In case you want to learn about Fatih district you can find some information on this blog post. If you are planning to go on a vacation, Istanbul can be a really good option. Because this city is the largest city in Turkey and it has many features that make it an amazing touristic place. We can say that the part of the reason why this city is so attractive for tourists is because of its long history. There are so many historical places here that can absolutely be fascinating. Fatih is a district in Istanbul that has many of those historical places.
This district is in the European side of the city and it is in a very central area. This district in Istanbul is close to some other district such as Eyupsultan and Zeytinburnu. The area is also right next to the beautiful Bosphorus. It is also a part of the area called “Historical Peninsula” which is surrounded by Marmara Sea, Bosphorus and Golden Horn.
This district has many neighborhoods, over fifty to be exact. Without a doubt, it is a very important part of the as it has many of the important historical places and architectural structures in it. So, it is often included in almost every tour in the city. In this blog post, you can read about the history of this district. In addition, you can learn about two of the places you can visit here.
History of Fatih District in Istanbul
Mehmed the Conqueror ordered the construction of a mosque to honor the 10th year of conquest of Istanbul. Mehmed II, named this mosque after himself: “Fatih”, which means conqueror. It is known that in the area where the mosque was built, there was a church before. After the construction of the mosque, the district rapidly became a place where a lot of Muslim people lived in. So this is the story behind how the area got its current name.
This wonderful Istanbul district was just as important for Roman Empire as it was for Ottoman Empire. In fact, it was one of the most central places in the empire back then. Besides the Roman Empire, the place was quite significant for the Byzantine Empire as well. During the Ottoman period, the area was also chosen as the capital and it stayed that way for almost 500 years.
Around some of the areas surrounding Fatih district, Walls of Constantinople can be found. The construction process of these walls started in the 5th century, which was the Eastern Roman Empire period. Even though not all of the parts of the Walls of Constantinople managed to hold up to this day, there are still some parts that can be visited.
As you can see, this district is a very special one in terms of its history since it was a very important area for many empires during centuries. Today, with all the historical mosques, churches and other places in the district, it is a very important touristic area.
Some Activities You Can Do in Fatih
In this particular district of the city, there are many activities to do. There is a long list of historical places such as mosques and churches here. Aside from visiting these historical places, there are many more touristic things to do too. So, we can say that Fatih can be the perfect place to spend some quality time during your vacation in Istanbul.
Visit the Gorgeous Hagia Sophia
When we are talking about places to visit in Fatih district, the first place on the list should certainly be Hagia Sophia, for sure. This wonderful structure is one of the most popular landmarks of Istanbul and it is a popularly visited place both by locals and tourists. Originally, this structure was a cathedral that was built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. After the conquest of Constantinople by Ottomans, it was turned into a mosque by Mehmed II.
See the Museum at Topkapı Palace
Topkapı Palace is another amazing historical place that you can visit in Fatih district. The construction of the palace was ordered by Mehmed II in the late 15th century. For almost 400 years, this palace was the place where the Ottoman Emperors lived in. Also, it was the center of governence of the Ottoman Empire during that time period.