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We shall start with the fact that Istanbul itself is an open air museum. And this is not an exaggeration. For example, you are going to the city walls of Constantinople and examine the remains of this majestic construction. What is it, a walk or visit to a museum? Both of them. Istanbul, like its most places, is an open air landmark. And where a walk when you visit the ancient Hippodrome ends - and you pay for it absolutely nothing - and your visit to the museum starts - no one can tell exactly. But only on the Hippodrome there are some wonderful historical monuments - Egyptian granite column of several thousand years, Greek column cast from the weapons collected after the victory of Athens over the Persians, and medieval - Turks the winners hoisted on it the head of the last emperor of Constantinople...
Therefore, to avoid confusion we shall consider the museums of Istanbul those who are indoor and where you have to pay for a visit. We should start with the most famous museum of the city - Hagia Sophia Cathedral. Yes. This is a museum and not a temple as many people think. The Turks have specifically closed Saint Sophia both for Christian worships and for the Muslim to avoid discords. Hagia Sophia is a museum. Therefore, at the entrance you can easily order a guide service (local tour guides can tell you about the museum in more than ten languages: English, German, French, Russian, Arabic...). If you know English, you can do without a guide - all important places of the cathedral (and these are lots of them) are marked with explanatory plates in Turkish and English languages. Get ready for long walks: it is a great building, its dimensions are impossible to imagine. How great Hagia Sophia is you’ll understand only when you get there.
In addition to St. Sophia Cathedral, Topkapi and Dolmabahce Palaces are also museums. The fact is these sultans’ residences were made for the rulers of the Ottoman Empire which ceased to exist in the early 20th century. The Turkish Republic has decided to make museums here.
Please note in advance that Istanbul mosques - though they are all open for visitors and foreign tourists (refrain during prayer time) - are NOT museums. That’s why you do not need to pay to enter here. According to the decoration and age, any mosque in Istanbul, either the Blue Mosque or Yeni Mosque, is a true museum having lots of artifacts and being built five hundred years ago.
There are lots of museums in Istanbul too. This is the Archaeology Museum, the Naval Museum and the Industrial Museum (located on the shore of the Golden Horn), Calligraphy Museum and Morern Arts Museum... They are more than a hundred, and we will describe the largest ones in details. And now just remember a few simple rules of visiting Istanbul museums.
First, note the presence of special icons on the walls with the lightning sign crossed out. That means using photoflash is prohibited. The ban exists in many ancient churches and monasteries. This is not a simple caprice or fear of competition from the Turks who sell photos of the museums from inside to tourists. The fact is the ancient frescoes and plaster are deteriorating from cameras’ flashes. The museums use special technique for such shoots. So, be kind enough as not to decrease the lifetime of ancient mosaics and frescoes!
Secondly, in some museums you will be asked to wear special shoe covers on your feet which you will be given free of charge. For example, in Dolmabahce. This is done because in Dolmabahce almost everything is made of gold, but that is not made of gold is probably handmade Persian carpets. Note that in such museums as the Dolmabahce only groups are allowed, so if you come alone you’ll have to wait until you have 10-15 people with whom you are to pass through this building filled with precious stones, gold, paintings and other treasures of the Sultans under the supervision of a guide.
Third, each Istanbul museum has its own schedule. But in general, a day off in a museum in Istanbul is on Monday or Tuesday, with rare exceptions. Working hours are from 10:00 to 16:00-17:00.
A common thing for all museums of Istanbul is the procedure of inspection at the entrance. Passing is made through the turnstile to which you attach a ticket you have already bought.
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