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Travel Overview of Turkey by Louise

Turkey is one of the most interesting places I’ve ever traveled to. So far I’ve been to Istanbul and Ephesus but there are so many other places I’d love to visit. The culture is so interesting :: I love how the people are so friendly and accepting of everyone who visits. The Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern are just three of the many iconic attractions in Istanbul I visited. Each left me in awe of the city. I was treated with respect even once knowing that I am a Christian. I got the feeling that what your religion is isn’t as important to the local people as sometimes the political world would have you believe. I did notice that men gathered together with men and, separately, women gathered together with other women and their children. That was something that really stood out to me when I was in Istanbul. When I visited Ephesus the thing that struck me so much was seeing the places that the Apostle Paul preached and seeing the House of the Virgin Mary. Although it is only rumored that she spent her last years there it is in essence a shrine to her and it was pretty surreal seeing that. The area was really peaceful-feeling. I do hope that I get the opportunity to visit Turkey again and to experience many many of the other cities that have made an impact on the world as we know it today.

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Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: 5 Compelling Reasons to Visit
EuropeTurkey

Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: 5 Reasons to Visit

by Louise
written by Louise

There are so many compelling reasons to come to Ephesus and its ancient ruins are absolutely unbelievable. If you are a lover of history as I am you will definitely want to move this amazing city to the top your Bucket List.

We made the trek to Ephesus at the end of summer when the weather was still pretty hot. If you plan on visiting in the summer months my recommendation would be to bring plenty of water, a parasol and perhaps a couple of cooling cloths. The heat can be quite overwhelming.

Let me just tell you what I would consider 5 of the most compelling reasons to make Ephesus the next destination ::

#1 :: The ancient ruins in Ephesus are older than most.

The Ephesus everyone visits today was founded in the 4th century B.C. but the ancient ruins of the first city (and it is believed that there have been at least 5 cities) dates back to 10th century B.C.

Baths of Varius

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Ancient Ruins
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Ancient Ruins

Located north of the State Agora is a complex marble structure known as the Baths of Varius which was first built during the Hellenistic era, then enlarged in Roman and Byzantine times. In those days cities built baths for its townspeople :: they did not have them in each individual residence as we know them to be today. And the wealthiest people had their own separate bath houses which represented a great mark of status.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins:: Baths of Varius
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Baths of Varius

The baths consisted of three sections :: the frigidarium (cold water), the tepidarium (warm water) and caladium (hot water). Men and women did not bathe in the same bath (women were provided smaller baths in a separate building) but each used the three sections in their respective baths one at a time.

Fountains of Ephesus

Fountain of Trajan
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Fountain of Trajan
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Fountain of Trajan

Built in around 104 C.E. this fountain is one of the finest monuments in Ephesus with a statue of the Emperor of the same name in its center. The columns and statues that once surrounded the fountain can be found in the Ephesus Museum.

Fountain of Hydreion
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Fountain of Hydreion
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Fountain of Hydreion

The fountain of Hydreion is located beside the Memmius Monument and was one of the most outstanding ancient fountain ruins in Ephesus. This fabulous structure was built as a resting place for weary travelers, had three separate water basins and 4 of the Corinth-style columns can still be seen in front of the fountain.

Memmius Monument
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Memmius Monument
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Memmius Monument

Standing on the north side of the Domitian Square it was built during the reign of Augustus in the first century A.D. with a square fountain on the northwest facade. This monument was built in 87 B.C. to remember the conquering of Mithridates (who killed 80,000 Romans in his three year revolt with his army).

Prytaneion

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Prytaneion
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Prytaneion

The construction of the Prytaneion dates to the 3rd century B.C. but the ruins of the complex date back to the Augustan age. This was where religious ceremonies, official receptions and banquets were held and where the sacred flame symbolizing the heart of Ephesus was kept constantly lit in a four-cornered pit in the center of the ceremonial hall, a relic from the reign of Lysimachos. During excavations archeologists found 2 Artemis statues which are now present in Ephesus Museum.

