Around
the hotel and distances : Old
City Center Sultanahmet, Walking Distance to the Blue Mosque, St.
Sophia, The Underground Cistern, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar,
Airport: 18km (Ataturk Airport) In the Old City of Istanbul. Sultanahmet
are. Located in the heart of Istanbul; the capital of Empires and
Religions. Airport 15 Km, Taksim 7 Km, Levent 10 Km, Fair Area Büyük
Cekmece 30 Km,Yesiköy 13 Km, Karaköy 5 Km.
Number of rooms: 120 Beds, 64 Rooms,
6 Suites
Room details: Central air conditioning,
balcony, telephone, bathtub, hair dryer, television, cable TV, minibar
and/or mini refrigerator and safe box.
General Facilities: Central and/or
split air conditioning, Shower & Toilet, Direct Dial Telephone.24
hours Room Service, Pets accepted, Outdoor Parking, Generator
Wining&dining: 3 Restaurants
(Indoor cap.180, Outdoor cap.200), (Breakfast Hall cap.100), Snack
Bar, Cafeteria, 2 Bars
Price&Board: Bed and Breakfast
Hotel History and other Information's:
On approaching the Imperial Gate leading into the outer courtyard
of Topkapi Place one's attention is immediately attracted by the row
of old Istanbul houses in the street running off the left. This narrow
street between the palace walls and Ayasofya is known as the "Street
of the Cool Fountain". The houses built against the palace walls
form part of a complex that includes the fountain dated 1810 that
gives the street its name and a cistern forming part of the chain
of great water depots from the Roman period, the whole reflecting
the character of a city that has served as capital of three great
empires. In the last twenty-five to thirty years, a period which has
seen great changes in the size of the Istanbul population and the
lost of the old economic balance, the street of the Cool Fountain
was gradually abandoned by its former owners, leaving the houses in
a state of neglect and dilapi- dation.
In 1985-6 the district was taken in hand by the Turkish Touring and
Automobile Association, which has restored many old sections of Istanbul,
and revitalized in the service of present-day tourism and cultural
life. The whole complex was completely rebuilt as the property of
the Association and the old street restored to its former state using
modern materials. The nine buildings in the street, which begins with
the house owned by the Directorate of Pious Foundations immediately
adjacent to the Imperial Gate, were converted into a row of guesthouses.
The Roman cistern was restored and opened to the public as a taverna
in the Roman style. The nine hotel buildings consist of a row of guesthouses
with a reception office between the cistern and the library. On arrival,
the visitor receives a single key from the reception office serving
both for the street door and the door of the room, making the visitor
feel completely at home. The visitor is met by a single member of
staff. Every house in this street, which is completely closed to traffic,
greets the visitor with the name or perfume, such as Jasmine House,
Honeysuckle House, Rose Mansion, Cyclamen House, etc. etc. The houses
consist of between five and ten rooms, each furnished in a particular
color: the Yellow Room, Blue Room or Green Room. The interior is furnished
in the 19th century Turkish style in which traditional taste and Western
influence achieved a perfect balance. The armchairs with tasseled
fringes, the velvet curtains, the brackets and mirrors, all offer
the visitor a warm, friendly atmosphere.
On opening the window one is confronted by the breathtaking view of
Ayasofya towering up in front. |
