|
ISTANBUL MUSEUM
INFORMATIONS |
ST.SOPHIA - AYASOFYA MUSEUM
Aya Sophia was, for
nearly a thousand years, the largest enclosed
space in the world, and still seen as one of the
world’s most important architectural monuments.
It is one of Turkey’s most popular attractions,
drawn by the sheer spectacle of its size,
architecture, mosaics and art.
For 916 years it was a church, then a mosque for
481 years, and since 1935 has been a museum.
Thought to have been constructed by Emperor
Konstantinos I (324 – 337) it was burned down
during a revolt. Rebuilt by Emperor Theodosium
II, it was opened for worship in 415 and once
again was burned to the ground, during the Nika
revolts of 532.
Emperor Iustanianus (527 – 565) wanted to
construct something even bigger than the
original two and appointed architects Isidoros
from Miletos, and Anthemios from Tralles to
build the Aya Sophia which still stands. Columns,
heads, marble and coloured stones were imported
to Istanbul from ancient cities in Anatolia for
the purpose.
The construction began on 23 December 532, and
was completed exactly five years later. The main,
central section measured 100m x 70m, covered
with a 55m high dome which was a mammoth 30m in
diameter – appearing to be a great feat of
design. The mosaics are of great importance, and
the oldest ones are dominated by geometric and
plant motifs decorated with gold.The worst
desecration of the church was in 1204, ransacked
by Catholic soldiers during the Fourth Crusade.
In 1453, after a failure of the Byzantine Church
to fend off the Turks, Mehmet the Conqueror
captured the city, rode into Aya Sofia and
immediately turned it into a mosque. It was
repaired several times, and Islamic
ornamentation added, for example an extract of
the Koran by calligrapher Izzet Efendi inscribed
on the dome. The other reminders of its previous
status as a mosque include huge wooden plaques
bearing the names of Allah, the Prophet Mohammed
and the first four caliphs.
The marble and mosaics remain the most
interesting aspects today. The columns
supporting the gallery are made from antique
marble, and in the western gallery is the green
marble which marks the position of the throne of
the Empress. The impressive figurative mosaics
include Virgin and Child flanked by two emperors,
dating back to the late 10th century, and one
depicting Christ, the Virgin, and St John the
Baptists. Even though there is partial damage,
the haunting images on their faces remain as
strong as ever.
Opening hours:
09.30 - 16.30, daily except Monday.
MUSEUM OF TURKISH AND ISLAMIC
ART
Built in 1524 by
Ýbrahim Pasa, the Grand Vizier to Suleyman the
Magnificent, this was originally a palace and
the grandest private residences in the Ottoman
Empire – and one of the few which have survived.
Some of it, however, was destroyed and rebuilt
in stone to the original designs in 1843.Now
home to the museum, this is considered one of
the finest collections of Islamic art in the
world, with a superb display of ceramics,
metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy and textiles,
as well as some of the oldest carpets in the
world. Equally as impressive is the grace of the
building, with the central courtyard giving
something of an insight into the atmosphere of
the residence.Opposite is the Great Hall, which
houses a collection of Turkish carpets, with
exquisite antique carpets and kilims and one of
the finest collections in the world, the oldest
exhibit dating back to 13th century.
Opening hours:
09.00 – 17.00, closed Mondays
YEREBATAN SARNICI (CISTERN)
Nearby Aya Sofia is
the 6th century Byzantine underground Basilica
cistern, with 335 massive Corinthian columns
supporting the immense chamber’s fine brick
vaulting. This is one of several buried into the
city’s foundations, and the first to have been
excavated and renovated. Thought to have been
built in the 4th century by the emperor
Constantine, then enlarged two centuries later,
it was supplied with water from Belgrade Forest,
amd supplied it to the Great Palace and Topkapi
Palace.
It fell into disuse and was then restored in
1987 with the mud and water removed, and narrow
raised pathways providing easy access for
visitors. It is the largest covered cistern in
the city, measuring 140 by 70 metres.
Opening hours:
09.00 - 17.00 closed Tuesdays.
MOSAIC MUSEUM
The Mosaic Museum
preserves in situ exceptionally fine 5th and 6th
century mosaic pavements from the Grand Palace
of the Byzantine emperors. Because of the way
they are exhibited, it is easy to understand
their size and scale especially because many of
them can be viewed from a catwalk above.
Opening hours:
09.30 – 17.00, closed Tuesdays.
KARIYE MUSEUM
This is actually
Kariye Mosque, once the 11th century church of
St Saviour in Chora, is considered to be the
most important Byzantine monument in Istanbul,
after Aya Sofia. Whilst unremarkable in its
architecture, the interior walls are decorated
with superb 14th century mosaics. Illustrating
scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin
Mary, these brilliantly colored paintings embody
the vigour of Byzantine art. The restored wooden
houses in the surrounding area are a good place
for relaxation and refreshment.
The church was probably built in the early 12th
century, of which only the nave and central apse
remain. Theodore Metochites rebuilt it between
1316 and 1321, the same years from which the
mosaics and frescoes date, which depict the life
of Christ in picture-book fashion. There is a
series of mosaics in the form of devotional
panels in the narthexes, the theme of which is
reflected in the frescoes in the nave and
funerary chapel.
Opening hours:
09.30 – 16.30, closed Wednesdays.
MILITARY MUSEUM
Highlight of this
museum is definitely the Mehter Takimi, the
Ottoman military band, which performs every
afternoon between 15.00 – 16.00. It also has a
good collection of Ottoman military memorabilia,
like the cotton and silk tents used by the
sultans at war, and armour and weaponry like
heavily decorated jambiyah daggers.
The band, which originated in 1289, became an
institution which came to symbolise the power
and independence of the Ottoman empire, and
these musicians, who were janissaries, always
accompanied the Sultans into battle. But quite
apart from their benefit on the battlefield,
they came to create new musical styles in Europe,
and even influencing Mozart and Beethoven.
Opening hours:
09.00 – 17.00, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
RAHMI KOC INDUSTRY MUSEUM
The museum is set in
an Ottoman-period building, an 18th century
factory which produced anchors and their chains.
It was recently converted, although has retained
many of its original features, and restored by
Rahmi Koc, one of Turkey’s most powerful
industrialists. It was essentially done so he
could house his private collection of models,
machines and vehicles which he had collected
from all over Europe, and exhibits include
original penny-farthing bicycles, a ship’s
bridge, and an engine from the Kalender steam
ferry. The museum is trying to raise the
Australian navy’s first submarine sink of
gallipoli in World War I.
Opening hours:
10.00 – 17.00, closed Mondays
For more information
please send us e-mail
:
reservation@istanbulhotelsweb.com
|
