Istanbul is an old city with a tangled mess of streets and a multitude of attractions. It is easy to get lost or to miss an exciting interest point. I very much recommend taking a city tour at least on your first day to get acclimated to the surroundings. The absolutely best company in the city to arrange for such a tour is Kanon. Guides are knowledgeable, charming and multilingual. Schedules are flexible and the rates are moderate. To reach Kanon, call 90(212) 542 12 26 or 542 62 33
The fax number is: 90(212) 660 60 71
They can be found at: Incirli Caddesi No:5 Kat:3 Bakirkoy
To arrange your tour in advance, write to kanon@kanontours.com
In a meantime, just to get you excited, here is a list of Istanbul’s most important attractions:
Mosques:
People say that Istanbul is the city of the 1000 mosques (camii). Actually nobody knows how many there really are, but it does not seem to be so far away from the 1000. Here are some of the most interesting ones:
Suleymaniye Camii
Suleymaniye Camii was build by Mimar Sinan, the most important architect of the Ottoman Empire. The inside is less decorated than you might expect, but the proportions and the total impression is fabulous.
The Suleymaniye Mosque is in fact a "kulliye" which means more than just a mosque but also a hospital with insane asylum, a theological school (medrese), a public kitchen, a caravanserai, a public bath and the graves (turbe) of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent and his wife Roxelana.
Sultan Ahmet Camii
The Sultan Ahmet Cami or the Blue Mosques is impressive because of its size and elegance.
Rustem Pasha Camii
This small but very impressive mosque was erected in 1561 by architect Mimar Sinan in the market quarter of Eminent down by the Golden Horn. The entrance is easy to miss; it is not much more than a door and some steps leading to a terrace above the shops of the market. The Rustem Pasha Camii has a charming atmosphere and absolutely superb tiles inside.
Palaces:
Istanbul has been the capital of many empires. It is hardly surprising that the city has many beautiful palaces. Most of these are open to visitors. Here are some not to miss.
Topkapi Palace
1469 A.D. Sultan Mehmet "Fatih" (the Conqueror) built the first parts of the palace, which later became known as a "city inside the city". Later, in the times of Suleyman the Magnificent (1520-1566) the harem has moved there. Topkapi Palace was the residences of all Ottoman Sultans untill the 19th century when the Dolmabahce Palace was build. We recommend that you see both of them to compare the old and new Turkey.
Vezir Ibrahim Pasha Palace
Vezir Ibrahim Pasha Palace (Museum for Turkish-Islamic Art) for Turkish-Islamic Art has great examples of Turkish and Islamic arts and crafts. It is located in the palace of Ibrahim Pasha, Vezir (first Minister) of Suleyman the Magnificent.
At Meydani 46, Sultanahmet.
Tu.-Su. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Ciragan Palace
This palace was built by Sultan Abdulaziz in 1861. It was designed by Nikogos Balyan and the construction carried out by Sarkis and Agop Balyan. In 1876, Murat V was placed under house arrest at Ciragan on grounds that he was mentally ill and Sultan Abdulhamid took the throne. Murat lived at Ciragan Palace until he died in 1905. The palace was used as the house of parliament when it burned down in 1910. Today the restored Ciragan Palace is a luxury hotel. We didn’t include it in the www.sashahotelsIstanbul.com online selection but if you are willing to pay upwards of $200 for a room there, send us an e-mail. We can still provide you with a great discount there.
Other attractions:
Haghia Sofia
The Haghia Sophia Church was erected and re-erected through the centuries many times. We know that there were a few wooden churches before at the same place and probably with the same name. Some of them burned down, some were destroyed by earthquakes. It is likely that the first stone church was built there somewhat in the 5th century. After 1453, when Sultan Mehmet II Fatih converted the church into a mosque the four minarets were added. In 1847 Sultan Abdul Mecit employed the Swiss-Italian architects Gaspare and Guiseppe Fossati to restore the "Aya Sofya". In 1934 the mosque was closed again and later reopened as a museum.
Open from Wed.- Mon. from 9:30h am - 4:00 pm
Galata Tower /The Tower of Christ
As the stronghold of the Genoese defense system in Pera the Galata Tower was erected in 1348. The views from the tower are spectacular and are not to be missed.
