German fountain

This is the German Fountain! This exquisite structure, topped by a neo-Byzantine gazebo, was a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor and King of Prussia. It was built in 1898 to commemorate the second anniversary of the emperor’s visit to Istanbul. It was actually assembled in Germany and shipped to Istanbul. But why the big present? The emperor had great plans for the Middle East. He sought to forge a close alliance with the Ottoman Empire and even planned a grand journey starting right here in Istanbul. He saw himself as the standard-bearer of the Muslim world, no less! His ultimate vision was a Berlin-Baghdad railroad, a fast-track route connecting Europe and Asia. Problem was, this ambitious project was well beyond the budget of the Ottoman Sultan, who, while grateful for the Emperor’s support, remained wary of his true intentions. He suspected that the archaeologists in charge of the excavations were in fact geologists assessing the oil reserves in the soil. Long story short, Wilhelm II was welcomed with open arms by Sultan Abdülhamid II, and gifted him this fountain in a gesture of friendship and support. Today, it adorns the Hippodrome square. Take a peek under the dome – it’s covered in dazzling gold mosaics!