Visiting Hagia Sophia with Prof. Nelson
I am working for a Getty Institute Summer Programme that takes place in Istanbul with a special emphasis on art history and thanks to the programme, I had the pleasure to meet Robert S. Nelson who is the writer of Hagia Sophia, 1850-1950 : Holy Wisdom Modern Monument and who is a Rice gradute (hopefully like me if i finish my ph.d one day). We had a field trip to Hagia Sophia and although it was my third visit in the last three summers, with Prof. Nelson’s guidance, this has become the most informative one…
I have never visited Sogukcesme Street, just behind Hagia Sophia, whose preservation story is told by Zeynep Çelik here. Honestly, this street looks so artificial, so theme-park like that, I don’t see I will need to see it again…
Erkan!
You hadn’t been Soğukçeşme Street and/or Fener, Balat before??? And if you weren’t working for Getty Institute Summer Programme, you wouldn’t be those places, I guess! Shame on you!:P (Don’t pull a long face, please! I’m kidding you know…)We should had met at the university, then I would have definetly dragged you with me!
Soğukçeşme is such a peaceful place…a very good place to take a rest while strolling down after the tourist turmoil in Topkapı Palace and Hagia Sophia.