Tour Guide, Istanbul, Turkey
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Hagia Sophia Mosque:
It is one of Istanbul’s excellent historical places. First, it was constructed for the Christian church in the 500s, and then during the Ottoman Era, it transferred into a mosque. Nowadays, it is a museum and people from all over the world come to see this authentic structural masterpiece.
So, if you visit Hagia Sophia Mosque, you will have the chance to witness the extremely beautiful architecture left over from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empire eras. Hagia Sophia Mosque can be considered a mystical symbol of Turkey, which shows Turkey's link with Islam and Christianity. Therefore, we highly recommend that Hagia Sophia be counted as the first tourist place in Istanbul.
Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque):
Sultanahmet Mosque was built in 1609-1617. It is known as Blue Mosque, but the official name of the mosque is Sultanahmet Mosque. There are 21 thousand of blue ceramic tiles adorning the interior of the mosque with 260 windows. When the sunlight came into the mosque, it took blue colour.
The Mosque is closed during prayer hours, and needs to obey some rules before you visit this mosque. If you join one of our tours, we will be glad to help you and give you information about this famous mosque.
Topkapi Palace:
The Topkapi Palace is the biggest and one of the most famous museums in Istanbul. It was built with the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, who conquered İstanbul in the 15th century on top of a hill in the Historical Peninsula. Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayı) is a complex of kiosks and pavilions contained by four courtyards.
The Palace was the political center of the Ottoman Empire from the 15th to the 19th century. Many Ottoman Sultans lived here for 380 years and later moved to Dolmabahce Palace. It is a museum today and pretty busy during the high season. If you join one of our Daily Fast Track Topkapi Palace Tours, you can skip the line of the museum and get enough information about the museum.
Dolmabahce Palace:
Dolmabahce Palace is one of the most beautiful Ottoman Palaces and the most significant royal residence of the sultans and the imperial family of the Ottoman Empire. If you want to visit Istanbul, this palace must be on the list of your visit places. The Palace has 285 rooms and 43 salons. It was built in 1843-1856 by Ottoman Sultan Abdülmecid. They spent a lot of money to build it and used tons of gold for inner decoration. The ceremonial hall is so impressive with its 4.5-ton chandelier.
After the foundation of the Turkish Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stayed at the Palace during his visit to İstanbul and died there on November 10, 1938, at 09:05.
Dolmabahce Palace is pretty busy during high season, and it may take a long time to visit this Palace. If you join one of our Daily Dolmabahce Palace Tours, you can skip the line of the museum and get information about it.
If you want to visit this museum, please remember that it is closed on Monday.
Basilica Cistern:
Basilica Cistern (Underground Cistern, Yerebatan) is one of the most famous cisterns in Istanbul. It was built during Byzantine Empire and later on not used by Ottoman Empire, and it has been a museum since 1988.
You will also see Medusa Heads at the end of Cistern, which is really busy during the high season. As Manolya Tours, we recommend you join one of our Fast Track Basilica Cistern Tours; you can skip the cistern line and get enough information.
Hippodrome: The Hippodrome was initially built by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in 203 and was a horse-racing track. But it was not only used for Chariot Races during the Byzantine Empire. They used to organize Court Ceremonies, Coronations and Parades, and also took place at the Hippodrome. But it got its final shape with the order of Emperor Constantine the Great in 324.
German Fountain:
The German Fountain is styled as a gazebo and is the central cornerstone of Sultanahmet Square (old hippodrome). To mark the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II's trip to Istanbul in 1898, it was constructed in Germany, shipped piece by piece, and put together in 1900 in its present location. The octagonal dome of the Neo-Byzantine Fountain is supported by eight marble columns, and its interior is decorated with golden mosaics.
Hagia Irene Church:
Hagia Irene Church is an Eastern Orthodox church, also familiar as Saint Irene, situated in the exterior part of the courtyard of Topkapi Palace. Nowadays, this church functions as a museum and auditorium.
Little Hagia Sophia Mosque:
Once Little Hagia Sophia Mosque (church) is known as the Church of Saints Sergius and Bacchus. It was constructed between the years 532 and 536, and then at the time of the Ottoman Empire, it was transformed into a mosque.
The territory of approximately 2 square miles.