The Greeks and Romans often held chariot races, and therefore the Hippodrome was a major feature of the policy (the city). In the year 203 Septimius Severus started the reconstruction of the destroyed cities and it is the first thing he did - started the construction of the Hippodrome. Constantine I made the Hippodrome territory more and more beautiful. During his reign, the Hippodrome was the length of 500 meters and width - 130 meters. Treadmills have a U-shape. They surrounded the spectator stands, designed for 40,000 spectators. Luxury bed Emperor was located in the south-east side and is connected to the palace.

For a long time the Hippodrome was the center of social and sporting life of the capital of the Byzantine Empire .  It held chariot races, gladiator fights with wild animals, and held performances, acrobats, musicians and conducted ceremonies .  Gradually, the townspeople were divided into two teams of fans - "blue" and "green" .  The colors just such clothes wore popular teams participating in the race .  Often the clashes "fans" were political and religious in nature, accompanied by riots, pogroms and bloody slaughters .  During one of such a large massacre that occurred in the year 532, a fire broke out, half the city burned down, killing some 30 000 people .  The imperial residence was moved from the Grand Palace and the Hippodrome began to collapse .  In 1204, participants of the IV Crusade completely destroyed and looted Hippodrome .  The winners are not fond of the Ottoman Constantinople chariot races, so do not engage in the restoration of the Hippodrome, which has turned into a source of marble columns and stone blocks for construction .

After the Sultanahmet Mosque was built, the place of the former Hippodrome became known as Al Meydan (Square of Horses). There were carried out training of horses and a variety of public events. Today, this area is called Sultanahmet Meydan (Sultanahmet Square). Racecourse were covered with earth (thickness of 4-5 meters) and created a huge park.

From the ruins of the Hippodrome preserved only fragments of walls and arches. Once the wall of the Hippodrome, which is called "spin" adorn the monuments, statues, obelisks, hourglass and other trophies. It has survived Egyptian obelisk (20 meters), Column of Constantine Porphyrogenitus (height 32 meters) and Snake column from the Temple of Apollo. Survived and 4 bronze horse (4th century BC), which were installed on the roof of the starting premises Hippodrome. In 1204, the Crusaders stole bronze horses and set them on the facade of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice. But in 1797, Napoleon conquered Italy and ordered the horses to install Arch Carousel in Paris. And in 1815 the horses returned to Venice, and today they are in the museum of St. Mark.

In the western part of the Hippodrome is the palace of Ibrahim Pasha (16th century). Now here is the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, which presents the ancient manuscripts, carpets, tiles iznikskie, miniatures and old clothes.