Yedikule ( “Seven Towers”) is the fortress directly at the intersection of Wall Theodosianischen country with the most Seemauer Marmara, a mixture of Byzantine and Ottoman elements. In the fortress is walled in the Golden Gate, through which the Byzantine emperor after a won battle in triumph back in the disputed city. Ottoman period to the castle served as Prominentenverlies – from foreign envoys to deposed Sultans was here as a time illustrious company assembled. Today, here in the summer concerts. Tuesday-Sunday from 9-17 clock opened, the entrance costs around 2.50 euros.

About four centuries was the Topkapı Palace, the center of the Ottoman world. Here lived the Sultan, the political and spiritual leader of Muslims, and his harem family were here but also the kingdom transactions, the tip of the Ottoman bureaucracy and the educated elite corps of the Sultan, the Janissaries, housed.

Sultan Mehmet II, the conqueror of Constantinople, verschmähte the old palace of the Byzantine emperor and was already a few years after his victory the Topkapı Palace create. He chose exposed to the square of the city, the tip of the peninsula on which Constantinople was built, on the one side of the Marmara Sea and on the other side of the Golden Horn is lapped. Although the palace annex large room occupies – temporarily lived more than 5000 people within the walls – she does not monumental. The buildings are all one-or two-and bribe rather by their intricate architecture than by majestic force – a stone became my tent city that some visitors to see. Although over the centuries, and always have been, has participated in the basic structure of the palace annex to this day nothing changed.
Topkapı Sarayı is divided into four courtyards. Now freely accessible first courtyard, known by the Bab-ı Hümayun, the “Imperial Gate”, entering the Ottoman period was in the base of the Janissaries. The Court after entering the left hand is Irene Church (Aya Irini), from the 8th Century, the “Celestial Church for peace”, was signed by the Janissaries as an arsenal and armory needed. It is now a venue for classical concerts and exhibitions. In its originality, it is one of the most impressive Byzantine religious buildings but can not be visited.

At the end of the first courtyard, at the Bab-ı Stewarton, the “Friedenstor,” begins the actual museum. The second farm, you now enter, was the division of the Ottoman Empire. The Cabinet met here (Diwan), here we waited on an audience, and here were the executioner placed the judgments of the sultan in the first court enforced. On the left side, diagonally opposite the entrance, is the “Divan”. At one corner is a lattice window through which the sultan secretly Cabinet meetings could keep an eye on. On the opposite side of the courtyard is the huge kitchen wing, in which several thousand people was masterfully cooked. The domes of the kitchen are from the Sea of Marmara from particularly good to see. There is now the largest collection of Chinese porcelain in the world outside China placed. Unfortunately, from the over 10 000 copies only a small fraction issued.
Also from the second one enters the courtyard of the fabled harem. Here are the sultans Hundreds of women held here, the palace intrigue their output, and here was the “Black Eunuch”, the guardians of harems. Indeed, the harem was originally written by none other than the man entered the Sultan – the eunuch was not more than men. From 16 Century after the Ottomans abandoned the radical practice had any brothers kill the heir to the throne, so as to avoid succession, were also brought under the prince. Actual ruler in the harem, but was the Valide Sultan, the Sultan mother. The harem is a palace inside the palace, so to speak, the private area of the palace, where women are comfortable, but in a golden cage were placed.
The leadership of the harem shows both luxurious baths, wonderful lounges and a wonderful reception room, but at the same time conveys an impression of the narrowness, where the women lived here partly to have. In the harem are every half hour only small groups admitted.

The output leads to the third courtyard, the main exhibition area of today’s museum. Directly behind the gate for the third courtyard, the Bab-ı Saadet, the “Gate of Felicity,” is the audience room of the Sultan, in which the original throne still be admired. The highlight of any visit to the halls of the court to the right side finish. Here are the most beautiful dresses, the rarest weapons and precious treasures of the Ottoman Empire issued. Starting from the courtly festive clothes on the famous saber of the Sultans to state resources such as the juwelenbesetzten spring bushes, the famous Topkapi dagger and the 86-carat diamond spoon is the worldly glory of the Ottomans spread here. Directly opposite on the other side of the courtyard are the religious treasures, including relics like the proverbial beard hair of the Prophet Muhammad a footprint of gates and parts of the Kaaba in Mecca. Here, even during visiting hours from the Koran recited.
The last so-called fourth courtyard is not a closed area, but a large garden, where several pavilions of relaxation and recreation of the Sultans served. On the right side was part of a palace converted into a DCAF, from where a magnificent view of the entrance to the Bosporus, which Genueserviertel and the Asian part of Istanbul – here you can from the palace exhausting tour recover somewhat. Wednesday-Monday from 9-16 clock opened, the harem of 9.30-15.30 clock, the entrance to Topkapı costs about 12 euros to the harem and treasure each of approximately 6.50 Euro.

