The first full day in Istanbul started with me waking up at 5am (jetlag), spending some time on my notebook,and then properly commenced with a savoury breakfast at the Sirkeci Konak Hotel in the Sultanahmet area of istanbul.
Heading off to meet our Context Tours guide, we took a roundabout route to the entrance of the Four Seasons Sultanahmet Hotel, where we were to meet. We were booked on a Roman tour of Istanbul and, with time restrictions, we organised at the start of the tour to visit the Hippodrome, Aya Sofia and the Yerebatan Cistern, all within close proximity of Sultanahmet Square.
Heading off to meet our Context Tours guide, we took a roundabout route to the entrance of the Four Seasons Sultanahmet Hotel, where we were to meet. We were booked on a Roman tour of Istanbul and, with time restrictions, we organised at the start of the tour to visit the Hippodrome, Aya Sofia and the Yerebatan Cistern, all within close proximity of Sultanahmet Square.
Kaiser Wilhelm Fountain.
Roman column base supporting Ancient Egyptian column in the Hippodrome.Scene shows the Roman construction methods, lifting columns into place.
Exterior detail of Aya Sofia.
Interior Dome of Aya Sofia.
Byzantine Cistern originally used to store fresh spring water. Now contains rain water and carp, to keep the algae in check.Used as an atmospheric function space for musical events, modern art displays as well as a tourist site for the regular 7.5 million visitors to Istanbul each year.
An early example of recycling! The head of Medusa, from the Roman era, was used as a base for the construction of the column in the Cistern.
Skilled engineering from the period of Emperor Justinian.
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