Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
9. Chora Church
10. Church of St. Mary of Blachernae (Istanbul)
11. Church of St. Mary of the Mongols
Pammakaristos Church
Church of St. Polyeuctus
12. Golden horn
13. Little Hagia Sophia
14. M N P
15. Pammakaristos Church
16. Church of St. Polyeuctus
17. Little Hagia Sophia
18. M N P
19. Pammakaristos Church
20. Church of St. Polyeuctus
21. Little Hagia Sophia
22. M N P
23. Pammakaristos Church
24. Church of St. Polyeuctus
Yenikapi,
Galata tower
Anatolian fortress
We've got the basilica cistern and the Hippodrome, the Column of Constantine and the
Valens Aqueduct. But there are other not-to-miss ancient Roman (or Byzantine) sites in
Istanbul, too. Below, three others not to miss and one more (perhaps the most major!)
coming tomorrow.
Not bad.
7. Hagia Eirene. A bit sightseeing-weary after three full days in Istanbul, I almost didn't go
into this church. But I'm glad I did. Today part of the Topkapi Palace, the Hagia Eirene (top
of the post) stands on the oldest spot of Christian worship in Istanbul.
The first church, built here in the fourth century by Constantine, burned to the ground; the
current one dates back to an 8th-century restoration. (Not bad, really, as far as longevity
goes). And, incredibly, it somehow missed the Ottoman sweep of turning churches into
mosques meaning even its 8th-century mosaic, depicting a black cross, was left intact.
And it has nothing to do with St. Irene. Instead, its name meant
the "Basilica of Holy Peace." (It was designed in harmony with the
"Church of the Holy Wisdom," or the Hagia Sofia, and the "Church of the
Holy Apostles").
There's another major ancient Roman site in Istanbul that I'm still missing. Any guesses?
Check back tomorrow for the final installment of this three-post series.
At first glance, Istanbul appears anything but a city tied to ancient Rome. Mosques and
minarets, not ancient temples, dot the Turkish capital's skyline; its forum is hard to find,
most of its imperial monuments long gone.
For a city that became part of the Roman empire in 73 A.D., and was turned into the capital,
and dubbed "Nova Roma," by Constantine in 330, it can seem surprisingbut to find hints
of the city's classical past, you have to look more closely.
Searching for Roman ruins in Istanbul? Here's where to find them. I'll post this in two
sections, so look out for the second installment tomorrow (here it is!).
1. The basilica cistern. Even if you're not all that interested in Istanbul's ancient ruins, the
cistern (shown above) is a must-see, if only for its eeriness: Descend down 52 stone steps,
and youre suddenly in a
cavernous chamber filled with ancient columns, each lit with a dim light, echoing
with splashes, the whispers of tourists, and (unfortunately, I think) atmospheric
music.