Panoramic Museum in Istanbul

This relatively young museum, which appeared on the initiative of the last prime minister of Turkey, Erdogan, is devoted to the events of the mid-15 century. Or it’s better to say, to a single event. Thanks to it Constantinople became Istanbul and the Ottoman Empire appeared, which existed for three hundred years.

The thing is about the capture of Constantinople by the troops of Sultan Mehmed II.

In the museum you will see panorama depicting the final storming of the city walls of Constantinople, after which the city fell. Panorama is located in the valley of a small Lykus river, which has long dried out... But when a small river still flowed in this valley, the city was called Constantinople. Lykus flowed near the gates of the Holy Roman, and that proved to be the weakest point of the city. Now these gates are called Cannon Gates (Topkapi Capi).

This is the place where in the early morning of May 29, 1453 the last battle of Constantinople flared up. You’ll see - in the reconstruction, of course - how parts of the artillery troops of the Sultan bombard the city walls... How the dying of wounds hobbler Hasan had hoisted the flag over the walls before death... How the soldiers of Mehmet the Second rushed in the hole made in the walls... How the defense was headed by Constantine XI, the last emperor of Byzantium, a man of outstanding courage... Constantine died. From that day Mehmet added to his name the title of Fatih (the Conqueror).

The whole panorama is placed in a large building with a round hall with a diameter of almost forty meters. It is viewed from a special deck in the center of the building at a height of 14 meters. To enhance the effect of the panorama, they use lighting effects in the building. You will see the images of more than ten thousand (!) participants of the last battle of Constantinople. You will hear the cries of the Janissaries, groans of the wounded soldiers, cannon shots, music of military orchestra...

Thousands of professionals - lighters, artists, historians, engineers - worked at Panorama for more than three years. It cost several million dollars.

The museum is open every day except Monday, from 9:00 to 18:00. The entrance is 10 YTL.