#2 :: The ancient ruins in Ephesus have been recorded to be the longest lasting…

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Ancient Ruins

…in history, existing between 4th century B.C. and the 15th century A.D. despite all of the earthquakes, wars, diseases and fires they have endured.

Temple of Hadrian

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Temple of Hadrian
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Temple of Hadrian

Temple of Hadrian is one of the best preserved and most beautiful structures on Curetes Street and it truly is something to behold. It was built before 138 A.D by P. Quintilius and was dedicated to the Emperor Hadrian who came to visit the city from Athens in 128 A.D. Emperor Hadrian was one of the Five of Good Emperors, a term that refers to five consecutive emperors of the Roman Empire— Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius.

At the front of the temple stand four Corinthian columns with a curved arch in the middle which contains a carving of Tyche, goddess of victory. The pedestals with inscriptions in front of the temple are the bases for the statues of the emperors between 293-305 CE :: Diocletian, Maximian, Constantius I and Galerius which have not yet been found.

Ephesus Latrines 

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Public Latrines
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Public Latrines

Situated next to the Temple of Hadrian in Ephesus these public toilet ruins (the ancient version of port-a-potties for which an entrance fee was required) were constructed along the wall like marble benches. A pool of clean water flowed continuously in the gutter in front of them. It’s interesting to me that people conducted their “business” without separate stalls, just like the baths.

Odeion of Ephesus

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Odeion Theatre
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Odeion Theatre

The Odeion of Ancient Ephesus was a small theatre financed by a wealthy citizen named Vedius Antonius. It has a semi-circular shape. It had low steps or ledges divided by passages and two corridors on each side to let people access the higher seats. There was also an orchestra and a podium.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Odeon Theatre entrance
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Odeion Theatre entrance

There were five entrances to the podium in the front side of the theatre and along the street to the State Agora. The Odeion was adorned with pillars and it must have had a wooden roof in the past.

The Odeion was used for political meetings (senate house), social events, concerts and theatrical performances.

#3 :: Ephesus played a very important role in world history.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Ancient Ruins

Ephesus was visited by Alexander the great, Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony and Cleopatra, and became home to St. Paul, St. John and the Virgin Mary. It was so wealthy that the Temple of Artemis, the third largest library Celsus Library and the Great Theatre, the largest theater of Asia Minor were all built there. One of the most impactful cities in the world I’ve had the pleasure of visiting, for sure.

Temple of Artemis

The original temple was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The complete ruins of this important temple is located in Seljuk not far away.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Temple of Artemis
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Temple of Artemis
Photo Credit :: toursce.com

Today if you visit the original site in Ephesus only a foundation and sculptural fragments of its ancient ruins remain.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Temple of Artemis remains
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Temple of Artemis remains
Photo credit :: warwick.ac.uk

Also known as the Temple of Diana it was a Greek temple dedicated to the goddess Artemis. She was the twin of Apollo in Greek mythology and the daughter of Zeus and Leto.

Library of Celsus

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Library of Celsus
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Library of Celsus

Considered one of the most beautiful structures in Ephesus, Celsus Library was built in 117 A.D. as a monumental tomb for the governor of the province of Asia by the same name. His grave was beneath the ground floor with a statue of Athena goddess of wisdom over it.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Library of Celsus details
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Library of Celsus details

The library held more than 12,000 scrolls, the third richest library in ancient times after Alexandria and Pergamum. Such fascinating details went into this structure.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Library of Celsus
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Library of Celsus

The statues of Sophia ‘wisdom’, Episteme ‘knowledge’, Ennoia ‘intelligence’ and Arete ‘valor’ currently standing in the niches of the columns are copies of the originals which were taken to Ephesus Museum in Vienna in the early 1900’s.

