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No
other title could suit this city of the unexpected better :
Delight
in disorder....
I
LISTEN TO ISTANBUL
I listen
to Istanbul, my eyes closed;
First, a light wind blowing
A soft wind swaying
The leaves in the trees,
And far off in the distance
The tinkling cups of the water-seller;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed
Now the birds are passing
In high clamoring flocks,
Nets are pulled in at the fisheries,
A woman's feet graze the water;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed
The cool covered bazaar,
Mahmutpasha, the courtyards
Filled with warbling pigeons,
Hammer sounds from the docks,
Smells of sweat in my lovely Spring wind;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed
An old world drunk in its head,
A waterfront palace with a dark boat shed,
The humming of the iodos ceases inside;
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed
A
pretty young girl walks by
Chased
by taunts, come-ons and curses,
Something
falls from my hand- Surely a rose;
I
listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.
I
listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed
A
bird is fluttering in your skirts,
Your
brow is hot, I know,
Your
lips are wet, I know, I know,
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A white moon rises behind the pistachio trees-
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.
I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.
Orhan
Veli
Translated
by Larry Clark
Ladies and
Gentlemen; Welcome to Istanbul.
With
12 million residents, Istanbul draws the profile of a sweet and
sly cat, lurking in the dark, ready to surprise you anytime. It
is the salad bowl of everyone and anyone. Get in a taxi and take
a ride through this unconsciously post-modern city. From a window
you would think you are in the heart of a typical Middle Eastern
town, from another in an ultra-modern center.
The Bosphorus, Golden Horn, Sea of Marmara and Black Sea are the
four waterways that wash the banks of this romantic city. The
Bosphorus is the narrow channel that separates Europe from Asia.
The
Golden Horn, actually an offshoot of the Sea of Marmara with the
famous Galata Bridge at its entrance, divides the European part
into two, naming them the old and the new cities.
The
Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara wrap up Istanbul from the northeast
and the southwest. The Asian side holds most of the residential
areas in town. The European side contains the old city, which
is a wonderland of mosques, opulent palaces, churches and monasteries,
Roman aqueducts and cisterns, the ancient city walls, as well
as the Grand Bazaar.
Guide
to Turkey invites you now for a city tour to explore this unique
city in depth. Just
hop in!.
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TOPKAPI PALACE : In 1465, Sultan Mehmet, The Conquerer of Istanbul,
ordered the construction of the first palace; his successors added
new pavilions, thus spreading the palace to a total area of 70,000
sqm. The Ottoman Sultans lived in and reined the empire from this
palace until the 19th century. Today a museum, the kitchens house
12,000 pieces of porcelain including a rare Chinese porcelain
collection. The treasury section displays one of the richest selections
of jewels and precious stones and gold objects. The visit through
the palace also leads to the collection of clocks, the relics
of the prophet and the Baghdad kiosk, which is a beautiful sample
of Ottoman interior.
HIPPODROME
SQUARE : Originally constructed by the Roman Emperor Septimus
Severus back in 203 BC, the Hippodrome was the center of secular
life in Byzantium. Enlarged into a vast stadium to enable to seat
100,000 spectators by Emperor Constantine, among all the other
entertainment activities the Hippodrome also the four-horsed chariots
raced around beneath the gaze of the Byzantine emperors. The monuments
of spina (central line), which survived until our days, are the
Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column, and Constantine's Column.
BLUE MOSQUE
: Sultanahmet Mosque, also called The Blue Mosque, was designed
and built in the early 17th century and since then became the
famous silhouette of Istanbul with its six minarets. But it owes
its name to the glazed earthenware Iznik tiles (21,043 of them)
that face the lower walls of the mosque and those of the balcony.
The Blue Mosque is still one of the symbols of Istanbul.
 ST.
SOPHIA : Originally a church converted into a mosque and now a
museum, this superb building wins admiration for the splendor
of its Byzantine artwork. First by Emperor Constantine, then re-built
by Emperor Justinianus in the 6th century, the Hagia Sophia was
transformed into a mosque in the 15th century after the city was
captured by the Ottomans who added its minarets and mausoleums.
Today this magnificent example of architecture rises with dignity
in the Old City. Besides the dome, which wins admiration by its
height and size, the mosaics and frescoes decorating the walls
are unique examples of Byzantine art.
GRAND BAZAAR
: Shopping experience of a lifetime: the construction started
in the 15th century, right after the conquest of Istanbul by Sultan
Mehmet, and galleries were added during the years to form today's
labyrinth of shops, grouped in streets according to the trade.
Silver, jewelery, leather goods, carpets, antiques, copper, even
furniture make the Bazaar even today a major shopping center for
natives and tourists.
UNDERGROUND
CISTERN : Undoubtedly the most surprising monument from the Justinian
era. In 532 the emperor ordered that columns (336 of them), lying
unused from dilapidated temples, to be used to hold up the roof
of this underground cistern with a capacity of 80,000 cubicmeters.
During Ottoman times it has been used by weavers for a while.
Its name came from a law school that was housed in a basilica
nearby. In 1980's the water has been drained, electric lights
are installed and now strain of Beethoven symphonies echo against
the dark walls.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL
MUSEUM : Osman Hamdi Bey started the museum in 1891, the first
Turkish archaeologist of international reputation. The rich collection
comprises Greek, Roman, prehistoric sculptures, sarcophagi, model
temples, jewels, coins.... from Turkey and neighbor countries.
