The ancient fountains of Istanbul

Fountains decorate all the most beautiful cities of the world. Istanbul is not an exception. Its architecture is also known for its refined fountains that every guest of the city can admire.

Ayse Sultan fountain

You can admire this fountain in Uskudar district. It is located opposite the Imrahor mosque. It was built in 1598 by the order of Ayse Sultan — the daughter of that period’s sultan. The fountain’s front is decorated with a historical stele with an inscription, which says: «The pure water of the fountain of life 1007».

The greatest element of the building is a mirror arch, which has maintained the traces of traditional classics in Ottoman architecture. The arch is decorated with rosettes and baldachines, it is trimmed with delicate artistic modeling. The fountain was used very frequently till 1940, and after it it was provided with water by the city plumbing.

Tophane fountain

The fountain, located in the square with the same name in Beyoglu district, was built by Mehmed Aga, by the order of sultan Mahmud I. The inscription on its stele belongs to the poet Nahifi. The fountain forms an architectural ensemble with the mosque Kilic Ali Pasa.

The building represents the transition from traditional classics to Baroque style. Among the other Istanbul’s fountains, built in the square shape, Tophane fountain is remarkable with its aesthetic harmony of Baroque style and the elements of traditional Ottoman architecture.

German fountain

Is located at Sultanahmet square near the burial-vault of sultan Ahmed I. It was built in honor of the arrival of German kaiser Wilhelm II to Istanbul.
Performed in the style of Neorenaissance, the octagonal fountain with a small dome was made in Germany, and brought to Istanbul, being taken apart. The dome is covered with golden mosaic inside, and under it there are located eight lockets, on which you can see the monogram of sultan Abdulhamid II and the initials of kaiser Wilhelm II. Till the present day the German fountain at Sultanahmet square is considered the symbol of friendship of the two nations.