river valleys.
The western part is the most fertile section of the country. In eastern Turkey, the northern Pontus Mountains meet with the southern Taurus Mountains and from here the 1800m high Anatolian plateau. From this plateau rise the particularly high Vulkan Mountains over 3000m, while further south is the 5165m high Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in the country.
