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Gulhane Park at Sultanahmet

Let me start by explaining what Gülhane Park means... It means the House of Roses . Ottoman Sultans liked to maintain the gardens by themselves and their favourite flower had been roses till the Tulip era which put real significance on history of Ottoman Empire. Gulhane Park is located at historical peninsula of Istanbul by the shoreline of Eminönü district.  The historic gardens are adjacent to  Topkapi Palace , which had been used as outer gardens of the imperial life for centuries. This park reminds me of my childhood and as reminds my mother's and her mother's too as on... I remember our picnics with my cousins and my grandfather's taking us to a zoo visit in the park in those days. Yess here I even fed a giraffe with the wood chips.  The animals of the zoo had not been cared well enough and been trash all over in those days. Finally the Municipality of Istanbul moved the zoo to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. After then the park had been repaygas
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Maiden's Tower

One of the most iconic images of Istanbul is surely the beautiful Kız Kulesi located in Üsküdar district's shoreline. It is known as Maiden's Tower in English. The beauty of this gorgeous architecture is being at the middle of Bosphorus historic peninsula. Thus gives an epical panaromic view mixed with other iconic images of Istanbul. The first tower was built by the Athenian general Alcibiades on a rock at the entrance of Bosphorus in order to control the water way back at 5th century. A chain was pulled from the land to the tower to mark as a checkpoint of customs area for ships. The tower was made of wood and stone firstly, by 12th century Byzantine Emperor Alexius built a strong defense tower. During the Ottoman era the tower had been used for multiple purposes such as lighthouse, hospital, custom service, arsenal and many more...And nowadays it is being used as a restaurant at lower level, a museum and a cafe at the tower section. As being on a very im

Topkapı Palace

Topkapı Palace is a large museum which is set on top of one of the hills in Istanbul. It was constructed initially between 1460-1478 by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinapole. The Palace served as house for Ottoman Sultans and also administrative and educational centre for governmental sections about 400 years. By 1850s, the palace became inadequate to the requirements of ceremonies. Therefore the Royal family moved to Dolmabahçe Palace, which is located by Bosphorus in Beşiktaş district of Istanbul. However the royal treasury, the Holy Relics of Prophet Muhammed and imperial archives preserved at Topkapı Palace. In early 1922, the Ottoman Monarchy was abolished. By the order of The 1st President of new Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk converted the palace to a museum by 1924. Today more than three million visitors in a year come to see Topkapı Palace . Most of the rooms had been renovated, but still you can find closed sections as renovations still goe

Naval Museum

The Naval Museum is one of the most superior museum in Turkey, in terms of richness of its collections thus a very important culturel museum in the World. The collection of the museum consists of 4 galleries, 2 exhibition rooms, kid's room, cinevision, 2 art galleries and 2 foyers. Exhibition includes The Navy in Turkey and Cartography and Navigational Instruments. Summary Of Naval Museum History In 1897, Naval Museum was established under the name of "The Museum and Library Administration Office" in a small building in the Imperial Dockyard with Sultan Abdulhamit II's permission. The museum served in various buildings regarding to conditions of that time. Finally, in 1961, the Museum was moved to a building in Beşiktaş. The historical boats collection consisting of the galley and the imperail caiques was transferred to this building. The collection was opened to public in "The Gallery of Historical Caiques" in 1971.  At the building of the mu

Turkish and Islamic Art Museum

Tile Mosaic Panel at Turkish and Islamic Art Museum Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is the first Turkish museum covering the Turkish and Islamic art works wholly. The collection is exhibited at Ibrahim Pasha Palace which is located in Fatih village of Istanbul at Sultanahmet Square. This square had been a Hippodrome before in the ancient Roman times.   The Sultanahmet Square Who is İbrahim Pasha? As being born in Greece, Ibrahim had been a close childhood friend of Ottoman Imperor Sultan Suleyman. Ibrahim Pasha Palace, which is one of the most important samples of 16th century Ottoman civil architecture samples is on the stages of the historical hippodrome from Roman period. This building had been presented to Ibrahim Pasha by Kanuni Sultan Süleyman in 1520, who would be his grand vizier for 13 years. Turkish and Islamic Museum building had been palace for viziers and important government men for years. Ottoman civil buildings are mostly made of wooden, ho