Celine Hotel

11/02/2014

THE GERMAN FOUNTAIN

The German Fountain is located in Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul across from the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmed I. It was constructed to commemorate the second anniversary of the German Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Istanbul in 1898. The fountain's plans were drawn by the architect Spitta and was constructed by the architect Schoele. The German architect Carlitzik and the Italian architect Joseph Anthony also worked on this project.

It was officially opened January 27, 1901, on the birthday of German Emperor Wilhelm II. It was built in Germany, then transported piece by piece and reassembled in its current site in 1900. The Neo-Renaissance style of fountain's octagonal dome features eight marble columns, and the dome's interior is covered with golden mosaics. The Neo-Renaissance style of the octagonal fountain stands on a high floor with a staircase of eight stairs, seven brass faucets and, covering its reservoir, there is a dome which has eight porphyry columns. The exterior bronze green dome, which stands these over eight porphyry columns, and the dome's interior surface are decorated with golden mosaics as well as with Abdülhamid II's tughra and Wilhelm II's symbol.

The archs between the columns showcase the deep-rooted friendship between Turkey and Germany, and being situated in Sultanahmet Square, the artistic value of the fountain is further brought out.

07/02/2014

BEYLERBEYI PALACE

Beylerbeyi, where the Asian pillar of the Bosphorus Bridge sits, is a pleasant district that has been reserved for palaces since the Byzantine era. Beylerbeyi Palace was built by Sultan Abdulmecid between 1861-1865 on the site of another wooden mansion. The exterior and interior decoration is a blend of Eastern, Turkish and Western motifs. The three-storied building is divided into two sections, the harem (for women) and the selamlık (for men), and has 26 rooms and 6 halls. The original furniture, carpets, curtains and other fixtures have been preserved in good condition.

The decorations of the facade on the seaside, the well-kept gardens, the hall with a pool in the central section, and the spiral staircase are some of the eye-catching features of the palace.

At the back of the building there is a large pool, as well as the terraces and the stables, the latter very good examples of their kind. Previously, the main road that was used until the 1970's passed through a tunnel beneath the palace garden. Two small pavilions on the quay served recreational purposes. The palace was also used to accommodate visiting state dignitaries. This palace-museum is open to visitors throughout the year.

04/02/2014

BEYAZIT TOWER

During the Byzantine period, there was a tower called “Tetratsiyon” built for observing fires in remote areas where the current Beyazit Tower stands. In 1749, during the Ottoman period, the tower was built by the architect, Kirkor Balyan, who finished his education in L’École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. It holds the distinction of being the first fire observing tower. The tower was built by Hüseyin Ağa and has been called “Harik Kiosk” or “Harik Tower.” The word “harik” means fire. The performers in the tower are called “köşklü, köşlü, or dideban.” During the march of insurgents, the wooden tower was set on fire by the Janissaries. The tower was rebuilt on the same site in 1828 out of stone by Senekerim Balyan, the brother of the architect Kirkor Balyan under the command of Sultan Mahmut II. Before the Beyazıt Tower was constucted, the minarets of the Süleymaniye Mosque were used to observe fires. The height of the tower measures 85 meters, And the tower has a wooden staircase of 256 steps.

03/02/2014

THE PRINCESS ISLANDS

The group of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara is known as the Princes' Islands and is only an hour away from the city. There are regular boat services to four of the islands from the entrance of the Golden Horn and Kabatas. Pier.

In Byzantine times a number of monasteries were built here, and the islands served both as summer resorts and a place for exiles. Copper was mined in Heybeli Ada. On this island, in the courtyard of the Naval Academy there is a small church dedicated to the Virgin. This is the last Byzantine structure in the city.

The steamboats that started serving the islands in the early 19th century facilitated access to the islands, and the population started to increase rapidly when schools and hotels were built.

The four larger islands grouped close to each other are covered with summer residences, villas and pine groves, and are famous for their beaches and picnic areas. The islands are crowded between May and late September, but deserted in other times. The residential areas have developed mostly around the piers and those sides of the islands facing the city. The only means of transport on the islands are horse-drawn phaetons. During the summer season, and particularly on holidays, the bays and beaches attract private yachts and motorboats.

There are no settlements on the conical shaped Hayirsiz Ada, the first island seen from the ferryboat, nor on the next one, the flat Yassi Ada. The boat first stops at Kmah Ada, famous for its open beaches and the little cove at the rear. On this island the horse carriages are for transporting goods only, and not for passenger transport. There is a small, modern mosque on the shore and some beautiful old mansions.

Burgaz, with its rocky beaches, comes after Kmah. The premiere sailing and water sports club on the islands is here. The house of Salt Faik Abasiyanik, the famous writer, who lived on the island has been converted into a museum, and in Kalpazan Kaya, a place he used to visit often, there is now a cafe where one can watch a marvelous sunset.

