Sultanahmet is one of the most important squares of Istanbul, which is considered the starting point of civilizations. The Hagia Sophia, which has managed to survive the centuries to the present day, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, which gave its name to the square, the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Arasta Bazaar, Basilica Cistern and Binbirdirek Cistern are located in this square. Sultanahmet Square is also home to the Walled Obelisk, the Million Stone, the Obelisk brought from Egypt, the Serpent Column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi and the German Fountain.
Sultanahmet Square, considered the most important touristic center of Istanbul, was called the Hippodrome during the Roman and Byzantine periods. The Hippodrome, built by Roman Emperor Septimius Severus in the late 2nd century, was expanded to a gigantic extent by Constantine the Great. According to some historians, it had a capacity of 30,000 spectators, and according to others, 60,000. The Hippodrome maintained its importance in the city until the 10th century as a center for meetings, entertainment, excitement and sports.
The important structures and monuments in the city were also built around the Hippodrome. The Imperial Palace, known as the “Great Palace”, started from the side of the Hippodrome and extended to the seaside. Baths, temples, religious, cultural, social and administrative centers were located in this area. There are three monuments in the Hippodrome that have survived to the present day; the Walled Obelisk, the Obelisk brought from Egypt and the Serpent Column brought from the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. Sultanahmet Square was called the Horse Square during the Ottoman period.
Janissary rebellions took place in this area, circumcision ceremonies and festivities of princes that lasted forty days and forty nights were held here. Sultan Ahmet Mosque, which gave its name to the historical square, was built by Sultan Ahmet I, by Mimar Sinan’s student, Mimar Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, between 1609-1616. Sultan Ahmet Mosque, one of the most important instruments of the Istanbul silhouette, is the first mosque built with 6 minarets.It is called the “Blue Mosque” by Westerners because of the magnificent Iznik tiles that adorn its interior, which exceed 20 thousand in number. Sultanahmet, which became the main mosque of Istanbul after Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1934, is part of the area added to the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name of Istanbul Historic Areas (Zones historiques d’Istanbul) in 1985. The Ibrahim Pasha Palace, located opposite the Sultanahmet Mosque, is the only surviving example of the rich and typical private palaces of the 16th century.
The palace where Ibrahim Pasha, the grand vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent, resided, continues to welcome visitors today as the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. Right next to the historical square are the Basilica Cistern and the Binbirdirek Cistern. The German Fountain, a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II to Sultan Abdulhamid II, is also in this square.
The main part of this park is the place called Horse Square in the past. It covers a long area in front of Sultan Ahmet Mosque. The German Fountain, Obelisk, Burma Column, Knitted Column are in this section. This is the main Sultan Ahmet Park. During the Byzantine period, chariots and horses were raced here,
It is one of the oldest works in Istanbul. The heads of 3 intertwined snakes took the form of the 3 legs of a golden cauldron. In the 5th century BC, 31 Greek cities that defeated the Persians melted down the bronze spoils they obtained and had this unique quality work made. The 8-meter-tall Serpent Column was actually erected in the Temple of Apollo in Delphi. It was brought by Emperor Constantine in 324 and erected in the middle of the Hippodrome. A piece of the snake heads that were lost in the 17th century is exhibited in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.
The octagonal, domed fountain at the entrance to the Hippodrome is a gift from German Emperor Wilhelm II to the Sultan and Istanbul. It was made in Germany and installed in its place in Istanbul in 1898. Built in the Neo-Byzantine style, the fountain is decorated with gold mosaics on the inside.
The imitation Obelisk, built of roughly hewn stones, is located to the south of the hippodrome. The exact date of its construction is unknown. It is known by the name of Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenetus, who repaired the structure in the 10th century. The bronze plates decorated with gold letters that once covered it were stolen by the Crusaders.
Sultanahmet Mosque, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Ibrahim Pasha Palace, Walled Obelisk, Serpent Column, Theodosius Obelisk, German Fountain
The first park in Istanbul was laid out here in 1854. Sultanahmet Square hosted the first Ottoman exhibition building, which opened in 1863. The restoration of the Knitted Column, which can be identified during the Ottoman Period, was also carried out in this century and was completed in mid-1895, according to archive documents.
The area known today as Sultanahmet Square, the farthest part of the Historical Peninsula, is one of the oldest areas of Istanbul. Sultanahmet Square, in the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, was considered the place where the world began, the zero point of the world.
Istanbul is also known as the city of seven hills and Sultanahmet is the first hill of Istanbul. Sultanahmet area has popular tourist attractions such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia Mosque, Sultanahmet Mosque, Hippodrome and Basilica Cistern.
The Sultanahmet Mosque, which is visited heavily by local and foreign tourists, is a building open to worship and, like all other religious buildings, entrance is free.
Death Sultan Ahmed I could not recover from typhus and died on the night of November 21-22, 1617 at the age of 27. The sultan, beloved by the people, was buried in his tomb next to the Sultanahmet Mosque. After him, his brother Mustafa I ascended to the throne in accordance with the system he brought.
Latin text: "At first I resisted; but, in obedience to the commands of our great lord, I had to carry the wreath of victory over the defeated tyrants. Everything submits to Theodosius and his unbroken line. They prevailed over me too, and I was forced to rise in thirty days under the leadership of the chief Proclus."
Sultanahmet is a neighborhood in the Fatih district of Istanbul.
Three monuments located in Sultanahmet Square, where a hippodrome was used for horse races during the Byzantine Period, divided the Hippodrome into two. The racers circled the hippodrome seven times and the first team to reach the starting point won the race. These three monuments, which still stand today, are lined up along the central area around which the racers circle.
Obelisk
Knitted Obelisk
Serpent Column
The historical Sultanahmet Square and its surroundings contain many elements worth seeing and visiting, including its museums, square, cistern, obelisk, and palace.
1- Sultanahmet Square ...
2- Hagia Sophia Mosque. ...
3- Turkish Islamic Arts Museum. ...
4- Ahmet III Fountain. ...
5- Haseki Bathhouse ...
6- Sultanahmet Mosque. ...
7- Hagia Irene Museum. ...
8- Theodosius Obelisk
You can visit the Sultanahmet Mosque 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Important: Although it is always open to visitors, it is closed during the five daily prayer times, especially during Friday prayers.
The last visitor entrance to the Sultanahmet Mosque is 30 minutes before closing time. On Fridays, the visit starts at 14:30. Visits; During the afternoon and afternoon prayers; It is closed to visitors 30 minutes before the call to prayer and 15 minutes after the end of the prayer.
The story of the Serpent Column begins in the ancient city of Delphi in Greece. Designed as a monument to the ancient victory of 31 Greek cities united against the Persians, the bronze column was dedicated to the god Apollo. Its serpent shape symbolizes Apollo's destruction of the evil Python.
An area surrounded by Roman/Byzantine ruins including two distinguished mosques, Basilica Cistern, Hamam, German Fountain, Ibrahim Pasha Palace, Obelisk, Hippodrome (Horse Square). With the work of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, the ground is suitable for walking properly and the paving stones look of high quality. It is crowded due to the intense interest of local and foreign tourists. There are souvenir shops nearby. Transportation is provided by tram.
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