Istanbul - Discover Turkey: Experience the Best of Turkey - page 142

(Atmeydanı; Sultanahmet) The Byzantine emperors loved nothing more than an afternoon
at the chariot races, and this rectangular arena was their venue of choice. In its heyday, it
was decorated by obelisks and statues, some of which remain in place today. Recently re-
landscaped, it is one of İstanbul's most popular promenades.
The Hippodrome was the centre of Byzantium's life for 1000 years and of Ottoman life
for another 400 years, and has been the scene of many popular uprisings.

MUSEUM OF TURKISH & ISLAMIC ARTS
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| Museum

(Türk ve Islam Eserleri Müzesi; www.tiem.gov.tr ; Atmeydanı Caddesi 46; admission " 10; 9am-6.30pm
Tue-Sun Apr-Oct, to 4.30pm Nov-Mar; Sultanahmet) This Ottoman palace was built in 1524 for
İbrahim Paşa, Süleyman the Magnificent's childhood friend, brother-in-law and grand viz-
ier. It's now home to a magnificent collection of artefacts, including exquisite examples of
calligraphy and a collection of antique carpets that is generally held to be the best in the
world.
You can enjoy an expertly prepared Turkish coffee in the courtyard.

BASILICA CISTERN
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| Cistern

(Yerebatan Sarnıçı; www.yerebatan.com ; Yerebatan Caddesi 13; admission " 10; 9am-6.30pm; Sulta-
nahmet) This atmospheric subterranean structure, İstanbul's largest surviving Byzantine
cistern, was commissioned by Emperor Justinian and built in 532. It was constructed us-
ing 336 columns, many salvaged from ruined temples, and featuring fine carved capitals.
Its symmetry and sheer grandeur of conception are quite breathtaking, and its cavernous
depths make a great retreat on summer days.
Designed to service the Great Palace and surrounding buildings, the cistern was able to
store up to 80,000 cu metres of water delivered via 20km of aqueducts from a reservoir
near the Black Sea, but was closed when the Byzantine emperors relocated from the Great
Palace. Forgotten by the city authorities some time before the Conquest, it was redis-
covered in 1545.

İSTANBUL ARCHAEOLOGY MUSEUMS
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| Museum

( www.istanbularkeologi.gov.tr ; Osman Hamdi Bey Yokuşu, Gülhane; admission " 10; 9am-6pm Tue-

Gülhane) This superb museum houses archaeological Sun mid-Apr-Sep, to 4pm Oct-mid-Apr;