Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul
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Situated at the edge of Europe and Asia, Istanbul has romance woven into its very structure. With architectural legacies from the great empires of the past, it’s no wonder that Turkey’s most populous city has attracted the lenses of Hollywood’s biggest productions over the years. Join us as we guide you through the locations that welcomed some very familiar faces, with histories that go far beyond the silver screen.

By Victoria Luxford

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Sirkeci Railway Station (Murder on the Orient Express, 2017) – We start our journey, appropriately, at a railway station. Or at least a former station – and one with major links to railway history, as it served as a terminus for The Orient Express. This inspired Kenneth Branagh and the makers of Murder on the Orient Express to create a train station set modelled after Sirkeci, acknowledging its importance by holding the Turkish premiere of the film at the actual station. In the movie, the station is the beginning point for Hercule Poirot (Branagh) and his murderous journey.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Eminonu Square (Skyfall, 2012) – As it turns out, Istanbul has been a regular haunt for 007 over the years, but the most successful Bond adventure featured Daniel Craig’s secret agent in a high-octane chase through the city’s vibrant Eminonu Square. The area is known for its bustling activity, particularly the markets filled with a mixture of locals and tourists. Bond fans may be sad to hear that motorcycle spy chases are a rare occurrence, although that does make shopping easier!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Armageddon, 1998) – Disaster movies are usually a good place to spot various global locations, as many of these movies feature montages where different landmarks around the world meet their ultimate fate. In Armageddon, we get a brief shot of Sultan Ahmed Mosque, informally known as the Blue Mosque, while the world celebrates its survival thanks to Bruce Willis’ noble sacrifice. The functioning mosque was built in the early 1600s and understandably draws many visitors thanks to its stunning architecture.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Hagia Sophia (Argo, 2012) – Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning drama tells the true story of the rescue of American citizens from Tehran. With political realities rendering Iran unavailable for filming, Istanbul stood in for the country – but those familiar with the city will recognise many locations, including Hagia Sophia, an iconic mosque and one of Turkey’s most popular landmarks. According to anecdotes from the cast, filming in the interior of the building involved changing 4,000 lightbulbs in the already existing lighting system in order to get the desired effect on screen. How long does it take to change 4,000 light bulbs? About a day, but the gorgeous scenes shot in the interior of Hagia Sophia, with its breathtaking mosaics and architecture, were definitely worth it.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Legacy Ottoman Hotel (Taken 2, 2012) – The sequel to Liam Neeson’s blockbuster hit was largely set in Istanbul, beginning with his character, Brian Mills, vacationing in the city with his family before his past catches up with him. The hotel featured is the five-star Legacy Ottoman Hotel, a building with a unique history behind its lavish accommodations. Formerly called Istanbul 4th Vakıf Han, it was constructed in the 1910s, and during its history has served as army barracks as well as the Istanbul Stock Exchange. Converted into a hotel in 2006, the building’s lobby and exteriors can be seen in the film, and are the ideal base for any visitors looking to live like an action star!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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The Basilica Cistern (From Russia with Love, 1963) – Almost 50 years before Daniel Craig visited, Sean Connery could be found beneath the city in the iconic Basilica Cistern, finding private passage thanks to his contact, Ali Kerim Bey (Pedro Armendáriz), who helps him to gain access to the Soviet Consulate. Built by a Byzantine Emperor in the 6^th century and located in the peninsula of Sarayburnu, it’s a sight to behold in its own right, but has been portrayed many times in film, literature and even computer games; in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (2011), players can explore a digitised version of the cistern.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Four Seasons Hotel (Charlie’s Angels, 2019) – Every trip needs a plan of action, and where better to organise the day’s events than the rooftop of the Four Seasons Hotel in Istanbul, where the latest Charlie’s Angels movie was filmed. In this scene, most of the city is featured in a swooping establishing shot, before The Angels (Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska) meet with their boss, Bosley (Elizabeth Banks), who describes the port city as “the crossroads of the world”. This is all done in the rooftop lounge of the hotel, offering views fit for international agents.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Kız Kulesi/ The Maiden’s Tower (The World Is Not Enough, 1999) – Bond rounded out the 20^th century with another visit to Istanbul, this time to rescue M (Dame Judi Dench) from the clutches of the evil Elektra King (Sophie Marceau). Bond enthusiasts will be interested to know that the tower, initially built as a station for ships, also appears in the background of previous Bond adventure From Russia with Love. A landmark of the city, it served as M’s prison in the Pierce Brosnan-starring film.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul .
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Port Of Istanbul (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 2011) – The tense spy thriller used Istanbul’s main passenger ferry terminal as the setting for Tom Hardy’s portion of the story, the first time the area had been used in film. Surrounded by water, sea travel plays an important role in the city’s history and current life, with Istanbul boasting the largest municipal ferry operation in the world. As well as following in the footsteps of the British star, the ferry services offer panoramic views of this beautiful part of the world.

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Topkapı Palace (The Water Diviner, 2014) – While Armageddon filmed the exterior, Russell Crowe’s directorial debut has the distinction of being the first feature production to film inside the Blue Mosque. The story of a father’s search for his sons in the aftermath of World War I took the production to Istanbul, where Crowe’s lead character can be seen in various parts of the city, one of which is Topkapı Palace. Located in the Faith District, it contains important artefacts and relics from the country’s history, including a rare transcript of the Quran.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Istanbul

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