Must-Visit Places in Rome

The first thing that comes to mind when Rome is in question is Trevi Fountain, which is among the world-famous structures in the city. The Fountain of Love, which attracts attention with its classical and baroque architecture, is one of the first visited sites in every Rome tour. If you are going to visit Rome with your lover, then the Fountain of Love should be your first stop. Later on, you can head to the Colosseum, which is the world’s largest amphitheater and one of the symbols of Rome. The Colosseum is a quite appealing structure both in terms of its architecture and because it used to be a venue where gladiator fights were held. You can enjoy a stunning experience by joining the Colosseum underground tour. Moreover, the world-famous Spanish Steps are one of the most well-known sightseeing sites in Rome.

Rome Tours from Istanbul

Rome Tours from Istanbul

Some of the sites included in our Italy, Rome tours are Piazza Venezia (Venice Square), Vittorio Emanuele Monument, Via Del Corso, St. Peter’s Cathedral, and Imperial Forum. You can participate in our extra tour plans or explore Rome on your own and at your own pace in the free days of our Rome tours departing from Istanbul. You can visit Naples & Pompeii and Florence by participating in our extra tours.

Things to Do in Rome Tours

• Italy’s famous ice cream Gelato should be one of the first flavors you must taste. Spaghetti and pizza varieties are also among the flavors that you must enjoy.
• You must taste the quality and very delicious wines of Rome.
• Via Del Corso is the best place to visit to enjoy your time while shopping in Rome. Take your time to visit some of the shops of famous Italian brands available all through the street. If you are interested in bags and you do not want to push your budget too much, you can find imitation bags of famous brands very easily.
• Make sure that you have your camera with you during the tour.

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Latest Update: 04.06.2018

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Interior of Hagia Sophia

To visit Hagia Sophia, to stand under the spectacular dome, to see the mosaics of art is a great experience for everyone. If you have a chance to visit this mega building which is a unique example of world architecture history, we recommend you to visit with a guide. Hagia Sophia’s history of thousands of years, contains hundreds of details and stories. We recommend that you skip these details during your visit and listen to the story of Hagia Sophia.

Tourist points in Istanbul are on the historical peninsula. If you wish, you can visit the historic peninsula with a 1 or 2 day option with a guide. Join a guided tour of the city highlights, including the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Spice Bazaar, Dolmabahce Palace and Istiklal Street.

Best Istanbul Tours & Tickets:

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Hagia Sophia, Istanbul 1890s:

Ottoman Women in the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 1890s:

Hagia Sophia from Bosphorus. Stimmungsbild bei Skutari, 1895:

Beauregard, J. de. Aux rives du Bosphore. Dessins à la plume, de O’Netty et illustrations, Lyon, Vitte, 1896:

Three young African Ottomans (as they would be called today) wandering around the Hippodrome captured during 1890’s:

Photographer working in the Divan Yolu Street, close to the Hagia Sophia. A photo from the 1890’s:

William Sachtleben’s Humber bicycle at rest in Constantinople draws a crowd of spectators. Background In the summer of 1890:

Gilliodts, Juan. Impressions d’Orient, Voyage en Turquie, en Bulgarie et en Serbie, Bruksel, [1897]:

Hagia Sophia in 1895:

Hagia Sophia Photos from Album of Sultan Abdulhamit 2:

Hagia Sophia in 1890’s:

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Hagia Sophia in 1900:

1901

The German Fountain and Hagia Sophia in 1901:

1902

Hagia Sophia main dome and its surroundings, 1902:

1903

General View, Hagia Sophia, 1903:

Interior of Hagia Sophia in 1903:

“The inside of Hagia Sophia”, 1903 (Source: Brooklyn Museum):

1904

Interior of Hagia Sophia in 1904 (Dome, Columns, Narthexes and Upper Gallery):

“Constantinople Bosphore Turquie” – Photographer: H.B. Tate, date 1904:

1905

“Istanbul, Hagia Sophia” (1905):

1906

General view, Hagia Sophia in 1906:

1907

Hagia Sophia in 1907, Photographer: Ali Rıza Pasha:

1908

1908, perched on the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan waiting to report for the start of the first parliament:

A postcard, 1908, Hagia Sophia:

1909

Interior of the Hagia Sophia, 1909:

Emperor Door, Hagia Sophia as a Mosque, 1909:

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Hagia Sophia in 1930s:

Hagia Sophia from Blue Mosque, 1930:

1931

Muslim prayers in Hagia Sophia, 1931:

Hagia Sophia in 1931, a postcard:

1932

3 September 1932, Hagia Sophia:

Hagia Sophia in 1932:

1933

Hagia Sophia in 1933:

1934

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul-Weitere Created 28.6.1934:

Hagia Sophia as a “Museum”, Exterior view, 1934, Photo Credit: Dumbarton Oaks Collection:

1935

Hagia Sophia as a “Museum”, Exterior view, 1935:

1936

Remains in the garden, Photographer: Nicholas V. Artamonoff, Dumbarton Oaks Collection, March 1936:

Interior of Hagia Sophia in 1936:

1937

12 May 1937, Hagia Sophia:

1938

Hagia Sophia in 1938:

1939

Joseph Goebbels in Hagia Sophia, April 1939:

Hagia Sophia in 1939, Remains in the garden:

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Constantinople Ste Sophie, rare animated view in 1910:

Exterior view of Hagia Sophia in 1910:

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 1910s

“Sultan-Achmet-Brunnen in Konstantinopel”, 1910:

Empress Lodge, Upper Gallery, Hagia Sophia in 1910:

1911

Gertrude Bell, 1911 – Hagia Sophia:

1912

During the Balkan War:

“Konstantinopels, 1912” :

