Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Roman Aquaduct, Mosque, Mehmet II Statue, Wedding Dresses and walk on the Wall of the City, Istanbul

My guide Mehmet Tetik (www.turkishguides.org\tetik took me on quite an adventure one morning.  We were there to see the Aqueduct and a little mosque but also stopped for coffee in the area. It’s a place with markets and shops.  Mehmed told me a famous food writer had once stopped here and wrote up a great piece on the food he’d eaten such that overnight one of the restaurants became famous.
There was also a whole street we passed the had wedding dress shops on wedding dress shops.
The sculpture was of Mehmett II who conquered Istanbul
We climbed up on the wall of the city. There was one further out.  In between there was a moat. When Mehmett II conquered Constantinople he had over 30,000 men whereas there were only 7000 defenders at the time. The Crusaders had overthrown Constantinople with help from inside. Mehmett II’s success was by siege and cunning.  Nonetheless Constantinople lasted months before it collapsed.
There was a lovely view from the top of the wall of the Golden Horn especially.
DSCN3551DSCN3552
DSCN3553
A marker on the corner of the mosque indicated the centre of the city.

DSCN3554
DSCN3555
DSCN3556
A tower in part of the mosque complex was left over from the Roman aqueduct system. To adjust pressure of the flow of the aqueduct so pipes wouldn’t burst this flute was created.
DSCN3557
DSCN3558

DSCN3559
DSCN3562

DSCN3563


The Roman Aquaduct was the next site on our morning adventure.
DSCN3569
DSCN3570

DSCN3571
DSCN3572

Mehmet II and his advisors.

DSCN3573
DSCN3574

Shops and coffee
DSCN3579
DSCN3580

Testicles.
DSCN3582
DSCN3583

Wedding dresses
DSCN3587

DSCN3588DSCN3589DSCN3590

Mosque
DSCN3592
DSCN3593DSCN3594
DSCN3595
DSCN3596
DSCN3597
DSCN3598
The significance of the Cami Serifi mosque according to my guide was that the great architect Sinan built this only supported by 4 pillars.
Great view of the city and great view of the the Golden Horn from the top of the city wall.
DSCN3599
DSCN3600
DSCN3601
DSCN3606
DSCN3605
DSCN3608
DSCN3609

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

you have give us much in travel and the history
of important civilizations