Between Burgaz and Heybeli there is the private Kasik (Spoon) island, so-called because of its shape.

Approaching Heybeli Ada, there are two large buildings that catch the eye. One is the Naval Academy, situated between the twin hills of the island, and the second is the Greek Orthodox High School, set on top of the other hill in the middle of pine groves, which is closed today. Another building of the Naval Academy is located near the pier. On the other side of the pier the shore is lined with restaurants and cafes. On the rear of the island there is a beautiful cove, and on the side overlooking Kaşık island a public beach, the facilities of the marine sports club, and the famous Degirmen picnic area.

There are special paths for hiking over the hills and through the pine groves, offering beautiful vistas. Heybeli is relatively lively even in the winter months because of the schools and the sanatorium facilities here. The Halki Palas Hotel, dating back to mid-19th century, is open the year round. It was renovated and modernized in 1995.

The largest and the most famous of the islands is Buyukada. It takes two hours to go around the island in a phaeton, but the half-tour of the island, which takes only one hour, is more interesting.

The Yoriik All public beach is in a wonderful cove on the side overlooking the Heybeli. Next to it is the Dil promontory, a favorite spot for picnickers. In contrast to the heavily populated residential areas near the pier, the southern part of the island is quite desolate. Boats often visit the coves on this side.

On the higher slopes of the island, there is an old dilapidated hotel from the 19th century, perhaps the largest wooden structure in the world, which is trying to remain standing until the day when it will be restored. The area around the pier is colorful and bustling with the restaurants, cafes and shops situated here. There are four hotels that cater for guests in the summer months.

The next island is Sedef, which is inhabited, and the beach there is open to those coming from the outside.

The beautiful houses, well-kept gardens and the extraordinary views of the islands make an unforgettable impression on visitors.

31/01/2014

Have you ever bathe in turkish hammam? Come and see... :)

29/01/2014

TURKISH CUISINE

This is one of the most delectable cuisines in the world. Freshly baked bread is always on the table. Since butter or oil and tomato paste are used liberally in the meals, butter and ketchup are not served separately. The main dishes are vegetables cooked with lamb, mutton or veal. Rice, various pastries, bulgur, dry beans and a variety of vegetables cooked in olive oil are served as side dishes. The best kebabs are served in specialist kebab restaurants. Gourmets patronize certain traditional small shops for the best and most authentic Turkish pastries and desserts. As fishing is prohibited between May and September, the extremely savory fish special to Istanbul can only be found fresh in the other months of the year. Like all major cities of the world, Istanbul has restaurants specializing in various national kitchens. In recent years numerous fast-food outlets have sprung up. Nevertheless, typical restaurants are recommended for delicious regional dishes. White is the color of the two best known national beverages: raki, the one with alcohol, is a strong clear drink that turns to white when water is added, while the second, ayran, is a refreshing beverage made by thinning yogurt. Raki can be served both as an aperitif with dried fruits or white cheese and melon, and during meals. It is not normally mixed with other drinks. Anatolia is the homeland of wine and beer. Turkish winemaking has improved steadily and now offers good wines of every type, class and price range. The famous Turkish coffee is offered at every opportunity in small cups, either with or without sugar. The saying that "a cup of coffee will be remembered for 40 years" dates back to the 16th century when Turks first became acquainted with this beverage. Turkey is a paradise of fresh and dried fruits. Different seasonal fruits are shipped to Istanbul from all parts of the country the year round.

28/01/2014

HISTORICAL CAGALOGLU BATH

This historical bath located in the Cağaloğlu neighborhood near the Underground Cistern. A plan for the bath was designed by Süleyman Ağa, one of the palace architechs, by order of Sultan Mahmut I in order to provide revenue for both his library and the Ayasofya Mosque (Hagia Sophia). It was then built by Abdullah Ağa in 1741.

Before its construction, the palace built by Nevşehirli Damat İbrahim Paşa stood on its location. The palace was destroyed by a fire in 1740, and the Cağaloğlu Bath was erected on its site. Essentially, the bath consists of two sections, a men’s section and ladies’ section. The entrance door of the ladies’ section is located on a side street called Hamam Street, and the men’s section is found on the main road .

Several architectural innovations are found in the bath’s design which draws the attention of its visitors who have never seen a combination of Baroque and Classical Ottoman style architecture. It is also the last of the great hamams built in the city during the Ottoman era.

The Camekan of Cağaoğlu Hamam, a court surrounded by small individual changing rooms, is covered by a wide dome. There are changing rooms which surround the Camekan which are built on consolidated beams. In the middle of the Hamam, there is a wide pool that is made of a massive marble block, and in the middle of the pool, there is a splendid fountain. The wide dome in the lukewarm section (ılıklık) is raised upon four marble columns and seven cradle-shaped domes that form the roof of the structure which extends from the lukewarm section into the harare (hot section). The hot section, raised upon eight embroidered columns, is covered by a wide dome that dazzles with its grandeur.