Great Theatre

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Great Theatre
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Great Theatre

Also known as the Ephesus Great Theatre you can easily see it when you enter the city from the south, originally built in the Hellenistic era but enlarged during the Roman era. With a capacity of 25,000 seats (60 rows of seats divided by two aisles in three horizontal sections and 3 stories high) the Great Theatre is the largest of its kind in Anatolia (Asia Minor, which makes up most of modern-day Turkey).

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Great Theatre
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Great Theatre

It was used not only for concerts and plays but also for gladiator and animal fights as well as for religious, political and philosophical forums/discussions.

Basilica of St. John

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Basilica of St. John
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Basilica of St. John

Seeing the ruins of St. John’s Basilica was pretty surreal. Kind of like seeing the House of the Virgin Mary. The Basilica of St. John was regarded as one of the holiest churches of its time. But with the invasion of Turks the chapel was used as a mosque in the 14th century. Unfortunately the Basilica of St. John became unusable due to the serious earthquake in the same century. To give you more perspective on its size it was told to me that if the basilica were to have been completely rebuilt it would be the seventh largest church in the world.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Basilica of St. John restored entrance
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Basilica of St. John restored entrance

The most striking feature of the basilica is its massive apse entrance which has been partially restored.

The construction of the basilica began in 548, completed by 565 and stands over the believed burial site of John the Apostle, originally a mausoleum of sorts, which served as a church. As it stands today the reconstruction of the basilica is yet incomplete.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Basilica of St. John aqueduct
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Basilica of St. John aqueduct

Near the church they built an aqueduct to help the then uncultivated land around it flourish.

Tomb of St. John

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Tomb of St. John the Apostle
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Tomb of St. John the Apostle

St. John (Apostle, Evangelist) lived in Ephesus for a long time, wrote his gospel and died by the age of 100 in Ephesus. Raised by two steps and covered with marble, St. John’s tomb was located under the central dome of the basilica that was once carried by the four columns at the corners. Still pretty incredible to have been there and stood beside St. John’s tomb knowing who he was and what role he played in Christianity. So surreal. And a truly special place.

Statue of Virgin Mary

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: statue of Virgin Mary
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: statue of Virgin Mary

Ephesus is the place where the Virgin Mary (the mother of Jesus Christ) was reckoned to have spent her last years. The story has it that she died in Ephesus and most probably buried by St. John on the Mountain named Nightingale nearby Ephesus.

The golden statue of the Virgin Mary is located near the Basilica of St. John.

House of the Virgin Mary

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: House of Virgin Mary

Excavations in 1881 uncovered ancient stone foundations, most from the 500s and 600s but some from the 1st century A.D. when Mary would have been alive. After a visit by Pope Paul VI in 1967, the Catholic church confirmed the authenticity of the legend. Pope John Paul II visited in 1979 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary fountains
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: House of Virgin Mary fountains

Today the Virgin Mary’s House is rebuilt as a chapel and visited by millions of people every year to sip the waters of an adjoining spring said to have curative powers…

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary prayer wall
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: House of Virgin Mary prayer wall

…to leave messages and prayers on the stone prayer wall…

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary surroundings
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: House of Virgin Mary surroundings

…and to enjoy the pine-shaded mountaintop location.

Regardless of one’s religious proclivities it is hard not to be moved by a site that so many find sacred.

A service is held on August 15th each year commemorating the Virgin Mary’s Assumption.

  • Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary walls
  • Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary surroundings
  • Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: House of Virgin Mary surroundings

 #4 :: When you walk along the marble streets of Ephesus it truly feels as if you have travelled back in time.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: State Agora marble walks
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: marble streets

You will not see just some ruins here and there :: most of the city center has been excavated and re-erected. You will able to see not only most of the state and social buildings but thanks to the Austrian Archaeological Institute (started excavations in 1895 and with the exception of the interruption of WWI and WWII has continued uninterrupted since 1954; archaeologists of the Ephesus Museum and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism who accelerated their work as of 1979 as well) you can also see the interior of the houses of some of the wealthiest citizens of Ephesus. . With everything that has been uncovered still only 10% of the ancient city has been unearthed.

