Historic Areas of Istanbul

Historic Areas of Istanbul

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: i, ii, iii, iv
Reference	356
Inscription	1985 (9th Session)

The Historic Areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

It includes locations such as the Galata Bridge, the Seraglio Point where the Topkapı Palace, the Hagia Sophia, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Yeni Mosque near the Galata Bridge, the Beyazıt Tower and the Süleymaniye Mosque.

The World Heritage site covers four zones, illustrating the major phases of the city's history using its most prestigious monuments:

• the Archaeological Park, which in 1953 and 1956 was defined at the tip of the peninsula;
• the Süleymaniye quarter, protected in 1980 and 1981;
• the Zeyrek quarter, protected in 1979;
• the zone of the ramparts, protected in 1981.