Hippodrome in 1573 If you’ve ever wandered through Sultanahmet and found yourself in a long open plaza lined with benches, tea vendors, and a suspiciously racetrack-shaped layout, congratulations, you’ve stepped into Hippodrome Square, one of the most historically layered places in Istanbul. I have walked through this space so many times (it is right in front of the Blue Mosque) without knowing anything about it. I did some digging and felt compelled to share what I found wit