Istanbul Old Town

First visit was to the Hippodrome of Constantinople, which was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. The Hippodrome today, with the Walled Obelisk in the foreground and the Obelisk of Thutmose III on the right.

Next visit to the Sultanahmet Camii. Also called the Blue Mosque, because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design.

This was followed by a visit to Hagia Sophia. First it was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum.

From here walking over to Topkapi Palace, browsing through the courtyards and buildings. This large building was one of the major residences of the Ottoman sultans for almost 400 years of their 624-year reign.