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Constantinople was the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1922. Subsequently, after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it would be renamed Istanbul about 30 years later. The below pictures were produced using the Photochrom process; which applies artificial colour to black and white pictures. These colour pictures depict the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the 19th century.
Let us take a look at Constantinople during the 1890s- in rare colour pictures.
1) Yeni Cami mosque, also known as the New Mosque depicted behind the Eminönü bazaar.
![A picture of the Yeni Cami mosque in Constantinople in colour](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 724 528'%2F%3E)
2) Imperial gate, Topkapi Palace, the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.
![A picture of the Imperial gate, Topkapi Palace](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 704 519'%2F%3E)
3) Dolmabahçe Palace, which served as the main administrative centre of the Ottoman Empire.
![A picture of the Dolmabahçe Palace](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 702 522'%2F%3E)
4) A colour picture of Sultan Bajazid’s mosque in Constantinople. Ottoman Sultan Bayezid I built it between 1391–1395.
![A colour picture of Sultan Bajazid’s mosque in Constantinople.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 763 562'%2F%3E)
5) A colour picture depicting the harbour of Constantinople.
![A colour picture depicting the harbour of Constantinople.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 706 508'%2F%3E)
6) A picture of the Scutari district, a residential area in Constantinople.
![A picture of the Scutari district, a residential area in Constantinople.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 541 721'%2F%3E)
7) A picture depicting the Koca Sinan Pasha complex. It was built by Koca Sinan Pasha, who was also known as the ‘conqueror of Yemen’.
![A picture depicting the Koca Sinan Pasha complex](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 697 502'%2F%3E)
8) Bakers and cooks selling their wares on the Rue de Stamboul.
![A picture of Bakers and cooks selling their wares on the Rue de Stamboul](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 719 527'%2F%3E)
9) A picture depicting the Galata Bridge, which is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn.
![A picture depicting the Galata Bridge, which is located at the northern shore of the Golden Horn- colour pictures contantinople](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 705 522'%2F%3E)
10) A picture depicting the neighbourhood of Fenerbahçe, which is located on the Asian side at the shore of the Marmara.
![A picture depicting the neighbourhood of Fenerbahçe- colour pictures Constantinople](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 709 527'%2F%3E)
11) A colour picture depicting Constantinople in its waning days, before the fall of the Ottoman Empire.
![A colour picture depicting the glorious Ottoman Empire Constantinople.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 742 537'%2F%3E)
12) A picture depicting the Golden Horn waterway, a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus.
![A picture depicting the Golden Horn waterway, a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 779 579'%2F%3E)
13) A picture depicting the Seraskierat(War Ministry). It was located in an old district on the European side of the city.
![A picture depicting the Seraskierat(War Ministry)- colour pictures Constantinople](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 718 522'%2F%3E)
14) A colour picture depicting a mosque and the street market in Constantinople.
![A colour picture depicting a mosque and the street market in Constantinople.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 793 568'%2F%3E)
15) A picture depicting the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III. It was built by the Ottoman Sultan Ahmed III in 1728 in Ottoman rococo architecture.
![A picture depicting the Fountain of Sultan Ahmed III](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 729 530'%2F%3E)
16) A colour picture depicting the Galata Bridge and a view of Pera, an old district of Constantinople.
![A colour picture depicting the Galata Bridge and a view of Pera, an old district of Constantinople.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 710 518'%2F%3E)
17) A picture depicting the New Mosque at night.
![A picture depicting the New Mosque in the night.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 706 515'%2F%3E)
18) A picture of the Eyüp Sultan Cemetery: one of the largest and oldest cemeteries. Additionally, it hosts the graves of various Ottoman sultans and their subjects.
![A picture of the Eyüp Sultan Cemetery](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 762 561'%2F%3E)
19) A picture depicting street barbers at work near the Seraskierat.
![A picture depicting street barbers at work near the Seraskierat.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 778 563'%2F%3E)
20) A picture depicting the Bosphorus, Rumeli and Anadoluhisarı.
![A picture depicting the Bosphorus, Rumeli and Anadoluhisarı.](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg' viewBox%3D'0 0 753 555'%2F%3E)