Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Pennsylvania and Professors Metin and Zeynep Ahunbey of Istanbul
University. The roof and domes have been restored, while a start has
been made on restoration of the interior and an archaeological study
of the structure.
One of the derelict Ottoman structures behind the Pantocrator
has been rebuilt and renovated by Rahmi Koç, and is now a superb
restaurant-café known as the Zeyrekhane. The large terrace of the
Zeyrekhane, part of which is adorned with ancient architectural
fragments, commands a sweeping view of the first three hills of the
old city above the Golden Horn, an ideal place to have lunch before
continuing to explore the Fourth Hill.
ŞEYH SÜLEYMAN MESCİDİ
What may perhaps be the only surviving part of the monastery of the
Pantocrator stands about 150 metres to the south-west of the church.
To find it we take the street which leads of from the far left-hand
corner of the square and follow it to the first intersection. Following
the street which leads around to the left, we come immediately to a
tiny, tower-like building known locally as Şeyh Süleyman Mescidi.
This may possibly have been one of the buildings of the Pantocrator
monastery, perhaps a library or a funerary chapel. The lower part is
square on the exterior and octagonal above; within, it is altogether
octagonal, with shallow niches in the cross-axes; below is a crypt. This
strange building has never been seriously investigated, so that neither
its date nor identity are known.
HACI HASAN MESCİDİ
Returning to the last intersection and crossing it, we continue on
in the same direction along Hacı Hasan Sokağı. At the end of this
street, about 100 metres along, we see on the left a tiny mosque with
a quaint and pretty minaret. The people of the district call it Eğri
Minare, the Crooked Minaret, for obvious reasons. It has a stone
base at the top of which is a curious rope-like moulding. The shaft
is of brick and stone arranged to form a criss-cross or chequerboard
design, which is most unusual, perhaps unique in Istanbul. The şerefe
has an elaborate stalactite corbel and a fine balustrade, partly broken;
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