Milyon Taşı - Free Audio Guide

Milyon Taşı (Milion) is a Byzantine-era milestone in Istanbul, originally erected in the early 4th century under Constantine I as the ceremonial zero point from which distances of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire were measured. Located near Hagia Sophia and the former Hippodrome in the Sultanahmet precinct, it fulfilled both practical and symbolic functions within imperial administration and public procession rituals. Today only fragmentary remains survive, incorporated into the historic urban fabric and studied by historians and archaeologists as evidence of Constantinople’s infrastructure and imperial ideology. The monument’s cultural significance lies in its role as a marker of the capital’s centrality and the medieval road network. The site can be observed in the Sultanahmet area; visiting hours and admission arrangements depend on local site management and adjacent museum schedules. Accessibility is variable: the remnants sit in an open, uneven setting and on-site facilities may be limited.