The Seven Hills of Constantinople

Landmarks, Mosques, and History

Constantinople, like ancient Rome, was built on seven hills, each rich with history and remarkable landmarks. These hills rise and fall across the old city, giving it a dramatic landscape. Here’s a simple guide to each of the hills, their locations, and what you can find on them today or in historical records.

The First Hill

Home of the Empire’s Greatest Buildings

The First Hill is located closest to the tip of the promontory, where the land juts into the sea. This area contains some of the most important historical landmarks:

The Seraglio (Topkapi Palace), the grand palace of the Ottoman sultans

The ancient church of St. Irene

The world-famous Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia)

The Hippodrome, once the center of sports and public life in Byzantine Constantinople

This hill marked the heart of imperial and religious life for centuries.

The Second Hill

The Burnt Column and Byzantine Memories

Separated from the First Hill by a valley running from Hagia Sophia to the Golden Horn, the Second Hill is known for:

The Column of Constantine the Great, a massive porphyry monument

Locally called the Burnt Column or Çemberlitaş

This column was a symbol of Constantine’s founding of the city as the “New Rome Sofia City Tour.”

The Third Hill

Mosques and Government Buildings

Divided from the Second Hill by the valley of the Grand Bazaar, the Third Hill is known for:

The War Office and Fire-Signal Tower

The Mosque of Sultan Bayezid II

The grand Mosque of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent

This hill became a central part of Ottoman administrative and religious life.

The Fourth Hill

Home of the Conqueror’s Mosque

Set farther from the shoreline than the previous three, the Fourth Hill is divided from the Third by a valley running from the Valens Aqueduct to the Golden Horn. At its top sits:

The Mosque of Sultan Mehmed II, also known as Fatih Camii, built by the conqueror of Constantinople

The Fifth Hill

Steep Ridge Overlooking the Golden Horn

The Fifth Hill is actually a steep ridge extending from the Fourth Hill almost to the water, in the Phanar district. On its summit:

Stands the Mosque of Sultan Selim

This hill rises sharply above a broad plain that lies between the Third and Fourth Hills.

The Sixth Hill

Ancient Palaces and Byzantine Legacy

Separated from the Fifth Hill by a valley leading from Balat Gate to the large Byzantine cistern called Tchoukour Bostan, the Sixth Hill is historically significant for:

The ruins of the Palace of the Porphyrogenitus (Tekfur Sarayı)

The district of Eğri Kapı

The famous Blachernae Palace, mentioned by the historian Nicetas Choniates

The Seventh Hill

The Dry Hill of the Southwest

The Seventh Hill lies in the southwestern corner of the city. Known in ancient times as Xerolophos, or “The Dry Hill”, due to its poor soil. This hill features:

The Avret Bazaar

The remains of the Column of Arcadius

The neighborhoods of Altımermer and Psamathia

A City of Layers and Heights

These seven hills gave Constantinople its distinctive shape and character. Each hill played a unique role in the history of Byzantium and later the Ottoman Empire. Exploring them means walking through centuries of culture, religion, and imperial power.