On the Golden Horn between Fener and Balat 1892, this church was built directly on the waterfront road. In the vernacular it is called the “Iron Church”, because it completely - including the columns and galleries on the inside - from cast iron was created after the Sultan of the building allegedly only on condition has allowed that he completed in one month is made. Indeed, the Church in parts of 1871 in Vienna poured by ship to Istanbul brought here and assembled on shore. Only the iconostasis is made of wood and comes from Russia.
The church stands out not only by her unusual material into the eye, but is also a symbol of the independence struggle of the Bulgarian municipality of the Greek Orthodox Church. Daily from 9-16 clock opens.

The archaeological museum below the Topkapı Palace was built mainly to fund an outstanding piece to be able to adequately exhibit: the Alexander sarcophagus, the Turkish archaeologists in Sidon in Lebanon took place today. In the sarcophagus was not Alexander the Great, but a Lebanese king buried, but Alexander is here in a very old, received a unique form. The world famous sarcophagus from the year 310 BC, is totally unspoiled and shows the wonderful marble reliefs the emperor with a lion and panther hunting.

Except this showpiece are other sarcophagi from Sidon and in several halls sculptures from Greek, Roman and Byzantine period. In a side wing one can find pieces from the early history of Istanbul chart.
Built in 2000, renovated Museum of Ancient Art (Eski Sark Eserleri Müzesi) in a separate building on the same site is very beautiful and well designed and assembled worth seeing exhibits from ancient Mesopotamia, mainly from the Assyrian and Babylonian times. The special attraction is the in authored Hittite cuneiform, 1259 BC between the Hittite king large Hattusili II and the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II peace treaty of Kadesh - the oldest traditional document of this kind ever.
A third, small building on the museum grounds was restored and reopened in spring 2005. It is the Çinili Köşk (faience museum) with valuable exhibits from several eras. The art of colored glaze protected by tiles to produce in the Ottoman Empire was highly developed. Since Islam portrait painting out of fear of new “idols” forbade, was much artistic energy on ornamental art is used. A popular motif was the tulip, color dominates the azure, whose formula champion dominated just a few. The 1472 castle itself was built by Mehmet II. The Çinili Köşk is the oldest building of the Topkapi Palace. Tuesday-Sunday from 9-17 clock open, admission costs about 8 euros.

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.

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.

What the Coliseum for Rome, was the Hippodrome for Byzantium - the place where the people through games and chariot races held in a good mood and, if failed, even times has been massacred. The arena is about 100 000 people have offered space. The magnificent equal to Kaiserloge joined at the Grand Palace, whose annex is from here down to the Sea of Marmara covered. Of the high ranks of the emergent Hippodroms today is almost nothing left except the columns, the Constantinople to the so-called spina, the long podium in the middle of the racetrack, make left.
The oldest is the 1900 BC Egyptian obelisk built, the Luxor was brought under Byzantium. The neighboring snake column from Delphi should come only from the past, the Bronze column, we know nothing, except that they are in the 10th Century has been restored. A fourth pillar, which originally stood still here and the four bronze horses was crowned, carried the Venetians after the Fourth Crusade as prey in the lagoon city.
The cobbled streets around the lawn on which the columns are now equal to the previous round of the racetrack. The Hippodrome also had a political function: It is known to either green or blue team, which temporarily with conservative or reformist joyfully have been translated. From a dispute between green and blue wagon drivers was 532 The Nica-popular uprising, the Emperor Justinian bloody let down. At the end will be 30 000 deaths have lined the Hippodrome.

The Persian Empire: Hordes of Asians descend upon the warm valleys of the Aegean from the Iranian highlands

Although Lydia’s hegemony extended as far east as the Halys river (Kizilirmak), prideful King Croesus was unable to resist the expansionism or the mercenary armies of the Persians who were becoming ever more powerful in the Iranian plateau. Surging down to the warm and fertile Aegean coast from their high and cold plateau, the Persians wiped out the golden kingdom of King Croesus of Lydia.
Thus the Ionian found themselves confronted byatotaly unexpected and enormous threat and while they sought to resist, King Cyrus’s general, Mazares, invaded the valley of the Maeander and subjugated the cities of Priene, Magnesia, Tralles, and Nysa.
The Ionian Revolt instigated by the Milesians in 500 B.C. proved to be quite bloody. The Persians were merciless in suppressing the rebellion. Miletos was razed and its inhabitants were either deported to Mesopotamia or else enslaved. Their Apollo temple was burned and its sacred objects and treasures were carried off to Persia. It was now the turn of the Persians to enjoy the abundance of western Anatolia. Over the famous “Royal Road”, which began in Sardis and extended as far as Susa in Persia, an enormous share of the resources of Anatolia and of the Aegean, Black Sea, and Mediterranean regions was carried back to the imperial palaces in Persepolis.
Persian hegemony over the Maeander river basin lasted about 213 years. The Persians divided Anatolia into administrative regions (called satrapies). They ensured the establishment of political order and ruled their empire through governors (satraps) who were vested with royal powers.