State Agora

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: State Agora
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: State Agora

Like the Baths of Varius, the State Agora was renovated multiple times during its history. The first agora on this site was built in the 6th century B.C. in Hellenistic style. During excavation that agora was found buried approximately 2 meters below the present Agora. This agora would have been used as a public area and a meeting place for governmental discussions.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Temple of Isis
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Temple of Isis

In the center there was a temple dedicated to the Egyptian godess Isis built for the visit of  Marcus Antonius and Cleaopatra in 42 B.C. The current structure would have been built in the Roman Period in the first century B.C. and would have served as the chamber where all decision would have been voted on. It was demolished during the reign of Augustus and never rebuilt because of its connections with Egypt.

Lower Agora

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Lower Agora
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Lower Agora

The Lower or Commercial Agora was the most important trade center of Ephesus, one square mile in size and surrounded by columns with three gates.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Lower Agora sun dial
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Lower Agora sun dial

In the center of the Agora was a sundial and a water clock (used in court hearings to measure the time allotted for each speaker). The Lower Agora was built in the third century B.C. in the Hellenistic era with ruins dating back to 211 C.E. 

According to some biblical scholars there is a high possibility of St. Paul having had a tent-making shop in the Commercial Agora of Ephesus between 53-56 A.D.

Terrace Houses

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Terrace Houses
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Terrace Houses

Ephesus terrace houses are located on the hill opposite the Hadrian Temple also called “the houses of rich.” They are important because they give us information about family life during the Roman period. Terrace houses were built according to the Hippodamian plan of the city in which roads intersected each other at right angels.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: Terrace Houses inner courtyard
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: Terrace Houses inner courtyard

They had interior courtyards with a row of columns surrounding the space in the center with the ceilings open. Mostly built with two stories, with living rooms and dining rooms opening to the hall on the ground floor and bedrooms and guest rooms upstairs. But the second stories have all collapsed over time.

#5 :: Of all the guided tours in which I’ve taken part, IMHO the guides explaining the ancient ruins in Ephesus are among the best.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: tour guide
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: tour guide

Apparently being a guide in Ephesus is a well-respected position and pays very well which is motivation for young people to seek after this line of work. As a result most have an extensive education and speak many languages fluently. When you take a guided tour in Ephesus you will be exposed to more information than you can absorb. I wish I had video or at least a voice recording of our guide (above) as a remembrance of our time in this amazing city.

Excavations and Restorations

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: archaeologist working
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: archaeologist working

Since 1954 much of the excavations and restorations have been carried out by the Austrian Archaeology Institute Team but also by the archaeologists of the Ephesus Museum. In their intensive work they have uncovered and restored many important structures. And as you walk the streets of Ephesus you can see the ruined pieces everywhere around you. I happened upon an archaeologist who was working along the side of the State Agora. He did not speak English so he let me just watch him as he worked. I found it so very interesting.

Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus Ancient Ruins :: archaeological finds
Where in the World is Louise? Ephesus :: archaeological finds

I was told that in recent years the focus has been more on the care and preservation of the buildings that have already been discovered rather than the actual excavation. In the past fifteen years many important structures and monuments have been restored. And in the course of the excavations which have now lasted over a century, only ten percent of the ancient city of Ephesus has been unearthed. Excavations in Ephesus will go on for many years with an emphasis on restorative works.

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Seriously, had I been exposed to the love of archaeology in my early years perhaps this is the path of education that I may have chosen to follow. It is all beyond interesting to me. And Ephesus was truly a treasure trove of archaeology! If you enjoy visiting historic ruins Ephesus definitely is one you shouldn’t miss!

