Day 15 - From Sultans and Mosques

In the morning, I participated in a short city tour of the old town, where I learned more about the city's history.

The tour began in front of the gates of the Blue Mosque. The interior is adorned with contemporary blue paintings, which is why it is called that. We did not go inside but were given a recommendation on when would be the best time to do so. A few steps in front of the Blue Mosque is the German Fountain: a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II to the then Sultan Abdülhamid II. Our guide explicitly pointed out that the water is not drinkable for tourists. This also explained my stomach pains over the last few days, as I had only sourced my drinking water from this fountain.

After just a few meters, we were already in front of the most famous building in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia. In 2022, the mosque attracted 13.6 million visitors, after which the city began charging an entry fee of €25, which was previously free. It gained its fame through its multifaceted history: it was built from 532 to 537 and served as a Christian center for 900 years. It was the coronation church of the Byzantine Emperor and the cathedral of the Patriarchate of Constantinople. With the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Mehmed II, Hagia Sophia became an Islamic mosque. Now almost 1500 years old, Hagia Sophia is still a mosque today but is older than the oldest mosque in Istanbul, as it was originally built as a church long before the city's first mosque was constructed. Today, it serves as a museum where visitors can reflect on this fascinating past.

After the tour, I continued to explore Istanbul alone. Passing the Egyptian Bazaar, which I planned to visit another day, I climbed a small incline to the Valens Aqueduct. From there, I quickly reached the Suleymaniye Mosque, which offered me a great view over the rooftops of the city and the setting sun. In the evening, I had a döner and made my way back to the hostel.