Trip to Bosphorus
The visitors must absolutely take a trip to Bosphorus by ferry. The ferry passes below the two bridges, visits the landings of neighbor hoods as beautiful as paintings, and creeps away from one continent to the other, one shore to another during the whole afternoon.
The commercial ships, generally with Russian flag that want to get in touch with the world through Bosphorus pass nearby you. A marvellous panorama that changes in every kilometer is awiting for you, once you pass below the Bosphorus Bridge. “Yah”s, the wooden waterside residences began to be built at the Bosphorus shores beginning from the 17th century. The best ones are between Cengelkoy and Kanlica, on the Asian side. Most of them were restorated. Especially ‘Ostrorog Yalisi’ at Kandilli and ‘Amcazade Most of the yalis remained until today are from the 19th century. The yalis lived their golden age during the Tulip Age, the period of Sultan Ahmet UI, interested in art, in the 18™ century. The yalis are built in harmony with the environment so that to meet the demands of the dwellers that wish to sit and rest, the warm weather and the flow of the water reinforces this pleasure. It is possible to understand this from the scenes, reflecting a kind of Ottoman ‘summer ambience’, depicted to the walls and ceilings of the rooms. Unfortunately, these pictures give a feeling of nostalgia today. The wooden structure of the buildings is completely suitable for this land of life. The wooden framework and railings carved artistically, prevents the hot weather coming in. The interior of the buildings are also full of ornaments and wooden carvings decorated with gold. Rooms are generally furnished with low divans (sofas) and carpets. In the middle is a brazier, ready for the colder days. Besides, the landscape gardening is very important. The gardens are full of palm trees, pines, cedars due to the appropriate weather conditions; oleanders, tulips, magnolias are the main adornments of the gardens; the walls of the small arbours are covered with ivy, and the smell of honeysuckles surrounds everywhere. Departure from Bogazici Iskelesi at Eminonu; everday 10.35 AM, 12.00 PM and 13.35 PM;
Besiktas everday 10.50 AM-12.15 PM and 13.50 PM Moda Saturday-Sunday 10.40 AM Kadikoy 11.00 AM
Strolling through Istanbul (Bosphorus)
Begin the days you will spend Istanbul by visiting Galata Tower.
Enjoy the dreamlike panorama of this giant city, whose not only showy but also clearly spread topography is below your feet, while leaning against the handrails: The mosques and minarets of the Topkapi palace is rising above the hills of thr old city, right across you. In front of it is the natural bay formed by Golden I born, embracing with the Sea of Marmara; and in the horizon, The Princes’ Isles hardly visible in the must.
On the left, across the Bosphorus Kadikoy and Uskudarcan be recognized, if you look to the a bit more to the north, you can see the bridge that connects Europe and Asia. The distant whistles of the ferries mix into each other. You will begin to notice how unique Istanbul is due to the calming view of Galata Tower. There is probably no visitor who wouldn’t be eager to know about this extraordinary city, to feel it and to see the secret comers of its life.
Divan Yolu
Divan Yolu begins at Haghia Sophia and extends to Topkapi Gate of Theodosion Walls, was the most important road of the capital during the Byzantine period. Today it is the street used for reaching the beauties in the environs: Beyazit Mosque, Kapah (IarSi (Grand Bazaar), At Meydam (Hippodrome) and Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque). Cagaloglu.
Divan Yolu – At Meydam (Hippodrome)
Its construction began in 203 by Septimus Severus and it was reconstructed as hippodrome during the reign of Constantine the Great (324-337). It was a place for official celebrations and parades. Besides chariot races, circuses and political meetings used take place here. In one of them “Blues” and “Greens” had fought; and in Nika Revolt in 532, 30,000 people that rebelled against Emperor Justinianus gathered and were killed here in At Meydam. Again on these grounds, Sultan Mahmut U killed the
Janissaries that rebelled in 1826. The square was 400m long 76 and 120m wide. There were 40 rows that could totally host 100,000 spectators. The central axis of the arena is determined by three statues. The first of them is the Egyptian Obelisk that had already been 1900 years old when it was brought from Kamak, was erected here in 390 after broken apart from its base. The original weight of the stone was three times more than its present weight that is 800 tons. The relief scenes on the base represent Emperor Theodosius and his family.
The second statue is Serpentine Column (it is better to say ‘the rest of the column’) from Temple of Apollo at Delphi; one of the missing serpent heads was found and kept in Archaeological Museum. The last statue in the arena, Colossus, is not in its original condition. The horsemen of the Fourth Crusade had removed the gold plated bronze panels of the column and took it to Venice with the famous carriage quartet statue of Lysippos that was also made of bronze plated with gold. The four antique horses are on the west gate of San Marco Church since then. (Sultanahmet).
Divan Yolu – Eminonu Square
Innumerable people; sellers on the street, the customers and visitors of Kapah (JarSi pass through this square that is between Galata Koprusu (Bridge) and Yeni Camu (Mosque). It is not surprising that the first and last stops of many buses and minibuses are in this square.
Private Balkan Tours 