Divanyolu Street

Divanyolu Street

Sultanahmet Istanbul

Divanyolu ( the Way of the Council) took its name from "divan-ı hümayun" (The council of ministres) which met in Topkapi Palace. The members of this countcil used this road while going to and from the place.

On the Divanyolu, the street of the Empire, there are various remnants of the Roman and Ottoman empires. The Divanyolu was the beginning point of the Mese meaning the main street of this city was built as part of Eastern Rome by the Emperor Constantine. On this main street in Çemberlistaş, Beyzıt and Aksaray, there were squares then like today. In Aksaray this main street bifurcated the south end extended twards Yedikule and the north one to Edirnekapı. The ottomans preserved the street between Beyazıt and Sultanahmet and called it the Divanyolu since the viziers soldiers and other officials passed on this way on their way to or from the divan-ı hümayun" (The council of ministres) in the Palace.Because Janissaries also passed this way later the part between. Çemberlitaş - Beyazıt was named after them.