The highlight of the visit is the so-called Sarcophagus of Alexander
the Great.
 BEYLERBEYI
PALACE : Located on the Asian shores of the Bosphorus, the palace
is considered to be the most beautiful palaces of the 19th century.
It has been entirely made of marble and is known for its beautiful
works of art, such as Oriental and European furniture, picture
and porcelains. In fact the original palace was burnt down and
the one we see today was built in 1865 by Sultan Abdülaziz. The
wood paneling in one of the rooms was done by the Sultan himself,
an accomplished carpentry fanatic.
CHORA CHURCH
: The building in its present form was completed in the 11th century
and adorned with beautiful mosaics and frescoes. The mosaics follow
an iconographic order and have a rare quality. When in the 15th
century the church was converted to a mosque after the conquest
by the Ottomans, these were covered by whitewash; ironically enough,
the Islam faith which forbids representation of human figures,
preserved them until our century. After becoming a museum in 1950
it has been restored and cleaned by the Byzantine Institute of
the U.S.A., the mosaics were revealed in their original brightness.
SULEYMANIYE
MOSQUE : One of the masterpieces by the great architect Sinan
was built in the 16th century for Sultan Süleyman The Magnificent.
The mosque towers over an extensive complex of institutions, including
a hospital, a college, a hamam, a market and a primary school
which surround it. The Süleymaniye mosque is awesome work of art,
dating from a time when the Ottoman empire was at its most splendid
period. This magnificent work of classical Ottoman architecture,
which plays host to both worshippers and tourists today, is one
of the most commanding features of Istanbul's enchanting skyline.
SPICE MARKET
: One of the oldest covered bazaars in Istanbul, the Spice Bazaar
in Eminönü located behind the Yeni Mosque and next to the flower
market, was established by Sultan Turhan, and designed by architect
Kazım Aga. It was given a new lease of life by the Municipality
of Istanbul after its restoration between 1940 and 1943. Open
everyday except Sundays, it sells herbs, spices, a variety of
natural medicines, and plant and flower seeds. Beside these traditional
commodities, one can now find a large range of dried fruits and
nuts, cheeses, meats and other foods.
 BOSPHORUS
: Witness to great loves since the mythological times when Zeus
pursued Io over seas, this 19-mile long strait between Asia and
Europe is also a celebration to nature and architecture. The cruise
aboard a deluxe private motorboat reveals the mystical privacy
of old wooden houses and palaces rubbing shoulders with modern
villas. By drive along the coastline, where you will enjoy the
beauties of the magnificent Bosphorus.
SITES TO VISIT
:
Bosphorus, Prince Islands, Belgrad Forest, Camlica Hill, Istanbul
city walls, Bozdogan (Valens), aquaduct, Binbirdirek and Yerebatan
Cisterns, Ayasofya, Aya Irini, former church Bodrum, Fenari Isa,
Fethiye, Imrahor, Kalenderhane, Kariye, Yeni Imaret and Zeyrek
mosques, Bukoleon and Tekfur Palaces, Çemberlitas, Dikilitas,
Yilanli Sütun, Kiztasi, Galata Tower, Fatih, Bayezid, Sultan Selim,
Haseki Hürrem Sultan, Süleymaniye, Sokullu Mehmed Pasha, Yeni
Cami, Semsi Pasha, Sultan Ahmed, Laleli and Damat Ibrahim Pasha
mosque complexes, Rüstem Pasha and Anadolu and Rumeli Fortresses,
Ahmed III and German Fountains, Topkapi, Dolmabahçe, Beylerbeyi,
Çiragan and Yildiz Palaces, Sale, Malta and Çadir Pavillions,
Aynalikavak, Küçüksu (Göksu), Tophane and Ihlamur mansions, Eyüb
Sultan, Sinan Pasha, Nuriosmaniye, Beylerbeyi, Selimiye, Dolmabahçe,
Ortaköy, Pertevniyan Valide Sultan and Cerrah Pasha mosques, Covered
Bazaar, Egyptian Bazaar, Dolmabahçe Clock Tower, Köprülü, Süleymaniye,
Nuruosmaniye and Municipality Libraries, Istanbul Archeology,
Istanbul Topkapi Palace, Istanbul Turkish and Islamic Works, Ottoman
Classical (Divan) Literature, Istanbul Art and Sculpture, Arasta
Mozaic, Ayasofya, Yerebatan Palace, Turkish Caligraphic Arts,
Military, Navy Tanzimat, Asihan (Edebiyat-i Cedide) and Sisli
Atatürk Museums.
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You
may reach Istanbul from almost every city of the country, and
even from little towns, coach companies going to Istanbul are
available.
The
earliest human settlement is Istanbul reaches back to the Paleolithic
Age. The oldest name by which the place is known is Lygos. The
name of Byzantine, founded in 660 BC comes from Byzas, the first
king who setlled here.
Istanbul
Adalari-The
Princes' Islands These nine islands retreats for the Byzantine princes
are famous for their beautiful pinewooded scenery and beaches. The
largest and most enjoyable of the islands is Buyukada. On the island
you can enjoy a rid e in a horsedrawn phaeton (carriage) among the
pine trees after having relaxed on the beaches in the numerous coves
of its coast. The other popular islands are Kinah, Sedef, Burgaz,
and Heybeliada. There are regular ferry services to the islands,
and from Kabatas a faster sea bus service operates in the summer.
