HISTORICAL PLACES
A fusion of age-old glories and contemporary 21st century culture, Istanbul has survived two millennia of precious history. Its historic heart, Sultanahmet and the bazaar quarter, with its great mosques, opulent palaces and Byzantine ruins, offers a fascinating glimpse into those historical times.
The city holds appeal for all interests; architecture, art, culture, cuisine and more.
A few minutes walk in any direction leads to the wonders of the Old Town, including Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar.
Mula Hotel is eager to host its guests at the historic quarter of the city.
Aya SOPHIA (HAGHIA SOPHIA)
The church of Haghia Sophia was dedicated by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in 537 AD, and featured the largest dome ever built for the next thousand years. When the İstanbul conquered by the Ottomans, it was converted into a mosque and four minarets were added.
In 1934, the building was declared as a museum. Its main features are the admirable dome and its splendid interior mosaics. Today, Hagia Sophia is used as a mosque again and It is known as Hagia Sophia-i Kebir (Great Hagia Sophia Mosque) Mosque.
Hagia Sophia: (walking) 10min (750m)
TOPKAPI Palace
Following the conquest of Istanbul in 1453, the construction of the Topkapı Palace was started in 1460 at the request of Fatih Sultan Mehmet and was completed in 1478. Topkapı Palace, established on an area of 700,000 square meters on the Eastern Roman acropolis in Sarayburnu, was the administrative, educational and artistic center of the empire for approximately four hundred years from Fatih Sultan Mehmet to the 31st Sultan Abdülmecid, as well as housing the dynasty.
Topkapı Palace: (walking) 12min (850m)
Blue Mosque
Sultanahmed Mosque was built between 1609 and 1617 by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed I on the historical peninsula in Istanbul, by the architect Sedefkar Mehmed Ağa.
Its walls are adorned with blue, green and white Iznik tiles, and the inside of its domes are decorated with blue pencil works. For this reason, the Mosque is also known as the “Blue Mosque”.
Blue Mosque: (walking) 3min.(250m)
