Walled Obelisk
Walled Obelisk
3.5
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The area
Neighbourhood: Sultanahmet
With so many unmissable attractions within a mere stroll of each other – and all set around the site of an ancient Byzantine hippodrome – Sultanahmet is an overwhelmingly popular tourist destination, and a prime location for visitors to be wowed on a truly epic scale. Beyond the wonders of the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and more, this relatively small area of Istanbul somehow manages to retain an air of peace and calm. It offers visitors a significantly less celebrated but nonetheless pleasant network of quaint lanes and side streets, majestic panoramas of the Bosphorus, and an impressive assortment of accommodation options for all budgets and tastes.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

3.5
3.5 of 5 bubbles37 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
13
Average
14
Poor
3
Terrible
0

Ronald L
Denver, CO2,962 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Long narrow mall outside the wall. This area used to be where the Roman gladiators performed. Grandstands were on the side where the mosques are today. Used to be seven columns in the center, only three today. This area known as the spina bisecting the race area in the Hippodrome. The last column known as the Walled Obelisk.
Written 9 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Frank D
Slidell, LA1,361 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2022
The Walled Obelisk is at the South end of SultanAhmet Square (a.k.a. the old Hippodrome). It shares this lovely square and park with other ancient artifacts as well as nice places to just sit and relax. If you're going to the Blue Mosque, Topkapi, Hagia Sophia or Hagia Irene you'll be within a quick walk of the square and adjoining park.

The 105 foot tall obelisk was likely built by Theodosius and was later restored by Constantine VII in the 10th Century. It was covered with brass plates before they were stripped off to produce coinage before the arrival of the 4th crusade in 1204.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Razvan Gaspar
Cluj-Napoca, Romania50 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2018 • Friends
The Walled Obelisk, is situated on the southern side of the Hippodrome of Constantinople, modern Istanbul, Turkey. Its original construction date is unknown, but it is named after Constantine VII, who repaired it in the X century. The obelisk was reconstructed of roughly cut stones by Constantine VII and decorated with gilded bronze plaques that portrayed the victories of Basil I, the grandfather of Constantine VII. However, reportedly these gilded bronze plaques were stolen and melted down by Fourth Crusaders in 1204.
Written 11 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alice R
Hobart, Australia8,926 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2019 • Friends
One of few surviving relics left, this large column takes minimal time to look at, but take time to read about the history.
Written 25 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

tripsandfood55
London, UK4,679 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2023
A 32m high Roman monument in Sultanahmet Square (previously known as the Hippodrome of Constantinople). Worth a look as several other attractions may be found near by. It apparently had gilded bronze plaques portraying the victories of Basil 1, that were removed and melted down by the Fourth Crusaders in 1204. There is an information board in a few languages providing some history and detail about it.
Written 21 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Wombling_Free_7548
Bristol, UK2,167 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Not as fancy as the other Obelisk but still definitely worth a look. The square that it sits on is impressive and this Obelisk contributes to that,
Written 7 May 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

David D
1,212 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2022
Standing at one end of the inner circle of the old hippodrome, this obelisk was created by the Eastern Roman Empire. It was later restored and coated with brass and gold, but these plates have long since disappeared.
Written 20 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ginges_revenge
Brisbane, Australia5,858 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
One of the 3 last ancient monuments left, located in the Hippodrome, this was restored by the emperor Constantine and his son Ramos. Its 32 feet of great history.
Well worth a look.
Written 8 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

atulya_sinha
Kolkata (Calcutta), India870 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019
Constantine I, the founder of the city of Constantinople, had planned to transport two grand obelisks from the ruins of Karnak to adorn the Hippodrome. Eventually only one of them reached the city during the reign of Emperor Theodosius and it was installed at a prominent spot in the Hippodrome, where it still stands.

Later, it was decided to construct an obelisk to maintain symmetry within the Hippodrome. The new obelisk was built of stone and covered with bronze plates; it was topped with a globe, which might have functioned as a sundial during the games. This obelisk was repaired by Constantine VII in the 10th century and it is known as the Column of Constantine in his honour. It is also known as the walled obelisk, as its bronze covering has been stripped away. The remaining structure appears rather crude (one author describes it as a “blocky stone needle”) – and consequently it attracts much lesser attention than the richly carved column of Theodosius.
Written 1 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Anas A
Gothenburg, Sweden859 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2019 • Couples
Beautiful obelisk located in the Hippodrome (open air museum). With checking if you are visiting Sultanahmet District. Free for the public.
Written 7 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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WALLED OBELISK (2024): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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