April 2015
Istanbul, Turkey
Before being Istanbul, this city, during the greek and roman period was Byzantium, one of the most important harbour, and then Costantinopolis, the "new Rome" built on the Bosphoro by the roman emperor Costantino during the IV c. AD.
This city became during the IV-V c. AD the capital of the eastern roman empire, and continue the roman legacy despite the fall of the western roman empire in 476 A.D . The archeological and artistic proof of this amazing period called "byzantine" are: the Underground basilic cistern, built during the VI c.AD by the emperor Justinian I, which served the water for the all city, the amazing Haghia Sophia church, built and rebuilt during VI AD, where inside there is one mosaic survived from the arabic iconoclasm which is the expression of the byzantine and first christian art. This is the Deesis with Jesus Christ Pantocrator between Mary and John the Baptist. But more all over the city are the wonderful roman mosaics of the Emperor's Palace, or the byzantine mosaics and frescos, all gold at Chora Church. At the end the Hippodrome, which nothing remains unlesss 2 colums, one is the base of the famous "Delphi's tripod", and one obeliscus. Most of the byzantine statues and treasures were taked away by Venice during the Cruisades, only one foot of the Tetrarchy statue is still in Istanbul (Archeological Museum), and this string with Venice is remarkable in the death stele for Doge Andrea Doria in Haghia Sophia. A small little part of Bisanzio will be christian untile the 1453 when the Ottomans muslim will finally conquer the entire city. One expression is the Soliman Mosque were is the grave of the great Soliman emperor, and the Topkapi Palce, full of islamic arts, and the palace of the ottomans emperors. For not mentions the beauty and the power of Blue Mosque islamic architecture, since she's the most important mosque. |
WHAT YOU CAN'T MISS IF YOU LIKE:
ART = Topkapi Palace and his collections ARCHEOLOGY = Underground Cistern, Chora Church and Archeological Museum FOOD = Lots of turkish restaurant in Sultanhamet, the fish sandwich in Beyoglu, the "Simit" (all over the city) & turkish fast foods (like Patatos Beyoglu). ARCHITECTURE: Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia
How my trip was: Day one: Hippodrome square, Grand Bazaar, Soliman Mosque, Galata Tower Day two: Haghia Sophia, Underground Cistern, Istanbul Archeological Museum, Gulhane Parki, Blue Mosque Day three: Topkapi Palace, Museum of Mosaics, Little Haghia Sophia, Chamberlitas square (Costantine colum) and Hammaam Day four: Chora Church & Museum, Roman walls, New Istabul (Taksim Square) |