During your trip to istanbul you will see many historic buildings and ancient roads still found until today, and the best part is that it does not conclude a visit to the blue mosque or hagia sophia, it also has an amazing castles scattered around the city during the byzantine empire and the ottoman empire era.
The fortress is located on the Asian side of the Istanbul (Beykoz) at the narrowest point of the Bosphorous, a 14th century castle from the Ottoman’s first attempt to capture Istanbul will take you to an amazing experience. The fortress was built in 1395 on the ruins of an old temple dedicated to Zeus by the Sultan Yildirim Bayezit, and is made up of a citadel and its exterior walls, after the conquest of Istanbul it lost much of its strategic importance and was converted into a military hospital, the fortress is smaller in size when you compare to Rumeli Hisari on the European side. Its towers are about 82 feet high (25 meters) with a thickness of 7-16 feet (around 2-5 meters).
In our modern day the castle is an open museum but only the outer walls can be visited, and the road passes just through it, and it is free to visit.
Since you are already interested in visiting the Asian Side check our Bosphorous Cruise & Asian Side Tour to live an experience you will never forget.
Rumeli Hisari was built by the Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror in just four months and directly on the opposite side to Anadolu Hisari in 1452 in preparation for the final attack on Constantinople which led to the downfall of the Byzantine Empire. It is located on the European side of the Bosphorous and in the northernmost district of Istanbul. Set within the lower part of the recently built Bosphorous University Campus, in a city where there is so much love and magic to discover. It occupies an area of 60.000 m2 (16 acres), had 4 main and 1 smaller gate, and 3 large towers and 1 smaller tower. From a small mosque inside only its minaret survived from an earthquake but was always restored, the final restoration was done in 1953 and opened as a museum to the public and hosts many concerts in its amphitheater usually during or around the Summer time, despite damages Rumeli Hisari still breathes history.
Every year thousands of tourists come to this great city and follow a tradition of taking a Bosphorous cruise and see the magnificent caste from afar, few of them know that this great building played an important role in the siege and Fall of Constantinople in 1453.
Its highly scenic setting overlooking the Fatih Sultan Bridge that links Europe and Asia, the site includes remains of the fortification walls with towers and gates.
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Istanbul’s amazing Fortress of 7 Towers was where the ambassadors of foreign powers that had displeased the Ottoman Empire awaited their fate.
You can go to the castle by a train but you may want to consider an Istanbul Tour so you can visit every other relics left by the Ottoman Empire.
The castle was not always a prison, it was first built as the Golden Gate in the times of Byzantine Empire, and the twin square towers of the Golden Gate are now just two of the seven towers of the fortress. The Golden Gate was the monumental and ceremonial entrance to the city, with four huge towers, its massive doors were indeed once covered in gold.
After Mehmet the Conqueror conquered Constantinople in 1453 he added three towers to make it a fortress.
The fortress is located near the Sea of Marmara, precisely in Fatih Yedikule Meydani, the walls of the fortress extend to 6.5 km northward to Ayvansaray on the Golden Horn.
There also several interesting old fortresses in Istanbul to checkout such as Kavagi Fortress and Rumeli Kavagi Fortress both of them were built during the Byzantine era at the entrance of the Bosphorous from the Black Sea.
Get to know Istanbul’s history more by checking the Magnificent Istanbul tour and the treasures left by the great Ottoman Empire. What are you waiting for? Go for it.
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Beşiktaş is one of the most popular districts in Istanbul. There are many neighborhoods in Beşiktaş with different identities but to be fair it is a great district for shopping. Central Beşiktaş is good for its bakeries, accessories, and small boutiques. Other neighborhoods like Bebek or Etiler on the other hand is great for luxury shopping. Here all you need to now about Beşiktaş and shopping.
Turkey is a country surrounded by seas on three sides. Therefore, it is very rich in fish and seafood. It is possible to get lost among the fish and seafood on the menus of Istanbul restaurants. Because a saying in Turkey is reflected in the culinary culture of the whole country: “I would eat my own father if he came out of the sea.”
Where is selamicesme? the selamicesme neighborhood of the kadikoy district is home to the selamicesme mosque. being one of the most well-known and adored neighborhoods on istanbul's asian side, getting there is not a problem. the marmaray and stepping out at the feneryolu stop are the most direct ways to travel to kadikoy from the european side of istanbul. selamicesme mosque is about a 5-minute walk from there.you can board one of the ferries that depart from eminonu for kadikoy if you prefer a more time-consuming yet enjoyable mode of transportation. by doing this, you can spend about 15 minutes admiring the stunning bosphorus strait while grabbing a cup of tea and some goodies from the store inside the ships. when you arrive at the kadikoy pier, seek the big yellow iett bus pick-up location, which is very close to the kadikoy pier. take the bus with the number 4 or the one with the 16d. to get to the selamicesme mosque, get out at the onsekiz mart stop and walk for 5 to 10 minutes. other things to do in and near kadikoy visit the moda neighborhood: the moda neighborhood is one of kadikoy's attractions that stands out from the rest. there is enough to do here to keep you busy for a full day. take a stroll along istanbul's moda coast to observe the bosphorus strait from one of the city's most picturesque and tranquil coastlines. you will unavoidably pass by a few tea gardens on the way there. choose one with a view of the bosphorus, and as you take in the scenery, order a cup of tea or turkish coffee. visit dondurmaci ali usta to sample any of the more than 50 types of delicious, all-natural ice cream for some of the best ice cream in turkey. next, board a tram and begin exploring kadikoy. you will observe the district's prevailing bohemian aesthetic during your trip. you can take a culinary walks kadikoy tour to enjoy turkish cuisine while touring one of the most well-liked neighborhoods on istanbul's asian side because kadikoy is home to a lot of fantastic restaurants where you can sample numerous dishes from the well-known turkish kitchen. visit moda stage theatre to see some of the finest works of turkish theater and cinema. the location for art lovers in kadikoy, there are various plays and movies being produced here, from well-known shows to more independent, arthouse films. after all of this, it might become a little bit late, but don't worry—kadikoy is recognized for having fantastic nightlife with a variety of top-notch bars and pubs. arkaoda is undoubtedly one of istanbul's top bars and a favorite among both locals and tourists. this establishment, which can be found on bar street, features fantastic live music, a wonderful ambiance, and a wide selection of top-notch drinks. viktor levi wine house provides more than 12 different varieties of wines prepared in their cellar if you prefer outstanding house wine over a few beers. the interior of the building is decorated with a variety of plants, adding to its elegant appearance. do you like rock music? so zincir bar is the spot for you. this inviting and welcoming tavern offers a wide selection of drinks and snacks at more reasonable prices than other bars around. are you prepared for another adventure? the following day, depart from the kadikoy dock and board a ferry to eminonu. once there, enter the historic neighborhood of fatih because there is much to learn about this area.
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Hagia sophia or ayasofya could be considered the most visited attraction in istanbul along with its neighbor topkapı palace museum. hagia sophia was built as a christian church around 532. throughout time, hagia sophia has become a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. the minarets and inscriptions of islam illustrates the theological transformations that have occurred in the region throughout the centuries. after turkey's administrative court reversed a 1934 judgment that paved the way for hagia sophia's usage as a museum, a decree on the 10th of july 2020 to legally classify the hagia sophia as a mosque was issued.
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