1913

BARTH, H[ermann]. Constantinople par H. Barth. Les Villes d’Art Célèbres. Paris, Librairie Renouard-H. Laurens, 1913:

1914

Upper Gallery, Hagia Sophia in 1914:

Empress Lodge, Upper Gallery, Hagia Sophia in 1914:

1915

Hagia Sophia, Exterior, 1915:

Hagia Sophia, Exterior, 1915:

“The Mosque of Sainte Sophie”, Constantinople, Istanbul;  Agence Rol. Agence Photographique; 1915:

1916

Postcard “Agia-Sophia-Kriegs Postkarte”, 1916:

Serailspitze, Istanbul (Konstantinopel), 1916:

1917

Blick gegen Hagia Sophia und Sultan Ahmed Moschee, Istanbul (Konstantinopel),1917:

Ausfahrt ins Marmarameer, Istanbul (Konstantinopel)1917:

1918

Hagia Sophia – A Photograph Drawn In 1918 by French Soldiers During Occupation-Gallica:

Interior view of Hagia Sophia in 1918:

1919

Senegalese soldiers in the ranks of the French army are practicing in front of Hagia Sophia. Le Miroir, November 9, 1919:

Hagia Sophia, 14 December 1919:

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Scenes from Old Istanbul, 1920.

In front of the Hagia Sophia, 1920.

1921

From Beyazit Tower towards Sultanahmet, on the right Nuruosmaniye Mosque, back plate Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, 1921.

1922

The Hippodrome & Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Meydanı, Solita Solano (photographer) -1922.

1923

1926

Dome of Hagia Sophia, 1926:

1927

1928

1929

Hagia Sophia in 15 March 1929.

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is what motivates me to start my job as a professional tourist guide. The excitiment that I feel in this place where I’ve been visiting almost every day is just like the first day. I discover something new in each visit… the glow of the mosaics, the colors of the frescoes, the magnificence of the marbles and a cute cat who stands on the Empress Lodge posing for many tourists. This scene softens my heart because lots of people from all around the world are getting together with the love of a cat.

The name of this love is Gli “Union of Love” and here comes the life story of Gli: Archeologist Defne Bali who has worked for Hagia Sophia for years was like a mother to Gli. Gli had one brother, Pati and a sister, Kızım. Their mother was Sofi. They were born in 2004. Pati died, unfortunately. Bilgen Deveci, one of our restorers chose the name “Gri” (in English: Grey) for Gli at first. However, because of its cuteness and squinty eyes its name became Gli. I chose the name “Kızım” for her sister. When she was little, Kızım went under one of the maksures of Hagia Sophia and stucked there for a while. We saved her later but because she meowed so much then, she became silent for the next two years.

Photos from @hagiasophiacat Instagram Account:

Gli had only one kitten all her life. A beautiful jet-black she-cat named “Karakız” who had an accident because of a tour-bus. She stayed in a vet for a while for her broken back. However, we had no chance to take a care of him at the museum because of then-manager who hates cats so we had to put her sleep.

Gli became popular when the prime-minister R.Tayyip Erdoğan and then Obama stroked her.

Gli was a real hunter when she was young. She used to hunt birds, which she can’t now because of his age and eyes.

This post is written by Umut Bahçeci for hagiasophiaturkey.com

Love, Umut Bahçeci (Instagram: @mumuizm_  Mail: umutbahceci@gmail.com)

Follow Gli the St. Sophia Cat Instagram Account: @hagiasophiacat.  Thank you Peter Magenheimer (@peterjmag) for Encouraging me to open this account for Gli.

Featured Image Credit: Hagia Sophia Cat Tumblr Page

What will happen to Gli after Hagia Sophia is turned into a Mosque?

Archaeologist Defne Bali, who works at the Hagia Sophia Museum, made a statement about the status of the Hagia Sophia Cat – Gli on Instagram.

What will happen to Gli after Hagia Sophia is turned into a Mosque

We convey the explanation exactly: “Hagia Sophia has been opened for worship as a mosque. Currently there is no work on relocating Gli. Gli will continue to live where he was born and grew up.”

Update (19.09.2020): Gli, the cat of Hagia Sophia After being at a vet all week, the 16 year-old cat will now stay in a private room away from visitors for health reason. Source

We convey the explanation exactly: “Dear Friends,
Here i am.
Has been along time of my silence ..
I was sick and has been a week since i was at veterinary under treatment. Finally today i’m back home. From now on i have a private room because my heart can’t handle stress and crowd anymore .
The most beautiful thing that real friends can do for me is to send me prayers and good vibes
As i am in my private room don’t forget to share your love with my other pawed friends and my housemates ”

Update (29.10.2020): Gli is very sick. Pray for Gli..

07.11.2020 – 20:27 PM: Gli died.  We are really sorry.

08.11.2020: Gli was buried in a special place in Hagia Sophia’s garden. Rest in Peace Gli.

Rest in Peace Gli – Illustration Credit Ooo Mete Beyler

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Ignatius the Younger

In this mosaic, Ignatius has white hair and no beard. He is thought to be 50 years old in the mosaic. He was a eunuch. His inscription reads: ‘’Ignatios Neos’’

St. John Chrysostom

Having a nickname of ‘’gold mouth’’, Chrysostom is middle aged in the mosaic. His inscription presents: ‘’Ioannis Chrisostomos’’. When the Empress Eudoxia and John Khrysostomos sent him into exile, the church was burned down by the rebels who supported him.

St. Ignatios Theophoros

He was a bishop of Antioch before he was martyred. He has a beard and is of old age. His inscription says: ‘’Ignatios Theophoros’’. Each saint dress in ‘’omophorion’’ a bishop vestment. St. Ignatius the Younger is wearing a cap. They hold Bible in one hand, St. Theophoros and Khrysostomos are signing benediction with their right hans.

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