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Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: My Favorite Historical City in Europe
EuropeTurkey

Istanbul :: My Favorite Historical City in Europe

by Louise
written by Louise

I have to say that Istanbul is one of the most interesting places I’ve traveled to so far. Prior to making plans to visit I didn’t have great knowledge about the culture nor the history so I did some reading up. I knew that Istanbul used to be Constantinople but that was the extent of my knowledge. As I read up about Turkey I became increasingly more excited about traveling there.

We booked a 14-day Eastern Mediterranean cruise on Celebrity Equinox that was departing out of Istanbul as you can see it docked here.

SIDE NOTE :: Let me say right now that this is my most favorite cruise to date (and I’ve taken nearly 15) and I would take this exact cruise again in a heartbeat. Our itinerary was :: Istanbul, Ephesus, Mykonos, Athens (Piraeus), Kotor, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Rome (Civitavecchia), Florence (Livorno), Nice (Villefranche), Marseilles, Barcelona. 12 ports in 14 days left only 2 full days at sea. OMG it was a fabulous cruise! I have already blogged about Kotor, Dubrovnik and Barcelona (click on links to read more on each) but I hope to write about the others as well because each was spectacular on its own.

Ok, I digress :: let me get back to Istanbul. I am really thankful that we decided to arrive in Istanbul 4 days early to explore this interesting city. Due to security issues (a wave of bombings of the parliament and presidential palace with 240 dead, a military coup to overthrow its president a week prior to our arrival) Celebrity decided to leave Istanbul one day earlier than originally scheduled. And apparently all the cruise lines have taken Turkey off of their itineraries, indefinitely.

While in Istanbul we did not experience any safety issues whatsoever. Thank God! On the contrary we had an amazing time. The places we visited were spectacular, the people were kind and hospitable, the weather was fabulous (except for one afternoon when we had a short downpour). We did nearly everything we planned on seeing. However, due to the early departure we missed crossing the Bosphorus to the Asia side. BOO! Looks like I’ll have to come back one day…

For our stay in Istanbul Roydio booked a great little boutique hotel for us that was walking distance to several attractions on our list of must-see places.

Basileus Hotel

The Basileus is a cute little boutique hotel in typical Turkish style and traditional Turkish hospitality located in Sultanahmet district within walking distance to many popular tourist attractions in Istanbul. Our airline (Alitalia) lost our luggage (BOO!) and the desk attendant at Basileus interceded for us to get it back… which we did… the following day. We are convinced had it not been for our amazing hotel manager we may never have seen it again.

Basileus Hotel offers an open buffet breakfast 7am to 10:30am with 24-hr room service. The room was clean and adorable, the staff was wonderful, very helpful and so accommodating. If you have plans to come to Istanbul I highly recommend Basileus Hotel.

Location :: Küçük Ayasofya Mh., Şht. Mehmet Paşa Sk. No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Sultanahmet Square / Hippodrome of Constantinople

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: map of historic Constantinople Imperial District
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: map of historic Constantinople Imperial District

The Hippodrome “horse” square now called Sultanahmet Square is the oldest part of Istanbul (previously Constantinople the largest and wealthiest city in Europe during the 4th–13th centuries and a center of culture and education in the Mediterranean), built in about 203AD, as a u-shaped track in an arena for horse and chariot racing in the ancient world at about 1300 ft wide and 2600 ft long with stands that accommodated 100,000 spectators. This was the Byzantine center of the city’s social life.

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: fountain in Sultanahmet Square
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: fountain in Sultanahmet Square

After Constantinople’s destruction in 1453 Constantine brought works of art from all over the world to adorn it. Fragments of the arena as well as the Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius, Walled Obelisk and the German Fountain are all that remain. Be sure to read more about Constantinople because its history is fascinating.

