MPG-2015-cd

inscriptions celebrate Tutmoses III’s
victories over the Mesopotamia area.
Hippodrome area was a circus that
was the sporting and social center
of the city during the Byzantine rule.
It was built between 203 to 330 AD
dates with a length of 450 meters and
a width of 130 meters. It is believed to
have entertained 100,000 spectators
at once. Now just like during the Byzantium
and Ottoman reigns, many celebrations
are organized.
Known as Hagia Irene, meaning “Holy
Wisdom” the St. Irene Church was
built by the order of Byzantine Emperor
Constantine I. After the Ottomans
conquered the city they built Topkapı
Palace surrounding the Church
of Hagia Irene, where it remained in
the courtyard to be used as an inner
armoury. In 1869 the Hagia Irene had
been converted to be the first museum
of the Ottoman Empire. The
former church is mostly used as a
classical music concert hall due to its
fascinating acoustics.
After getting away from the Old City
and taking a walk near the seaside
you will witness The Maiden’s Tower
in the middle of the Marmara Sea in İstanbul.
Also known as Leander’s Tower,
the Maiden’s Tower is located in a
small islet near the Anatolian shore of
the Bosphorus entrance. The first fort
built on the islet was by the Athenian
General Alcibiades in 411 BC. After the
conquest of Constantinople in 1453
the islet served as a watchtower. Yet
there are many legends about the
A view of
Dolmabahçe Palace
from the Bosphorus
Topkapı Palace
construction of the tower.
Galata Tower is built in 1348 by the
Genoese. This medieval stone tower
has become one of the most visited
landmarks of İstanbul. The Tower
served as an observation tower for
spotting fires in the Ottoman period.
In the Tower area there are many designer,
antiquity and authentic goods
shops.
Built in the 19th century the Dolmabahçe
Palace has served as an administrative
centre in the late Ottoman
era. The palace is famous with
its blending of Baroque, Rococo and
Neoclassical style architecture blended
with the Ottoman style.
Another marvelous palace is Çırağan
Palace on the same avenue with
Dolmabahçe. Built in 1861 by the order
of Sultan Abdülaziz, Çırağan Palace
has roofs and inner walls from wood
and the outer walls of colorful marble.
With a magnificent Bosphorus view,
the palace now functions as a 5-star
hotel.
Also as a culture capital İstanbul harbors
important historical, arts and
archeological museums. The Archeological
Museums are consisted of
three different museums; Archaeological
Museum, Museum of the Ancient
Orient and the Museum of Islamıc Art.
Opened in 1891, the museum has more
than 1 million artifacts.
Considered to be one of the most
beautiful surviving examples of a
Byzantine church, the Chora Church
Basilica Cistern
is serving as a museum in Edirnekapı
area in Fatih on the European side of
İstanbul. Converted into a mosque in
the 16th century in the Ottoman Era,
now a museum since 1948, the Chora
(Kariye in Turkish) is famous for its fine
mosaics and frescoes.
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum
opened in 1913 exhibits Quran manuscripts
and religious books, again
hand made carpets made of silk and
other Anatolian fabrics.
Established in 1897 the İstanbul Naval
Museum located in Beşiktaş contains
an important collection of 20.000 military
artifacts.
The Bosphorus is the strait that divides
the city into European and Asian sides,
and connects the Marmara Sea in the
south to the Black Sea in the north.
A very important strategic point, the
Bosphorus has witnessed many wars
during centuries. The shores of Bosphorus
are lined with many beautiful
houses and mansions. The historical
peninsula is located on the European
side near the Marmara Sea entrance of
the Bosphorus, while Kadıköy, which
used to house the summerhouses in
the ancient times, is located on the
opposite side of the Bosphorus. Frequent
boat tours enable to have a
closer look at the mansions and the
glamourous Bosphorus area.
Social Programs
and Pre&Post Tours