Sultanahmet (Hippodrome) is one of the most important squares of İstanbul, a city, which is accepted as the starting point of the civilizations. Hagia Sophia, which managed to reach our day by defying centuries, Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), which gave the square its name, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, Arasta Bazaar, Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı), and Cistern of Philoxenos (Binbirdirek Cistern) are located on the square. Sultanahmet Square also hosts the Walled Obelisk, the Million Stone, Obelisk of Thutmose III, which was brought from Egypt, Serpent Column, which was brought from the temple of Apollo at Delphi, and the German Fountain.

Sultanahmet Square, which is seen as the most important touristic center of İstanbul, was referred as Hippodrome during the Roman and Byzantine eras. Hippodrome, constructed upon the order of Roman Emperor Septimius Severus towards the end of the 2nd century, was hugely expanded by the Great Constantine. It had a crowd capacity of 30 thousand by some historians and 60 thousands by others.

Hippodrome maintained its significance in the city, as a meeting, entertainment, thrill and sports center until the 10th century. As for the important structures and monuments in the city, these were built in the areas surrounding the Hippodrome. The Empire family palace, known as the “Great Palace”, was lying from right next to the Hippodrome until the sea coast. Baths, places of worship, religious, cultural, social and administrative centers were also placed nearby. In the Hippodrome, there are 3 monuments which managed to reach our day: the Walled Obelisk, Obelisk of Thutmose III, which was brought from Egypt, and the Serpent Column, which was brought from the temple of Apollo at Delphi.

Sultanahmet Square was referred as the Horse Square during the Ottoman era. It was the place of Janissary revolts, and of circumcision feast of Sultan’s sons (şehzade) and of festivals, which were lasting forty days and forty nights. Sultan Ahmed Mosque, which gave the historical square its name, was constructed by Architecture Sedefkar Mehmet Ağa, a pupil of Sinan, upon the order of Sultan Ahmed I, between the years 1609 and 1616. Sultan Ahmed Mosque, which is among the most important instruments of İstanbul silhouettes, is the first mosque constructed with 6 minarets. The interior of the mosque is lined with more than 20 thousand wonderful İznik Ceramic Tiles, and it is why the mosque is referred as “Blue Mosque” by the westerners. Sultan Ahmed, which became the main mosque of İstanbul, after Hagia Sophia’s conversion to museum in the year 1934, is a part of the zone added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, under the name of Historical Zones of İstanbul (Zones historiques d’İstanbul).

The Palace of İbrahim Pasha, located opposite of Sultan Ahmed Mosque, is the only example of rich and typical private palaces of the 16th century, which reached our day. The palace, where the Grand Vizier of Suleiman the Magnificent was residing, continues today to host its visitors today as the Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum. Right next to the historical square are located the Basilica Cistern and Cistern of Philoxenos. The German Fountain, which is a gift of Wilhelm II, German Emperor, to Sultan Abdülhamid II, is also located in the square.