Sarayburnu Arkeopark

Sarayburnu Arkeopark sits at the tip of the Sarayburnu promontory where the Golden Horn meets the Bosphorus, preserving in-situ remains of a Late Roman and Early Byzantine settlement dating from the 2nd to the 5th century AD. Excavations carried out between 2009 and 2011 uncovered the foundations of a residential structure and the paving of an ancient street — rare physical traces of Constantinople's urban fabric before the city reached its imperial peak. Entry is free and the site is openly accessible within the park. Interpretation panels give a general framework, though heavy sun damage has made several of them difficult to read, so some background knowledge of Byzantine history rewards the visit.