Secret Passages of Istanbul

Istanbul has hosted many civilizations throughout history. These civilizations left glamorous legacies all over the city. The city also has hidden beauties that most people are not aware of. Passages stand out among the hidden beauties of the city. Some of these passages are thought to have been built so that emperors could escape when a revolt broke out, patriarchs could go to masses, and state administrators could hold secret meetings. Some passages served as the city’s water transport system. In this article, we will talk about the secret passages in Istanbul, and we will take you on a mysterious adventure.

According to some rumors, the Köpek Öldüren Passage, which starts from an unknown part of the Basilica Palace, passes under the sea where the Bosphorus opens to the Marmara. When you go in a straight line from Üsküdar, it reaches from the Üsküdar-Kadıköy coast under the Marmara and reaches the monastery in Kınalıada.

In some other various legends, under the Grand Bazaar, there are multiple passages that resemble a mole’s nest. One of these passages is the underpass that goes from Sultanahmet, the center of the city during the Roman period, to Aksaray. It is claimed that the passage starting from Sultanahmet goes all the way to Aksaray.

Especially the historical buildings on the Historic Peninsula have direct connections with underground tunnels. There are tunnels that lead to the exit in the form of a single corridor, as well as tunnels that have more than one directional alternative to moving further away from the entrance. The walls and ceilings of the tunnels, which stand with dense columns, were built with bricks in some places and stones in others.

Under the Hippodrome area in Sultanahmet, there are high and wide walls built with bricks, spider and insect colonies, and dark, unknown corridors and rooms.

One of the tunnel entrances is in Yıldız Technical University Davutpaşa Campus. Although it is known that this tunnel runs from Davutpaşa to Koca Mustafa Paşa district, it has been closed with concrete for security purposes.