Location :: Binbirdirek Mh., Sultan Ahmet Parkı No:2, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Obelisk of Theodosius

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Hippodrome Obelisk of Theodosius
Where in the World is Louise? Hippodrome :: Obelisk of Theodosius

The Obelisk of Theodosius was brought from Egypt to Constantinople in 390AD and is made of red Egyptian granite. Originally 30m tall the lower part was damaged, probably during its transport or re-erection in 1490, and so the obelisk is today only about 19 meters high. Between the four corners of the obelisk and the pedestal are four bronze cubes, used in its transportation and re-erection.

Each of its four faces has a single central column of inscription, celebrating Thutmose III’s victory over the Mitanni which took place on the banks of the Euphrates in about 1450BC. What an amazing site to see.

Located in the Hippodrome.

Walled Obelisk

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Hippodrome Walled Obelisk
Where in the World is Louise? Hippodrome :: Walled Obelisk

This 10th century original obelisk was covered with golden bronze plaques that were taken in the Fourth Crusade. The stone core survives as it is today.

Located in the Hippodrome.

Serpentine Column

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Hippodrome Serpentine Column
Where in the World is Louise? Hippodrome :: Serpentine Column

Cast to celebrate the victory of the Greeks over the Persians during the Persian Wars in the 5th century BC. It was moved from the Temple of Apollo at Dephi to be set in the middle of the Hippodrome. The Serpent heads and top third of the column were destroyed in 1700. All that remains is the base.

Located in the Hippodrome.

German Fountain

  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: German Fountain
    German Fountain
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: German Fountain ceiling
    German Fountain ceiling

The German Fountain was the German Empire’s gift to the Ottomans to commemorate the second anniversary of German Emperor Wilhelm II’s visit in 1898. It was built in Germany and transported piece by piece and assembled in its current site in 1900 and inaugurated in 1901. The Neo-Byzantine style fountain is an octagonal dome with eight marble columns, with stone and gem parts and interior covered with golden mosaics. It is truly beautiful to see.

Located in the Hippodrome.

Blue Mosque

  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Blue Mosque
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Blue Mosque ceilings
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Blue Mosque interior
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Blue Mosque dome
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Blue Mosque at night
    Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Blue Mosque

Also known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque this is one of the grandest and most photogenic of Ottoman mosques in Turkey with the largest courtyard. The acoustics inside are amazing. They used 21,043 blue tiles inside (maybe why they call it the “Blue” Mosque? Duh!). They do require you cover your head when entering.

Location :: in middle of Istanbul opposite the German Fountain at Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Atmeydanı Cd. No:7, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Milyon Monument

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Milyon Monument
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Milyon Monument
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Milyon Monument
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Milyon Monument plaque

The Milyon Monument was erected in the early 4th century AD as the zero-mile marker measurement of distances for roads leading to the cities of the Byzantine Empire. It disappeared by the 16th century but during excavations in the 1960’s some parts were discovered under the houses in the area and its remains were re-erected.

Location :: at the northern corner of the square of Hagia Sophia and close to the Basilica Cistern at Alemdar Mh., Divan Yolu Cd. No:2, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul

Arasta Bazaar

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Arasta Bazaar
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Arasta Bazaar

The Arasta Bazaar is a modest market built by Ottoman officials in the 17th century. The rents collected are dedicated to provide the upkeep of the Blue Mosque. It once belonged to a Byzantine Palace complex and the Great Palace Mosaic Museum lies beneath it. I purchased some handmade pottery here – I found it much less crowded than the Grand Bazaar and much more authentic.

Location :: behind the Blue Mosque, on the north side of Torun Street at Sultanahmet Mh, sultanahmet meydanı, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul
Hours :: Mon – Sat, 9am to 7pm – some shops open Sun

Basilica Cistern

  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Basilica Cistern
    entrance lines
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Basilica Cistern
    view from the entrance
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Basilica Cistern
    Medusa Head
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Basilica Cistern
    Medusa Head #2
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Basilica Cistern
    Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Basilica Cistern

Basilica Cistern is the largest of several hundred ancient subterranean cisterns beneath Istanbul. Located across from Hagia Sophia it was built in the 6th century by 7000 slaves. This was the water filtration system for the Great Palace of Constantinople and Topkapi Palace at 453 ft by 213 ft for a total of 105,000 sq ft holding 2,800,000 cu ft of water.

