Mese (Constantinople)

The Mese started at the Milion monument, close to the Hagia Sophia, and led straight westwards.

This stretch of the street was also known as the Regia (ἡ Ῥηγία, "Imperial Road"), as it formed the original ceremonial route from the Great Palace and the Augustaion square to the forum of the city's founder.

The most characteristic such procession was the triumphal entry of a victorious emperor, who entered the city through the Golden Gate and followed the Mese to the Great Palace, while jubilant crowds lining the street would greet him and welcome the imperial army home.

[1] The modern Divan Yolu is lined with cafes, restaurants, hotels, bookshops and other amenities aimed at tourists.

Of passing interest on the modern street is the Lale Restaurant which was, in the 1970s, the famous Pudding Shop that served as a gathering place for hippies heading for Kathmandu and appeared in the Alan Parker film Midnight Express.