The most remarkable things to be seen are: Mosques—St. Sophia, Ahmedieh, Suleimanieh and Chora Mosques, which are the four principal ones, and of which St. Sophia and Chora are of Byzantine architecture, and the other two Turkish. Other mosques to be seen are—SS. Sergius and Bacchus (St. Sophia the less), Mehmed Pasha's mosque, Rustem Pasha's mosque, and the Valid eh mosque, the last three having beautiful tiles.
Tombs—The tomb of Sultan Selim II., of Sultan Mahmud II., of Suleiman the Great, the tomb of Shah-Zadeh, and of Sultan Muhammad II., the Conqueror. Museums —The Imperial Museum of Antiquities, the Church of St. Irene, the Treasury (in the Old Seraglio), the Museum of Ancient Costumes (in the Hippodrome), and Yildiz Palaces and Gardens (see p. 159) Obelisks and Columns. The Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column, and the Colossus in the Hippodrome, the Porphyry or Burnt Column, Marcian's Column, the Column of Theodosius II., and the Column of Arcadius. Cisterns—The Philoxenos,
and the Basilica. Walls—The Seven Towers and the Walls of Constantinople. Bazaars—The Grand Bazaar and the Egyptian Bazaar. Processions—The Selamlik, the Procession of the Holy Camel, the Sultan's procession to the Hirka-i-Sherif Mosque in the old Seraglio every 15th of Ramazan. Excursions—The Golden Horn, the Bosporus, the Forest of Belgrade, the Sweet Waters of Europe, the Sweet Waters of Asia, the Princes' Islands, and Brusa.
The Bazaars: Shopping.—The bazaars are situated at Stambul private istanbul tour, between the second and third hills, i.e. between the Burnt Column and the Stambul fire tower. They cover an area of several acres, and consist of long, narrow, vaulted streets, roofed by small domes admitting the light through small windows and bull's-eyes.
Byzantine era
With the exception of the central part called the " Bezesten," which dates from the Byzantine era, the bazaars were built by Sultan Bayazid II. about 1500 A.D. They are reached through more than one hundred entrances, and are occupied only in the daytime. The total number of the shops, which are not State property, but are owned by individuals, is about 4000.
Tourists and visitors shopping in the bazaars, or at any of the native shops, should not pay the price asked, as, except at some of the large shops where the prices are fixed, tradesmen are in the habit of asking high prices of strangers. A golden rule is to offer one-third of the prices asked at curiosity shops, and give a little more only when one is sure his firs offer will not be accepted. The prices asked vary according to the amount of notice a customer may bestow on any article shown him. A refusal on the dealer's part to take the price offered him means nothing, and if a customer leave the shop, he will invariably find the tradesman at his heels, and ready to close with his offer, before he has gone many yards farther on.
Hans.—-These, numbering some 180, are, for the most part, large square buildings enclosing a courtyard, originally erected by different sultans and private individuals, for the accommodation of Turkish and other merchants and travellers. Only men are allowed to dwell in them. A great many European merchants or their agents now have their offices and warehouses in these Hans. The massive iron-plated doors are always closed at sunset and are not opened till sunrise. The two largest Turkish Hans are the Buyuk Yeni Han and Yalideh Han, near the Bazaar and War Office. They suffered considerable damage during the earthquakes of July 1894.
The Selamlik or Sultan's Procession to the Mosque takes place every Friday about noon. Visitors are allowed to go near the Mosque where the Sultan is to go and see him driving in state, as well as the various troops which come for the parade. It is unnecessary to wait and see him again when he comes out of the Mosque as the time he stays there is uncertain. Tourists can view the whole procession from their carriage, or enter into the courtyard of the Mosque in which the ceremony is going to take place, and thus see hiih and the Palace courtiers as well as the various generals from near.
Dervishes. — Whirling or Dancing Dervishes. The best Mevlevi, or Dancing Dervishes, are to be seen at their convent, 539 Grande Kue, near the Pera terminus of the Underground ltailway. Performance on Fridays, at 8.30 (Turkish time) throughout the year. Entrance 2\ piastres per head (5d.). Visitors are expected to take off their hats. Sticks, umbrellas, and kodaks must be left at the door in charge of the doorkeeper. Sketching or taking notes is not allowed.
This order of Dervishes was founded in 1245 A.D. by Mevlana Jellal-ed-din Muhammad, a descendant of the prophet's father-in-law, Abu-bekr, 4
Every member has to perform a severe novitiate, lasting 1001 days, before being finally admitted into the order. Their gyrating dance is intended to personify the planetary system revolving round the sun, and is supposed by many to be a survival of Hindu mysteries.
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