12.02.2024
7 Dakika
With its unique location at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Istanbul has maintained its importance in many ways for hundreds of years, serving as the capital of some of humanity's greatest empires. It is one of the regions where World Heritage-listed cultural properties are concentrated. Istanbul as a settlement has preserved these values accumulated over two millennia and continues to do so today as a sprawling metropolis. With its unique silhouette inherited from the Eastern Roman and Ottoman empires, this city plays the leading role in a cultural experience that millions of people want to experience every year. The city's most impressive cultural assets, which have been admired and eagerly awaited by people for centuries, have also been included in the UNESCO World Heritage List under the name of Historic Areas of Istanbul. In this article, we will briefly introduce these areas, which have been a center of attraction for people throughout history and exude an atmosphere and spirit rarely found anywhere else in the world.
This area is located on the historical peninsula, which has been the main settlement area of Istanbul for centuries and is home to magnificent structures such as the Sultanahmet Mosque, which attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year. One of these structures is the Hagia Sophia, one of the most important architectural structures in the world, which has never lost its significance as a sacred place throughout its history. The area is home to works that depict the rich history of Istanbul over hundreds of years, and there are also impressive historical buildings that must be seen, such as the Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Hagia Irene Church and the Topkapı Palace.
Surrounding the Süleymaniye Mosque and Complex, which can be considered the pinnacle of 16th century Ottoman architecture and was designed by Mimar Sinan, this area includes historic neighborhoods such as Vefa and Vezneciler. The area also includes a significant section of the Bozdoğan Aqueduct from the Roman Empire period, as well as historical structures that were later converted into mosques, such as the Kalenderhane Mosque and the Vefa Kilise (Molla Gürani) Mosque. In addition to the areas where the traditional residential structure has been preserved, there are also historical infrastructure elements such as cisterns and cellars.
The Zeyrek Conservation Area is located on a hill overlooking the Golden Horn and includes streets around the Molla Zeyrek Mosque, which was built in the 12th century as a Pantokrator monastery church and later converted into a mosque. This structure, one of the most important examples of Eastern Roman architecture that still stands today, was used as a madrasah in the first years after the conquest of Istanbul and was later converted into a mosque with the construction of the Fatih Complex. On the terraces of the area towards the Golden Horn and Atatürk Boulevard, there are cisterns and cellars dating back to the Eastern Roman period. The Çukur Çeşme in front of the Molla Zeyrek Mosque and the Çinili Hamam, the work of Mimar Sinan, are also among the notable historical structures in the area. In addition, the hundreds of structures, some of which are among the oldest residences in Istanbul, are among the best examples of Ottoman architecture and the old urban fabric of Istanbul.
This area includes the historic peninsula of Istanbul and the areas around the city walls. Here you will find not only the structures that successfully protected this magnificent city from invaders for centuries, but also the gates through which large groups entered and left the city. These gates, which fascinate visitors as they enter the legendary city of Istanbul, have given their names to some of Istanbul's historic neighborhoods and attract much attention with their inscriptions, religious symbols and Janissary emblems. Many complexes built by Ottoman dignitaries near these gates are also worth seeing and are among Istanbul's unique historical treasures.
These neighborhoods form the historical core of Istanbul, one of the most important and impressive cities in human history, and promise the visitor an unforgettable experience with their preserved urban spirit and unique atmosphere imbued with the scent of centuries. Istanbul, which welcomes millions of people who want to embark on a mysterious journey through its history hidden in every inch, every corner and even under the ground, deserves to be visited by you too. The Historic Areas of Istanbul, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage List, deserve to be the starting point of your journey. If you're curious about other values of UNESCO World Heritage List in Türkiye, you can read our article "5 UNESCO Sites You Should Visit in Türkiye in 2024" where we introduce some of these works.
