The triangular promontory on which old
Istanbul is located is surrounded by city walls. The 22 km long walls date back to the 5th century, the Roman era. The original city of Byzantium expanded toward the west and new city walls were erected four times, each time enlarging the city further.
The peninsula was
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Balat is known as a Jewish quarter--with a small Armenian population-- dating back to the Byzantine period. Balat's winding streets provided a meeting ground for navigators, seafarers, street vendors and porters. Following the earthquake of 1894 and a series of fires that affected not only the neighbourhood but whole city of
Istanbul, the social structure of Balat underwent significant changes: The wealthiest section of the inhabit
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Because of the location of the Greek Patriarchate and the Orthodox Church, Fener was dominantly a Greek neighbourhood since the Byzantine period. In the 17th century, Fener became the residence of upper classes and the bourgeoisie with its hewn stone buildings and richly ornamented house facades. During the Ottoman period, an important segment of Greeks who lived in Fener, who were well-educated and fluent in several languages, held high government positions as interpreters or diplomats. D
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- 19 Nov 2009 02:24
- mosques, blue mosque, galata, balat, city walls, eyup, Sultanahmet Topkapi Palace, Aya Sophia, Bazaar, West of Golden Horn, Eyup and Pierre Loti Café, Bulgarian iron church, out of Istanbul, Taksim Place
Sultanahmet Topkapi PalaceOpen between 9.30 am and 5 pm, closed on Tuesdays, entrance 3 US$ for the palace and 1,50 US$ for the Harem.
This is of course a sight which is not to miss. Try to go there first thing in the morning. Once inside you also need separate tickets for the harem. Buy this ticket as soon as you get inside, because entrance is limited there
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