The Cağaloğlu Hamam has been in service for two hundred seventy-six years. Today, it is still in operation, and the vast majority of its visitors are foreign tourists.

23/01/2014

SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE

The most charming section of the Süleymaniye Complex is naturally the mosque itself. It is similar to the other works of the architect Sinan in that he refused to make concessions away from simplicity, but converted simplicity into glory. The decoration and ornamentation in the mosque are primarily inscriptions, and the architectural geometry is recognized as an aesthetic wonder unto itself.

Windows with stained glass on the wall of the mihrab (niche in a mosque wall indicating the direction of Mecca) and frames on both sides of the mihrab are works of a master named Sarhoş Ibrahim. There is a huge dome in the mosque, having a diameter of 26.5 meters; it was constructed on four large rose-colored columns. The depth of the dome is double the diameter of the dome and is 53 meters high. In order for the dome to be built easily, special bricks were manufactured and used in the construction of the dome. In addition, stones of the mosque are attached one another by fasteners of internal iron clamps, and then melted lead is poured over the iron clamps.

The mosque was lighted with 128 windows and a great number of candles. In order to prevent the pollution of the walls with soot that came from the candles a soot room was constructed above main entrance. Ink was produced from the collected soot. It has four minarets rising at the four corners of the inner court which are constructed from white marble called “Beyaz Harem” (White Harem). Two of them have three shrefes (minaret balcony) each and the other two have two shrefes for a total of ten. The four minarets of the Mosque symbolize Suleiman the Magnificent becoming the fourth Sultan of the Ottoman Empire after the conquest of Istanbul. The ten shrefes symbolize his becoming the 10th sultan in Ottoman history. In addition, there is a fountain in the middle of the inner court consisting of a rectangular-shaped pool with two fountains with a decorative plant motif.

07/01/2014

Istanbul in 5 minutes.

Music: Mercan Dede Director: Veysel Gencten - The video is made up of 7500 photographs taken by Veysel Gencten since 2002.

07/01/2014

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02/01/2014

GALATA BRIDGE
It has been known as the Cisr-i Cedid, or the New Bridge, and was constructed in 1845 by Valide Sultan, the mother of Sultan Abd-ul-Mejid I (1823-1861). Admiral Hasan Ahmet Paşa renovated the bridge, putting it back into service in 1863 since it had been damanged in short span of time. At the end of 19th century, Aziziye Karakolu (Police Station) adorned it with eclectic accents built in the fore part of the bridge in the Galata district in order to increase pedestrian traffic and to quell the emerging (rising) discontent of the public.

After 37 years of service, a heavy bridge rolling with waterpower was constructed on the site. It was opened on the third aniversary of Sultan Mehmet V’s ascention to the throne in 1912.

The first time electric cars crossed this bridge between Eminönü and Karaköy was in January of 1914. The construction of a new bridge in the Golden Horn began in 1987. The Historical Galata Bridge was burnt for an unknown reason and a large fired damaged half of the bridge before the construction of the new bridge was completed in May 1992. After the fire, construction of the new bridge was accelerated, and it was opened on the site of the old bridge in June 1992.

The pieces of the old bridge, which was composed of 11 plaques, were left on the site in the Karaköy district, and the undamaged parts of the structure were carried away and placed on the foot in the Arttürk Bridge located in the Unkapanı district.

The Galata Bridge was being adequately protected against fire. Therefore, smoking was prohibited so as not to be burn the wooden platform of the bridge during day time. Moreover, the bridge has since been closed. It was known that the bridge was servicing pedestrians and carriages for hire, so a customary charge was initiated (müruriye).

The Galata Bridge is not only an architectural beauty, but it is also leaves a poetic image the life of the people of Istanbul.

GALATA BRIDGE PROJECTS
Leonardo da Vinci, born in the town of Vinci in the region of Florence, was invited to Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II in the 16th century to built a bridge linking Eminönü to Karaköy. After Leonardo haddecided to come to Istanbul to built the bridge, he was later dissuaded Istanbul by the administration of the time. It appears from letters in the Topkapı Palace today that there was an action of Leonardo da Vinci on this head. The bridge building project of Leonardo da Vinci on the Golden Horn was implemented in Norway in 2000s. Furthermore, there were plans of another bridge project to be made on this site by Michelangelo.

31/12/2013

Yeni yılınızı en içten dileklerimizle kutlar, sevdiklerinizle birlikte sağlıklı ve mutlu bir yıl geçirmenizi dileriz.