The ceiling is supported by 336 marble columns each 39 ft high arranged in 12 rows of 28 columns spaced 16 ft apart. The majority of the columns are made of recycled ruins, marble and granite. 52 stone steps decent into its entrance.

The very impressive Basilica Cistern has been open to the public since 1987. This is a definite must-see if you find yourself in Istanbul.

Location :: Alemdar Mh., Yerebatan Cd. 1/3, 34410 Fatih/İstanbul

Hagia Sophia

  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Hagia Sophia
    Hagia Sophia
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Hagia Sophia
    Hagia Sophia gardens

Hagia Sophia was build in 537AD, the world’s largest building and engineering marvel of its time. She was considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have changed the history of architecture. This third church of the “Holy Wisdom” was a former Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal cathedral but in 1453 it was converted to an Ottoman imperial mosque at which time they destroyed and/or plastered over the images of Jesus, Mother Mary, angels and saints and they added Islamic features.

In 1931 it was closed for 4 years and in 1935 became a museum. By the Republic of Turkey it was deemed as Turkey’s most visited tourist attraction. This year the current president announced that it might be reverted to a mosque.

Location :: Sultan Ahmet Mahallesi, Ayasofya Meydanı, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Topkapi Palace

  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Topkapi Palace
    Topkapi Palace
  • Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Topkapi Palace
    No Entrance Here

Topkapi means Cannon Gate. I didn’t see any cannons but there were armed military personnel standing guard so that no one entered through this side. In the 15th century (construction began in 1459) this was the residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultanas. After the 17th century Topkapi lost its importance due to new sultans preferring their residences to be along the Bosphorus. In 1923 it was turned into a museum.

Location :: Cankurtaran Mh., 34122 Fatih/Istanbul

Gulhane Park

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Gulhane Park
Gulhane Park

Meaning “house of flowers” Gulhane Park rests on the grounds of Topkapi Palace and is one the oldest and most expansive public parks which opened in 1912. It originally included a zoo, fun fair and picnic grounds but has since changed to a natural landscape with trees dating back to the 1800’s. It was so peaceful to walk in this park and take in the fresh air.

Location :: Cankurtaran Mh., Kennedy Cd., 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Mustafa (orig Pasha) Ataturk statue

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Gulhane Park Ataturk statue
Mustafa Ataturk statue

Mustafa Ataturk was the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey from 1923 to his death in 1938. He introduced the Latin-based Turkish alphabet and was responsible for a rigorous program of political, economic and cultural reforms. Some of those include free compulsory primary education, the opening of thousands of new schools all over the country, equal rights for women (ahead of many Western countries), voting rights for women in 1930 and full universal suffrage, earlier than most other countries in the world. The state gave him the name of Ataturk which means “Father of the Turks” and made it against the law to give anyone else that name. His motto was “Peace at Home, Peace in the World.”

It was a nice ending to our stroll in the park to find this statue and read all about this Turkish president who made so many positive changes in an area of the world that is filled with so much turmoil.

Location :: Gulhane Park at Cankurtaran Mh., Kennedy Cd., 34122 Fatih/İstanbul

Grand Bazaar

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Grand Bazaar
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the oldest and largest (30,700 meters) covered markets in the world including 61 covered streets and over 4000 shops. The Grand Bazaar is often regarded as one of the first shopping malls in the world. You can find almost anything here :: I purchased several souvenirs here. It was delightful to wander around this market and we came back several times.

