Today's Sultanahmet Square sits atop the ancient Hippodrome, a chariot-racing arena expanded by Roman Emperor Constantine I that could once hold up to 100,000 spectators and served as the social and political center of the city.

Three remarkable monuments still stand in the square as reminders of this deep history: the 3,500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine Column (originally from the Temple of Apollo at Delphi), and the Walled Obelisk — each a trace left by a different civilization across the centuries.

Stretching between Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, this expansive square remains an essential stop for admiring ancient monuments and feeling the pulse of Istanbul's historic peninsula. It is within easy walking distance of Soie Boutique Hotel.