The Column of Constantine, Istanbul, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Column of Constantine, known in Turkish as Çemberlitaş, is a Roman monument in the Fatih district of Istanbul, raised to mark the dedication of Constantinople in 330 AD. It is the oldest Constantinian monument still standing in the city, and it has watched over the main avenue of the old peninsula for about 1,700 years.

The story behind it

Emperor Constantine the Great had the column built around 328 AD, and it celebrated the dedication of his new capital on 11 May 330. It stood at the centre of the Forum of Constantine, on one of the hills of the new city, along the Mese, the main street of ancient Constantinople. On top stood a statue of the emperor, probably nude, wearing a radiate crown and holding a spear and an orb. This image echoed the great colossi of Rhodes and Rome and the sun gods Helios and Apollo.

The shaft was built from stacked blocks of porphyry, a dark purple stone quarried in Egypt and long linked with emperors. Earthquakes, fires and sieges have battered it, and it has been repaired many times, including in Ottoman days. The iron hoops that bind it give the Turkish name Çemberlitaş, meaning Hooped Stone. A popular legend says that relics tied to the crucifixion of Jesus lie buried beneath it, though this is a tale and not a proven fact.

What to look for

• Look at the shaft itself and the metal bands around it, which explain the name Hooped Stone.
• Notice the dark, reddish-purple tone of the stone, the porphyry once reserved for imperial monuments.
• Look up to the top and picture the statue of Constantine that once crowned the column, rising over the forum.
• Take in the setting: the column stands beside the busy street that follows the line of the ancient Mese.

Tips for your visit

• You see the column from the street and it is fenced, so you cannot go inside. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for a good look.
• Early morning is quietest, which makes it easier to photograph the full height without crowds.
• It sits in the old city, so Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar are all within reach on foot or by tram.
• Combine it with a coffee or a stroll along the surrounding streets, where Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman layers sit side by side.

See it on a quest

Istanbul Highlights: The Royal Adventure lets you reach the column on foot as one stop of a longer route through the old city. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group.

Mysteries of Constantinople: An Istanbul Riddle Quest suits anyone drawn to the Byzantine past of the city. You walk between the places on the route, hear the story of each one as you get there, and solve a riddle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.