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Istanbul - Day 4 - Thursday 5th May
This was a free day and we spent it visiting the Archaeological Museum complex and the Mosaic Museum, which we spent ages trying to find as pedestrian signs in Istanbul leave a lot to be desired. We also visited the Railway Terminus (of the Orient Express); there is a small museum in the station buildings.
The Archaeological Museum has an incredible range of items from all over Turkey and some from former Turkish lands around the Mediterranean. There are many finely carved sarcophagi and stelae and many small finds from all periods.
Sarcophogus of Alexander the Great About 300 BC A Sarcophogus from 300 AD
Model of Byzantine city showing Hippodrome, Great Palace and Hagia Sophia basilica church
Marble water pipes from Byzantine period Mosaic from Great Palace Painting of Constantinople showing fortifications along shore
The Tile Kiosk was opposite the Museum. It was built in 1472 and is decorated with colourful Iznik tiles, with other Ottoman ceramics on display.
The Mosaic Museum was a little disappointing. The main exhibit was a very large floor mosaic from the Great Palace which was different in not having the usual mythological motifs. Instead it showed rural and hunting scenes.
The Railway Terminus close to our hotel is the one where the Istanbul portion of the Orient Express finished. It is small by modern standards, having only 2 platforms for international departures and 2 for suburban routes. The station buildings are as they were built in the 1920s, somewhat faded elegance.
Original Front Display Loco Side entrance now main commuter entrance Platform 1 Original entrance hall
A small museum is located in one large room on platform 1. Items one display are mainly small items of equipment, a few uniforms on mannequins, an electric locomotive cab.
Display model of electric loco cab - Interior and exterior Mannequin in old uniform [Top of Page]
