The Hippodrome This is an optional detour but well worth the short walk from the Blue Mosque considering the area’ s historical significance. Although there is little left of the chariot racing arena that held 100,000 spectators, you can still get a vivid idea of the magnitude and scale of the venue built by Emperor Constantine. There’ s even the origins of the racing tracks that with a little imagination can conjure up scenes from Ben Hur. The area is now mainly a garden with an Egyptian Obelisk taking centre stage. One grisly episode of the ancient arena’ s history involved a brawl between rival chariot racers which developed into a bloody revolt. The tragic end resulted in the massacre of 30,000 people trapped in the Hippodrome.
Quick Transport to the Grand Bazaar Trams from Sultanahmet run directly down Yeniceriler Caddesi to outside the Grand Bazaar.
The Grand Bazaar The sheer scale of the Grand Bazaar with its sixty six streets and four thousand shops means it isn’ t so difficult to get lost in its warren of alleys strewn with goods and fancy wares that appear to almost tumble out of the walls. To explore what is the oldest and largest covered bazaar in the world would mean needing a homing device and half a day!
But for sightseers on the go keeping to a small northerly quarter near The New Mosque gives visitors a rich taste of the colourful streets and shop fronts without having to stray into the epicentre.
If any place encapsulates the spirit of Istanbul then it has to be here in the Grand Bazaar with all its exotic sights and smells. It’ s a visual and olfactory assault on the senses. The Spice Gallery built in 1600 is the number one destination which despite its name sells much more than spices. This is also the perfect place to enjoy a tea or coffee and watch the bustling, noisy world go by. The Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi is one of the oldest coffee shops and a great atmospheric place to drink Turkish coffee or even buy some and take away.
Be prepared for a degree of pestering by stall holders selling their wares in the Grand Bazaar itself.
The Blue Mosque
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