Museums and
Ancient Cities
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) Museum : Aya Sophia was built, for
nearly a thousand
years ago, is the
largest enclosed
space in the world,
and still seen as
one of the world’s
most important
architectural
monuments. It is one
of Turkey’s most
popular attractions,
drawn by the sheer
spectacle of its
size, architecture,
mosaics and art.
It used to be a
church for 916
years, then a mosque
for 481 years, and
since 1935 has been
a museum. Thought to
have been
constructed by
Emperor Konstantinos
I (324 – 337) it was
burned down during a
revolt. Rebuilt by
Emperor Theodosium
II, it was opened
for worship in 415
and once again was
burned to the
ground, during the
Nika revolts of 532.
 Emperor
Iustanianus (527 –
565) wanted to
construct something
even bigger than the
original two and
appointed architects
Isidoros from
Miletos, and
Anthemios from
Tralles to build the
Aya Sophia which
still stands.
Columns, heads,
marble and coloured
stones were imported
to Istanbul from
ancient cities in
Anatolia for the
purpose.
The construction
began on 23 December
532, and was
completed exactly
five years later.
The main, central
section measured
100m x 70m, covered
with a 55m high dome
which was a mammoth
30m in diameter –
appearing to be a
great feat of
design. The mosaics
are of great
importance, and the
oldest ones are
dominated by
geometric and plant
motifs decorated
with gold.
The worst
desecration of the
church was in 1204,
ransacked by
Catholic soldiers
during the Fourth
Crusade. In 1453,
after a failure of
the Byzantine Church
to fend off the
Turks, Mehmet the
Conqueror captured
the city, rode into
Aya Sofia and
immediately turned
it into a mosque. It
was repaired several
times, and Islamic
ornamentation added,
for example an
extract of the Koran
by calligrapher
Izzet Efendi
inscribed on the
dome. The other
reminders of its
previous status as a
mosque include huge
wooden plaques
bearing the names of
Allah, the Prophet
Mohammed and the
first four caliphs.
The marble and
mosaics remain the
most interesting
aspects today. The
columns supporting
the gallery are made
from antique marble,
and in the western
gallery is the green
marble which marks
the position of the
throne of the
Empress. The
impressive
figurative mosaics
include Virgin and
Child flanked by two
emperors, dating
back to the late
10th century, and
one depicting
Christ, the Virgin,
and St John the
Baptists. Even
though there is
partial damage, the
haunting images on
their faces remain
as strong as ever.
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Information
Hagia Sophia
Museum - Mahmut I
Library
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Information
Archeology Museum
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Topkapı Palace
Museum:
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Fethiye Museum
(Pammakaristos)
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Museum of
Classical Ottoman
(Divan) Literature
(Galata Mevlevi
Lodge)
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Small St.Sofia
Mosque - Ss. Sergius
and Bacchus Church
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St. Irene (Aya
İrini) : This
ranks as the first
church built in
Istanbul. It was
commissioned by
Constantine in the
4th century, and
Justinian later had
it restored. The
building reputedly
stands on the site
of a pre-Christian
temple.
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Turkish and
Islamic Arts Museum:
Built in 1524 by
İbrahim Pasa, the
Grand Vizier to
Suleyman the
Magnificent, this
was originally a
palace and the
grandest private
residences in the
Ottoman Empire – and
one of the few which
have survived. Some
of it, however, was
destroyed and
rebuilt in stone to
the original designs
in 1843.
Now home to the
museum, this is
considered one of
the finest
collections of
Islamic art in the
world, with a superb
display of ceramics,
metalwork,
miniatures,
calligraphy and
textiles, as well as
some of the oldest
carpets in the
world. Equally as
impressive is the
grace of the
building, with the
central courtyard
giving something of
an insight into the
atmosphere of the
residence.
Opposite is the
Great Hall, which
houses a collection
of Turkish carpets,
with exquisite
antique carpets and
kilims and one of
the finest
collections in the
world, the oldest
exhibit dating back
to 13th century.
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The Great Palace
Mosaic Museum :The
Mosaic Museum
preserves its
situation
exceptionally fine
5th and 6th century
mosaic pavements
from the Grand
Palace of the
Byzantine emperors.
Because of the way
they are exhibited,
it is easy to
understand their
size and scale
especially because
many of them can be
viewed from a
catwalk above.
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Kariye (Caria)
Museum : This is
actually Kariye
Mosque, once the
11th century church
of St Saviour in
Chora, is considered
to be the most
important Byzantine
monument in
Istanbul, after Aya
Sofia. Whilst
unremarkable in its
architecture, the
interior walls are
decorated with
superb 14th century
mosaics.
Illustrating scenes
from the life of
Christ and the
Virgin Mary, these
brilliantly colored
paintings embody the
vigour of Byzantine
art. The restored
wooden houses in the
surrounding area are
a good place for
relaxation and
refreshment.
The church was
probably built in
the early 12th
century, of which
only the nave and
central apse remain.
Theodore Metochites
rebuilt it between
1316 and 1321, the
same years from
which the mosaics
and frescoes date,
which depict the
life of Christ in
picture-book
fashion. There is a
series of mosaics in
the form of
devotional panels in
the narthexes, the
theme of which is
reflected in the
frescoes in the nave
and funerary chapel.
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Museum of Turkish
Carpets : Across
the street from the
Ibrahim Pasa
residence is the
Museum of Turkish
Carpets which
contains exquisite
antique carpets and
kilims gathered from
all over Turkey.
