Along the Golden Horn

We poke around forgotten corners just over this hauntingly beautiful inlet from the Bosphorus.

      

On the Golden Horn Ferry, The Roman Aqueduct on the left

Our four hour tour starts with a ferry ride from Eminonu zigzaging both sides of the Golden Horn to end in Eyup.

Eyup is an old part of the city just outside the medieval walls and houses a shrine-sacred to Muslims.

We make some thrilling – and chilling - ”finds” on cobbled streets as we trace its narrow alleyways and ancient squares.

Our morning tea is at Pierre Loti Café, very romantic almost melancholic amidst the oldest cemetery of the city.

Pierre Loti Café at far end of the Golden Horn

We then walk our way back through Balat  which houses one of Istanbul’s surviving mediaeval synagogues and trendiest houses  that are now enjoying their second or even third type of use.

In Fener we see the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate housing a column which is believed to have been used for the binding and flogging of Jesus in Jerusalem.

Greek Orthodox Patriarchal Church in Fener

The magnificent Neo-Gothic, Neo Baroque -well literally hand made doll house -St.Stephens Church will be our last stop before we end up our walk in Eminonu.