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GOLDEN HORN

Golden Horn is an estuary inlet of the Bosphorus dividing European part of the city of Istanbul as a modern and historical part. For the long centuries it was a sheltered harbor for Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Genoas, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of years. Turkish name is "Halic" simply means "estuary". It’s Greek and English names mean the same; Keratios Kolpos, Golden Horn since shape and color of it.

It is 7.5 kilometers long and, at its widest, 750 meters across. Its maximum depth, where it flows into the Bosporus, is about 35 meters. It is today spanned by four bridges. Its forms a deep natural harbor for the peninsula it encloses together with the Sea of Marmara. The Byzantine Empire had its naval headquarters there, and walls were built along the shoreline to protect the city of Constantinople from naval attacks. At the entrance to the Horn, there was a large chain pulled across from Constantinople to the old Tower of Galata.

After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by Mehmed the Conqueror, Greeks, Jews, Italian merchants, Gypsies and Turks begun to live along the Horn in the Phanar (Fener) and Balat districts which reflected the city's colorful ethnic mosaic.
Golden Horn was industrialized in 19th century and until 1980’s was full of different kind of factories even with shipyard. But in the 1980's an urban clean-up began, clearing up these factories and building proper sewage systems around the Golden Horn. Now, its shores are green once again with parks, promenades, and playgrounds.

Two districts; Fener and Balat are old neighborhoods of the Golden Horn, with traditional old wooden houses, Byzantine churches, and a couple of old synagogues belonging to the first Jewish community who was settled in Constantinople. The Orthodox Patriarchy resides here as well.
There are three bridges over Golden Horn; the Galata Bridge which connect old and new Istanbul was built in 1836 and rePALACE several time on the history and lastly in 1993. The Unkapani (also named as Ataturk) Bridge further up the Golden Horn handles the flow of traffic between Beyoglu and Sarachane. The third one over the Golden Horn is called the Halic Bridge with the highway passing through.

One more neighborhood in side is Eyüp, towards the end of the Golden Horn is an important site for Muslims who are coming to visit and pray for the tomb of Eyub El Ensari, who was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad and died during the Arab siege of Constantinople in the 7th century. Around the mosque and the hills are covered with cemeteries dating from the Ottoman period. The Pierre Loti Cafe on top of the hill overlooking the shrine is a peaceful PALACE to enjoy the view of the Golden Horn having a traditional Turkish coffee or tea.

PIERRE LOTI HILL and the CAFE
Julien Viaud (known as Pierre Loti) was a French writer, adventurer and officer. After being so many different PALACEs in world he come to Istanbul and of 19th century as a French naval officer. Stayed in Istanbul about fifteen years and wrote several books under the pen name of Pierre Loti. He wrote about daily life in Istanbul with local traditions. Most well known book of Pierre Loti is Aziyade which mentioned that it was his lover in Istanbul. He introduced Istanbul, Turkey and oriental life style to Europe. That’s the reason he is more famous in Turkey than Europe and France.
Pierre Loti used to come to the hill and small café overlooking Golden Horn and the city. After he passes away, the name of the hill has changed to call Pierre Loti Hill.
In Loti's time, the cafe was a simple, humble PALACE with a few stools and a small stove for brewing Turkish coffee.
Today the cafe (called as Pierre Loti Cafe) is far nicer, with shady tables, a variety of beverages and snacks, and even a hotel and full-fledged restaurant.
In our Bosphorus Tour (morning part of Highlights of Istanbul, Tour No: 2) apart from Bosphorus tour, we drive along the Golden Horn, climb and overlook to city from the hill and also ride down from the hill by the cable car.
If you come on your own and feel like walking, make the 15 minutes stroll uphill from Eyup through the picturesque cemetery. If not, take the cable car, and walk down to Eyup after your coffee.

Book the tour for GOLDEN HORN

 
 
ok BASILICA CISTERN ok DOLMABAHCE PALACE ok SPICE BAZAAR
ok BLUE MOSQUE ok EMINONU SQUARE ok SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
ok BOSPHORUS ok GALATA TOWER ok PRINCES ISLAND
ok CAMLICA HILL ok GRAND BAAZAR ok TOPKAPI PALACE
ok CHORA MUSEUM ok HAGIA SOPHIA ok WOODEN SUMMER HOUSES
ok ANADOLU KAVAGI ok BEYLERBEYI PALACE ok LITTLE HAGIA SOPHIA
ok PAMMAKARISTOS CHURCH ok POYRAZKOY ok RUMELI FORTRESS
ok HIPODROME ok GOLDEN HORN and PIERRE LOTI HILL ok ORTAKOY
ok MAIDEN TOWER ok TAKSIM SQUARE & ISTIKLAL STREET  
 
 
 
GOLDEN HORN
GOLDEN HORN
GOLDEN HORN
 
daily istanbul tours
Historical Treasuries
Hippodrome
Blue Mosque
Hagia Sophia
Grand Bazaar
Topkapı Palace
Little Hagia Sophia Mosque
 
Highlights of Istanbul
Highlights of Istanbul
Cruise tour with private boat in Golden Horn and Bosporus
Drive along the Golden Horn to Pierre Loti Hill
Short cable car experience
Dolmabahçe Palace
Drive over the Bosporus Bridge
Step to the Asian part, the highest point in the city with full view of Istanbul
 
Cruise in Bosporus
Cruise in Bosphorus
Cruise in Bosphorus, passing under two Bosporus Bridges
See both sides of the city (Asia and Europe) from the sea
Come alongside of the Asian side of the city
Have a small break in a nice suburb of Asian side called Kanlica
 
Bosporus and Black Sea Cruise
Cruise in the Bosphorus and the Black Sea coast
Drive from the old city to the pier of Kabatas to start the cruise
Stop in Ortakoy to visit the district and feel its cosmopolitan ambience
Cross to the Asian side of the city to visit the summer palace called "Beylerbeyi"
The fortress of Europe
Anadolu Kavagi
 
Prince’s Islands Tour
Princes' Islands Tour
Sail from the city to the Sea of Marmara
Visit to Kinali and Heybeli Islands
Have a stop in Buyukada (Great Island)
Have lunch on the boat and swimming break in the secret bay of the island
 
 
 
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