Open days to visit:
Everyday except
Monday
Yerebatan Sarnıcı
(Cistern) :
Nearby Aya Sofia is
the 6th century
Byzantine
underground Basilica
cistern, with 335
massive Corinthian
columns supporting
the immense
chamber’s fine brick
vaulting. This is
one of several
buried into the
city’s foundations,
and the first to
have been excavated
and renovated.
Thought to have been
built in the 4th
century by the
emperor Constantine,
then enlarged two
centuries later, it
was supplied with
water from Belgrade
Forest, amd supplied
it to the Great
Palace and Topkapi
Palace.
It fell into disuse
and was then
restored in 1987
with the mud and
water removed, and
narrow raised
pathways providing
easy access for
visitors. It is the
largest covered
cistern in the city,
measuring 140 by 70
metres.
Aviation Museum :
The Aviation Museum
in Yesilkoy traces
the development of
flight in Turkey.
Closed Tuesdays.
Military Museum :
Highlight of
this museum is
definitely the
Mehter Takimi, the
Ottoman military
band, which performs
every afternoon
between 15.00 –
16.00. It also has a
good collection of
Ottoman military
memorabilia, like
the cotton and silk
tents used by the
sultans at war, and
armour and weaponry
like heavily
decorated jambiyah
daggers.
The band, which
originated in 1289,
became an
institution which
came to symbolise
the power and
independence of the
Ottoman empire, and
these musicians, who
were janissaries,
always accompanied
the Sultans into
battle. But quite
apart from their
benefit on the
battlefield, they
came to create new
musical styles in
Europe, and even
influencing Mozart
and Beethoven.
Opening hours:
09.00 – 17.00,
closed Mondays and
Tuesdays.
Maritime Museum :
The collection
is divided into two
buildlings: The one
facing the water has
seagoing vessels,
and the one opposite
the road has
exhibits relating to
maritime history of
the Ottoman Empire
and Turkish
Republic. Highlights
include items from
Ataturk’s yacht, the
huge wooden
figureheads of
tigers and swans,
and the imperial
caiques of the
sultans, the largest
dating back to 1648,
which needed 144
oarsmen to power it.
Opening hours: 09.00
– 12.30 & 13.30 –
17.00, closed
Wednesdays and
Thursdays.
Atatürk Museum :
Ataturk's former
residence in Şisli,
2 km from north of
Taksim Square, now
serves as the
Ataturk Museum and
displays his
personal effects.
Closed Mondays
and Tuesdays.
Naval Museum :
The grand
imperial caiques
used by the sultans
to cross the
Bosphorus are among
the many many other
interesting exhibits
of Ottoman naval
history that can be
seen at the Naval
Museum located in
the Besiktas
district. Open days
to visit: Everyday
except Saturday and
Sunday.
Museum of Fine Arts
This collection is
in the east wing of
Dolmabahce Palace,
once the apartments
of the heir to the
throne. Although
closed for some time
following damage
after the 1999
earthquake, it is
best known for its
late 19th century
and early 20th
century work, which
gives an insight
into the life of the
late Ottoman Turks.
Osman Hamdi is one
of the best artists
exhibited.
Opening hours:
12.30 – 16.30,
closed Mondays and
Tuesdays.
City Museum :
Located inside the
gardens of Yıldız
Palace, this museum
preserves and
documents the
history of Istanbul
since the Ottoman
conquest, including
ornaments and
paintings from the
18th and 19th
centuries reflect
the way of life.
Also within the
gardens are the
Yildiz Palace
Theatre, and the
Yıldız Sarayı
Theatre (Museum of
Historical Stage
Costumes), with
richly decorated
scenery, stage and
costumes. Also
exhibited are
portraits of some of
the stars who
appeared here,
including Sarah
Bernhardt.
Opening hours:
09.00 – 16.30,
Closed Mondays.
Rahmi Koç Industry
Museum : The
museum is set in an
Ottoman-period
building, an 18th
century factory
which produced
anchors and their
chains. It was
recently converted,
although has
retained many of its
original features,
and restored by
Rahmi Koc, who is
one of Turkey’s most
powerful
industrialists. It
was essentially done
so he could house
his private
collection of
models, machines and
vehicles which he
had collected from
all over Europe, and
exhibits include
original
penny-farthing
bicycles, a ship’s
bridge, and an
engine from the
Kalender steam
ferry. The museum is
trying to raise the
Australian navy’s
first submarine sink
of gallipoli in
World War I.
Opening hours:
10.00 – 17.00,
closed Mondays.
Detailed Information
Sadberk Hanım
Museum : Up the
Bosphorus and
shortly before
Buyukdere, the
collection of an
Armenian civil
servant fills two
charming 19th
century wooden
villas. The larger
of the two villas
belonged to the
Armenian, who became
a politician and
died in the great
Beyoglu fire in
1922. His collection
was put together in
memory of Sadberk
Hanim, wife of
millionaire
businessman Vehbi
Koc.
A private museum
which originally
displayed only
Turkish decorative
arts, was recently
expanded to include
a new collection of
archeological
exhibits. This is
the oldest section,
and includes
sixth-millenium BC
mother goddesses. In
the ethnography
section, there are
maternity and
circumcision beds,
clothing and
jewellery.
Opening hours:
10.00 – 18.00,
closed Wednesdays.
Detailed Information
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