Istanbul
The Hippodrome, Hipodrom in Turkish, is the long square that grew up on the racetrack of Constantinople. In the middle, ancient monuments still stand in a row, free to see at any hour.
The racetrack
The Romans began the Hippodrome around the year 200, when the city was called Byzantium. Emperor Constantine enlarged it in the 300s. The track could hold tens of thousands of spectators.
For centuries chariot races were run here, the city's favourite. The races were also festivals, with music and ceremonies for the emperor.
What to see in the square
The square has kept the long, narrow shape of the track. The monuments stand in a row, as they once did in the middle of the circuit. The tallest is an obelisk covered in ancient figures.
Further south rises a second obelisk, which the Turks call Örme Dikilitaş. At the northern end there is an eight-sided pavilion with a dome, from the early 1900s.
A square for everyone
When the races ended, the track became a great square. Over the centuries it saw festivals and markets. It is still the open-air living room of the neighbourhood.
Locals cross it on their way to the tram. They sit on the benches and sometimes buy a simit, the sesame bread ring, from the carts. In the evening, lights illuminate the monuments one after another.
