My journey to Istanbul
Getting from Europe to Asia without crossing any borders? Arman Satybaldin knows the trick.
AS
Arman Satybaldin
Thu, 22 Jun 2023
Millions of articles have been written about Istanbul, hundreds of thousands of videos have been produced and it is almost impossible to surprise someone with something new about this vibrant city. However, I will still try to tell you about some places that, although they are not included in the top recommendations for tourists, are worth visiting just as much as the more popular places.
The Istanbul Archeological Museum (Istanbul Arkeoloji Müzesi) is a museum known for its incredibly rich antique treasures.
It is located near The Topkapi Palace. Constantinople was the capital of the Roman and Byzantine empires at the height of their power and it is not surprising that wealth from all over the world flocked to this city. If you love history, then this museum will not leave you unimpressed. The Sidonian Sarcophagus or a fragment of a huge chain that blocked the Golden Horn Bay both deserve a special mention.
Chora Church is a most beautiful church that was built in the 11th Century.
Inside, the bright mosaics and frescoes have been preserved and the dome is a separate masterpiece. Recently, as also occurred five centuries ago, the church-museum was again converted into a mosque.
Balat is quite a popular place but for some reason it does not often make it to the top of the list of recommendations. It is a very atmospheric and cozy area and historically it was the Jewish Quarter. It is a great place to walk and observe how the ordinary Istanbulites live. The area is renowned for its sloping, cobbled streets and the dense development of brightly coloured houses.
Istanbul is, among other things, the football capital of Turkey, where three giants of Turkish football are based - Galatasaray, Besiktas and Fenerbahce. Turkish fans hold the honorary title of the loudest fans in the world and their home stadiums are regularly the loudest in the unspoken competition for noisiest stadiums.
If your trip involves several days in Istanbul, be sure to check the schedule and it is quite possible that you will be able to attend one of the matches. I was once lucky enough to attend the principle Istanbul derby, where Galatasary hosted Besiktas. The atmosphere was unforgettable and the songs and chants from the fans will ring in your ears for a long time.
The 29th May, 1453 was the day when The Ottomans, under the leadership of the young Sultan Mehmet II, broke into Constantinople and fulfilled the old dream of the Sultans to capture this great city. Popular memory honours this date and throughout the city you can see cafes and souvenir shops with the number 1453.
For those who are interested in the theme of the city’s invasion, I recommend visiting the Panorama 1453 Museum. It was built near the fortress wall of the old city, the very place where Mehmet II placed his headquarters.
The Tünel is a historic subway funicular line that connects the coastal region of Karakoy and the elevated Beyoglu. It is notable for being the second oldest metro in the world and has been serving the city for almost a century and a half. If you love the history of engineering projects or ‘collect’ metro stations (such people exist), then be sure to visit this place. You will save a lot of energy and avoid a steep climb towards The Galata Tower.
After crossing The Bosphorus, you will travel from Europe to Asia and it is best to go to the Kadikoy area. It is a very lively place with many shops, restaurants and cafes.
The monumental Haydarpasha railway station, constructed over one hundred years ago, dominates the architectural style of the area and in the narrow lanes; you can find a lot of interesting street art. One of the versions of the origin of the name is that it comes from the Greek town of Chalcedon, which was built before the founding of Byzantium. Herodotus called the Chalcedonians blind, because only the blind could fail to see a great place on the European coast and found a new city in Asia. By the way, it is believed that the best European shopping in Istanbul is in this Asian part. But I did not check this paradox; I will leave it to the shopping lovers to decide.
Finally, if you find yourself in the Sultanahmet area in the evening, be sure to wait for the Azan.
If you stand between Hagia Sophia and The Blue Mosque, you can hear how from two shrines of the muezzins (in Turkey they are called azanchi), one by one call the evening prayer. Taking in the moment can be an unforgettable experience.