This morning, we started our Istanbul experience with a Small Group Tour: Essential Istanbul
We meet up with our tour guide (Burham). Our first stop was at the Hippodrome of Constantinople located in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul. Hippodrome of Constantinople was center of the social life in the Byzantine empire. This is also where relentless chariot races were held.
L-R Obelisk of Theodosius - An Ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III
Walled Obelisk - A Roman monument in the form of an Obelisk
Serpentine Column - Turkey is part of an ancient Greek sacrificial tripod, originally in Delphi and relocated to the Hippodrome by Constantine the Great in 324.
Blue Mosque aka by it's official name: Sultan Ahmed Mosque - The mosque was officially named the Blue Mosque for its 20k Iznik Tiles that adorn the interiors of the structure.
There are four columns that support the massive dome. Each column has 3 columns of the Iznik Tiles, which make up the 20k pieces.
On the chandeliers, ostrich eggs are found that were meant to avoid cobwebs inside the mosque by repelling spiders
The stain glass that you see here are the only original glass blown panes made on the island of Murano (Island renowned for its centuries-old tradition of glassmaking.). I missed why on this side of the mosque is like that.
Topkapi Palace.
The Palace was originally called the "New Palace" to distinguish the Old Palace in Beyazit Square. Topkapi meaning "Cannon Gate". The construction began in 1459, after the earthquake in 1509 and fire in 1665 it went under major renovations. The palace complex consists of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. With its completion in the 1460's to the completion of Dolmabahçe Palace in 1856, it served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire and was the main residence of its sultans. 173 Acres of property. The palace is a museum now.
Palace Layout
Harem Portal - This is the main entrance into the Palace Harem. The inscription above the door is Verse 53 from the Ahzap Surah of the Koran: "O believers, do not enter the houses of the Prophet without permission."
Black Eunuchs - The officers who served Palace ladies at the Harem. This is their sentry post.
Various pictures of the Harem Portal
Imperial Treasury located in the Faith Pavilion
These are some of the precious royal heirlooms, objects from state ceremonies, consular gifts exemplifying the Ottoman Empire's.
Ok ladies... this Spoon Maker's Diamond is an 86-carat pear-shaped diamond. It's set in silver and surrounded by a double row of 49 old-mine cut diamonds. The diamond is considered the fourth largest of its kind in the work and it the most valuable exhibit in the museum's Imperial Treasury
Imperial Hall
I could write all day about this Museum but, I think it's time to move on with the day.
After lunch, we visited the Vezirham handmade carpets and Kilims shop. It was like a private presentation of carpets and kilims, we started our tour in a workshop where a craftsman unrolled a silk from a cocoon, producing silk strings and by using a foot pedal he spung it on a wooden bolt. Next to him was a lady creating a silk masterpiece by using the stitch called a "Double Knot". We were then given some history and taken into a big room where they laid out various types of carpets made of Silk, Wool, Cotton and mixed threads. They were doing a bit of a sales pitch, but I sat there mesmerized by these custom carpets, sipping my Turkish Coffee. NO!!! We did not buy a rug but one of the ladies in our group did.
Some of the most beautiful Silk tapestry. They are definitely out of our price range. They sell from $4k up to $10k USD and some even more
Various types of Carpets
Our day ended at the Grand Bazaar. This was NOTHING like we expected. It was like a City Shopping Center. You name...they have it or they will find it.
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