BEYAZIT SQUARE AND MOSQUE - Istanbul

Mehmet the Conqueror decided to build his first palace on the site known as "Forum Tauri" during the Byzantine period. All of the cultures embracing the city of Istanbul have succeeded in leaving behind their traces in Beyazit. Today, Beyazit Square and its surrounding area hosting many historical monuments comprise one of the biggest open air museums of the city.

Beyazit Square was built during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Theodosius at the end of the 4th century and was the largest square of the city. There was a gigantic triumphal arch in the center decorated by bronze bullheads, hence its name "Forum Tauri," which means Square of the Bulls. This gigantic monument was destroyed in the 1509 earthquake, which almost destroyed the entire city.
However, the remains of the monument are on exhibit in the Archeological Museum and in specially constructed areas in Beyazit Square. To the north of the square is the campus of Istanbul University, which is located on the land where Mehmet the Conqueror built the city's first Ottoman palace.
The huge gate, which separates the university campus from the
square, was constructed in the 19th century.
The present day name of the square comes from Beyazit Mosque, which was built in the 15th century.
The Ottomans had built many mosques, especially in Edirne and Bursa, so they were very experienced in building mosques.
Yet, after Istanbul had become the capital of an empire, it was necessary to construct buildings that suited that empire's magnificence.
The Beyazit Mosque, which was built for Bayezit II (son of Mehmet the Conqueror), stands as an example of this movement and is of great significance among Ottoman architectural monuments. The Beyazit Mosque was built in the architectural design of kulliya, which continued to be adapted in the construction of Ottoman mosques built in the following decades.
Most kulliya buildings of the mosque were torn down and only madrasas, hammams, and some shops remain.
The mosque's madrasa stands by itself in Beyazit Square today. This madrasa is now a museum that houses excellent exhibits of the Ottoman art of calligraphy.
The school in the kulliya complex is used as a library today. Situated between the mosque and the tomb of Sultan Bayezit II, is a coffeehouse shaded by large branches of an old chestnut tree, which is one of the most popular places visited by students of the nearby university and tourists.
If you go to the tomb of Bayezit II then you should take a moment to see the Sahaflar Bazaar, the meaning of which translates to the Second Hand Books Bazaar.
For book collectors this bazaar houses invaluable manuscripts and unique books. At the end of the courtyard where the second-hand bookstores are located you will find one of the entrances to the Grand Bazaar, or "Kapalı Çarşı."

Beyazit Tower
The city of Istanbul experienced many disastrous fires when most buildings were made of wood. Small fires spread rapidly because there was no efficient or quick way to extinguish the fires at the time and some fires were capable of destroying entire neighborhoods quite rapidly.
As a result, in 1828, Sultan Bayezit II built a tower in Beyazit Square to detect fires as early as possible. The Balyans, a well known family of architects, erected the Beyazit Fire Tower.
It is a 50 meter high stone structure that stands, today, within the campus of Istanbul University, and is still used as afire and air surveillance tower.