Today is going to be a busy day touring the Old City sights. Since our hotel is in Taksim Sq. we must take our bus to the Old City- a trip of about 45 mins. due to traffic.
If one is planning to stay a few days in Istanbul, I recommend staying in a hotel in the Old City where everything is in walking distance. Chora is a distance away and is best reached by taking a taxi- takes too long to take public transportation and risking getting lost.
We arrived at the bus drop by the Topkapi Palace around 9am and walked to St. Sophia (Agia Sophia) Museum/Church/Mosque.
We were able to get in when the museum opened and it was not too crowded. This time like last time we were here there were several tour groups of Greek visitors.
Our guide took us up to the gallery to see the mosaics and then to the main level where we could see some mosaics but mostly the designs where the mosaics were covered when St. Sophia was converted to a Mosque.
When we visited St. Sophia a few years ago there was some restoration work going on but not to the extent at this time. Although there is a lot of scaffolding there is no work going on.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia
We then went to the underground cistern to see this amazing underground reservoir- one of many in the city.
There were a lot of tours and the passageways narrow it took a long time to traverse the reservoir and to see all the columns.
http://www.istanbultrails.com/2008/06/the-basilica-cistern-the-coolest-spot-in-town/
After visiting the Palace we headed for our last stop, the Archeological Museum which is next to the Palace. Warning- no elevator so if one has knee or leg problems one either takes the stairs or just sees the exhibits on the first floor.
http://www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr/main_page
Near the museum was a nice snack bar/cafeteria where we stopped and enjoyed refreshments before boarding our bus back to the hotel.
If one is planning to stay a few days in Istanbul, I recommend staying in a hotel in the Old City where everything is in walking distance. Chora is a distance away and is best reached by taking a taxi- takes too long to take public transportation and risking getting lost.
We arrived at the bus drop by the Topkapi Palace around 9am and walked to St. Sophia (Agia Sophia) Museum/Church/Mosque.
We were able to get in when the museum opened and it was not too crowded. This time like last time we were here there were several tour groups of Greek visitors.
Our guide took us up to the gallery to see the mosaics and then to the main level where we could see some mosaics but mostly the designs where the mosaics were covered when St. Sophia was converted to a Mosque.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia
We then went to the underground cistern to see this amazing underground reservoir- one of many in the city.
There were a lot of tours and the passageways narrow it took a long time to traverse the reservoir and to see all the columns.
http://www.istanbultrails.com/2008/06/the-basilica-cistern-the-coolest-spot-in-town/
Our next stop was a walk to the Hippodrome- now just a large plaza to see two obelisks and to see the Blue Mosque from a distance.
We then walked to the Topkapi Palace and due to time restraints saw the four ? courtyards, the treasury and the religious exhibit.
To really see the Palace and enjoy the grounds and views one must spend at least 4 hrs. If one has seen the first part of the tour one can pay extra and tour the Harem.
http://topkapisarayi.gov.tr/en
Per this web site the St. Irene museum is now open to individual visitors. If you have a chance go see is as it has been closed off for tours except for concerts.
http://www.istanbularkeoloji.gov.tr/main_page
Near the museum was a nice snack bar/cafeteria where we stopped and enjoyed refreshments before boarding our bus back to the hotel.
No comments:
Post a Comment