Location :: Beyazıt Mh., Kalpakçılar Cd. No:22, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul

Spice (Egypt) Market

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Spice Market
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Spice Market

The “Egypt” Market was built between 1660 and 1665 and is the center of the spice trade in Istanbul. It is located in the complex of the New Mosque, the acquired rents of which are designated to pay for the upkeep of the New Mosque.

Location :: Rüstem Paşa Mahallesi, Erzak Ambarı Sok. No:92, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul

New Mosque

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: New Mosque
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: New Mosque

Construction on Yen Camii started in 1597, the building of which took more than half a century. After 1603 (and only partially built) the structure fell into ruins. Continued construction occurred between 1660 and 1663 and was finally inaugurated in 1665.

The New Mosque architecture consists of 66 domes and semi domes in a pyramidal arrangements. The main dome is 188 ft hight, the interim on each side are 135 ft. In the center are four large piers that are the main support for the dome, 57 ft in diameter and 188 ft high. The tiles used in the dome are blue, green and white. I wasn’t able to find any significance to the colors.

The original complex consisted of a mosque, hospital, primary school and mausoleum.

Location :: Rüstem Paşa Mahallesi, Yeni Cami Cd. No:3, 34116 Fatih/İstanbu

Ataturk Bridge

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Ataturk Bridge
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Ataturk Bridge

Alternatively called Unkapani Bridge the Ataturk Bridge is a highway bridge on the Golden Horn (a natural harbor) named after the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. Originally built in 1836 at 1300 ft long and 33 ft wide to accommodate the passage of large ships. It was replaced by iron in 1875 and then enlarged two more times to meet the need. The 4th and final bridge was enlarged in 1940 at 1565 ft long and 82 ft wide. It has 3 vehicular lanes and a sidewalk in each direction.

Bosphorus/Bosphorus Bridge

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Bosphorus Strait / Bosphorus Bridge
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Bosphorus Strait / Bosphorus Bridge

Also known as the Strait of Istanbul or Strait of Constantinople, this is the continental boundary between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Bosphorus is the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation.

We took in this view from a restaurant on top of a hill that we just happened upon after getting lost looking for something else. What a treasure to find! The view was incredible from up there! It was a bit overcast on this day but that didn’t hinder the visibility.

Upon its completion in 1973, the Bosphorus Bridge had the fourth-longest suspension bridge span in the world, and the longest outside the United States. Since then many more of its kind has been built but today the Bosphorus Bridge remains the 25th-longest suspension bridge span in the world. And in memory of those who were killed resisting the attempted military coup on July 15, 2016 (we were there in August of that year) the bridge was formally renamed the July 15th Martyrs Bridge.

Location :: Kuzguncuk Mahallesi, 15 Temmuz Şehitler Köprüsü, Üsküdar/İstanbul

Old Bazaar

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Old Bazaar entrance
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Old Bazaar entrance

You can find high quality olive oil, dates, Turkish Delight, beads, copper ware, olive-oil soaps, Turkish tea sets, lanterns and colorful tiles here and you’re likely to get a better deal than at the newer and larger Grand Bazaar (that’s bizarre! HA!).

Location :: Yeşilköy, 34149 Bakırköy/Istanbul

Old Walls of Constantinople

Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Old Walls of Constantinople
Where in the World is Louise? Istanbul :: Old Walls of Constantinople

The Old Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls since its founding as Constantinople to protect against attack from both sea and land. This is the last ancient fortification system and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever build. Dismantling of the walls began in the 19th century. Read more about Constantinople here. Very interesting reading!

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Istanbul has become my favorite historical city and a place to which I could easily return to again and again, never to run out of some of my favorite things to see. The weather when I was there was on the cool side but the mostly blue skies and the perfect temperature to walk for miles and miles without heat to slow me down.

I recommend a trip to Istanbul if you are interested in history and architecture which just happens to be some of my favorite things. Thank you, Istanbul, for opening my eyes and heart to some of the richest history the world has known.

To get more information on what there is to do in Istanbul, click here!

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