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RUMELI HISARI (THE EUROPEAN FORTRESS)
Rumeli Fortress; The city had been beseiged many times before the final seige by
the Conqueror in 1453, but had managed to defend itself with the help of the
Roman city walls, Even during long seiges, provisions were brought into the city
from sea. Therefore, to prevent any reinforcements and help coming from the
Black Sea during the seige,before the final seige started, a fortress was built
on the European shore, opposite the other Turkish fortress built earlier on the
Asian shore.The fortress was completed in an amazingly short time of four months
in 1452. This largest and strongest fortress of the Middle Ages was no more
important right after the fall of the city. A fine example of classic Turkish
fortress architecture, this impressive fortress is another element
adorning the Bosphorus. It was restored in the 1950s and turned into a museum.
During the annual Festival of Arts, gardens of the fortress is used as an
amphitheatre.
It
is viewed best from the asian shores or from the boats operating on the
Bosphorus. The campus of Bogazici (BOSPHORUS) University is spread on the slopes
behind the fortress. Robert College, the first American educational institution
established outside the United States, used to occupy this campus. In 1967, the
college was turned into a universtiy.
ANADOLU HISARI (THE ANATOLIAN FORTRESS)
The Kucuksu Pavilion and the fortress are situated by a park on the Asian shores
of the Bosphorus. It is quite a small fortress built between 1390 and 1391,
before the European Fortress on the opposite shore, by Sultan Bayezid, to
control the traffic on the Bosphorus, and as a step in the preparations fort he
final seige of Istanbul. A street passes through this picturesque fortress,
situated at a strategic location by the sea, next to stream that drains into the
Bosphorus. There are old wooden houses resting against the small towers of the
fortress.
The Kanlica district, which comes after the fortress, is famous for its yoghurt
and seaside cafes.The Asian tower of the new Faih Bridge is also situated here.
THE PRINCES'S ISLANDS
The archipelago known as the Princes’ Islands consists of nine various sized
islands in the Sea of Marmara and is only an hour away by boat from the pier in
the Golden Horn. It is known that during the Byzantine era there many
monasteries here. Some of these were used as imperial summer residences and some
were used to house the exiled.
Heybeli Ada is the second islands in the archipelago. A small church (the last
Byzantine structure built before the fall of Byzantium) dedicated to the Virgin
is situated in the inner courtyard of the Naval School on the island. In the
beginning of the 19th century, when steamboats started serving the islands, the
population of the islands started to increase.
The four larger islands are popular summer resorts with ideal picnic areas and
beautiful beaches. The islands are heavily populated from May until the end of
September, and then become almost desolate in the winter. Scheduled ferry boats
serve the islands from the mainland. Throughout the summer and especially on
weekends, private boats, yachts and sail-boats anchor in the beautiful coves
around every island.Motor vehicles are not allowed on the islands, the shores of
which are lined by seaside mansions, beaches and picnic areas. Horse-drawn
carriages are the only means of transportation.Woods and parks cover the hills
on the islands while residences line the northern shores that face the asian
side of Istanbul.The first island seen from the ferry boat after leaving the
pier is the conical shaped, desolate Hayirsiz Ada. Next to is the flat Yassi
Ada. Although there are military installations on this island, projects are
underway to use them for tourism.Kinali Ada is the first inhabited island with a
beautiful bay in the back, and beaches opened to the public. Burgaz, with its
rocky beaches,comes after Kinali. There are watersports clubs on the island.By
the square next to the pier at Heybeli Ada and between its two hills, are the
buildings of the Naval Schools. Beaches occupy its two beautiful coves. The
large buildings of the Orthodox Church were used as a scholl fort he monks in
the old days.Between Burgaz Ada and Heybeli Ada is a small private island Kasik
Adasi (Spoon Island) due its shape.
Buyukada is the largest, the most popular and the most famous island in the
archipelago.It takes two hours to go around the island (the complete tour) in a
horsedrawn carriage. This island with high hills, has two public beaches, one of
which is situated in an unusually beautiful cove. The most popular ride on the
island follows a course between the mansions in well-kept gardens and through
the forests on the hills (the half-tour). Unlike the heavily populated
residental areas near the pier, the back of the islands is occupied only by
desolate, rocky beaches which are ideal harbours for small boats. Fish
restaurants and cafes line the seashore near the pier, and there are a few
hotels and pensions on the island. On weekends and holidays, people crowd the
island for a picnic and swim. The small promontory on the side of the island
facing Heybeli Ada is covered with pine forests and it is a very popular
recreation area..
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