Hippodrome Square

Hippodrome Square

Introduction The ancient "Hippodrome," a chariot racing arena and civic center from the Byzantine era, is located right in front of the Blue Mosque and is now known as Sultanahmet Square. Of the monuments that once decorated the square, only three remain today: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine.

To the southwest of the three monuments, you can see the remnants of the curved wall of the great racetrack. Today, this area has become the historical, cultural, and tourist center of Istanbul. The surrounding wooden houses, especially the 18th-century wooden buildings on Sogukcesme Street, are particularly eye-catching. Carefully restored, they now serve as small guesthouses or libraries housing books about Istanbul.

Istanbul, Turkey