Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square)
On Gingerguide's self-guided Istanbul audio tour, Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square) is a stop worth about ~30 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type square
- Suggested visit ~30 min
- Istanbul Istanbul guide
About Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square)
Sultanahmet Square follows the buried Hippodrome of Constantinople, the Byzantine capital's chariot-racing arena, still marked by an Egyptian obelisk, a bronze Serpent Column and the masonry Walled Obelisk.
Sultanahmet Square in Istanbul occupies the site of the Hippodrome of Constantinople, the chariot-racing arena and civic centre of the Byzantine capital. Greatly enlarged by Constantine the Great around 324 AD, the track ran roughly 450 by 130 metres and could hold around 100,000 spectators. Racing was organised around rival supporter factions, the Blues and the Greens, whose partisanship reached into city politics. In 532 the Nika riots turned the arena into a killing ground when Justinian I's forces trapped the rebels inside.
Three monuments still stand along the former central barrier. The Obelisk of Theodosius is an ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III, brought from Karnak and re-erected in 390 AD on a carved marble base. The Serpent Column is a bronze monument taken from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. The Walled Obelisk, raised in the 10th century, was once sheathed in gilded bronze. The site forms part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Areas of Istanbul.
Did you know? The Obelisk of Theodosius is an ancient Egyptian obelisk carved for Pharaoh Thutmose III at Karnak; Emperor Theodosius I had it shipped to Constantinople and re-erected in 390 AD on a sculpted marble base.
How much time do you need at Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square)?
Around ~30 min works well for Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square) — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square)?
Yes — Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square) made the cut as one of 40 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Istanbul. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Istanbul
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Hear the story of Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Square)
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