Ottoman period to foreign envoys were called “Ambassador at the High Gate.” This was quite figuratively meant the great gate through which we in the Palace of the Grand arrived. The building was built from 1839 only as the seat of government used by the Topkapı Palace moved here. The district CaÄŸaloÄŸlu to the seat of government around developed into a intellectuals and publishing quarter. The High gate in the 20-years at the headquarters of the Istanbul governor.
Directly opposite, in the wall of the Topkapi Palace embedded, is the parade Alay Köşkü pavilion, from where the Sultan was once not only the parades, but the visitors could observe his Grand.

The old Byzantium had numerous water cisterns to the city, since one on the peninsula itself was not drinking. The largest of these cisterns, which the Turks “Sunken Palace” called, is situated directly opposite the Hagia Sophia and can be visited. If you have a small stairway to the bottom rising, suddenly opens up a huge underground room, which is so large that it initially did not overlook can. Still stands in the water cistern, but on wooden footbridges can classical music with a tour of the sunken empire make water. 336 columns prevent since 1400 years that the ceiling of the tank collapses. Two columns are even ancient Medusenköpfen. In summer on a wooden platform concerts. The entrance is a cafe. Daily from 9-18 clock opened, the entrance costs around 4.50 euros.

The 1728 Fountain erected one of the most beautiful Rococo buildings of Istanbul from the so-called tulip time. Directly before the first gate to the Topkapi Palace, he with his five small domes and the large, curving roof in itself like a small castle. The bay with a marble lattice and the walls adorned with lush flowers motives. The fountain at each side spout. There are verses of the famous calligraphers Counts Seyyid Vehbi Efendi to recognize. The classical Ottoman wells were no fountains, but served as public taps. Often they were members of the palace and wealthy citizens donated.

HaydarpaÅŸa terminal is the largest and most famous because of its design station in Turkey. The design of the station was in the early 20th century by the German architect Otto Ritter and Helmuth Cuno in the style of Neo-Renaissance developed. The choice of architects reflected the prevailing at the time of the close relationship between Turkey and Germany again. The station was built primarily for transporting passengers from Istanbul to Baghdad, Damascus and Medina. Today there is the whole international and inland transport to the east or south out of town covered. The station is located on the border of the water to 1100 and was wooden posts erected on the seabed. He is on three sides surrounded by water and looks at the plan from U-shaped. The station is across the street or – if you want to make the best photos – on the ferry Kadiköy-HaydarpaÅŸa-Karaköy be achieved.

The old coin from 1727 lies below the Topkapı Palace opposite the Archaeological Museum. It is also of Gülhane Park accessible. The area was caused by a history club partially restored and is now at the same time, technology museum and exhibition and venue, such as the Art Biennale. In several halls, the manufacture of coins from the foundry to Prägestöcken shown. In other exhibitions halls can be found on city’s history or current events. The entire complex, including a nice cafes, is one of the most successful restorations in the city, because almost exemplarily shown how careful restoration and new use can be perfectly complementary. Wednesday-Sunday from 10-19 clock opens.

This approximately 800 m long aqueduct is one of the most striking monuments from the early Byzantine period. He was in the second half of the 4th Century. under Emperor Valens as part of the city water supply was built. The peninsula, on the Byzantine Empire was established, had barely even water, so for the rapidly growing population of sophisticated systems from the Belgrade Forest, north of the city water had to be achieved, which is then stored in large cisterns was. The Valens Aqueduct, in addition to the cistern Yerebatan-striking reminder of the engineering achievements of the Byzantines.