In the first part of our guide to Turkey series, we explore the city of Istanbul. Istanbul is a magnificent city which is Turkey’s historical centre. It is unusual in that it straddles the border of two continents: Europe and Asia, and visitors to the city can easily set foot on two different continents in just one day. Most of Istanbul’s attractions are historical sites and museums which teach visitors about the rich history of the city and the country.
Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is probably the most recognizable building on the Istanbul skyline. It is actually called the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, but is commonly known as the Blue Mosque because of the colour of the tiles used to decorate the interior. It was built at the beginning of the 17th Century and is still used today as a fully functional place of worship. The prayer area is intricately covered with thousands of tiles to make beautiful patterns on the walls, columns, ceiling and dome.
Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is a large covered market in Istanbul. It is, in fact, one of the world’s oldest and the largest covered markets, comprising more than 60 covered streets and more than 3,000 individual shops. It is extremely popular amongst tourists and attracts around 300,000 visitors every day. It sells a wide variety of different items and foodstuffs to buy as souvenirs and is a favorite amongst all shopaholics.
Topkapi Palace
This palace was constructed in the mid-15th Century and was the residence of Ottoman sultans for the best part of 4 centuries. It was occupied by members of the ottoman dynasty, but was also used for official state occasions and for entertaining important people in the country. After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, it was turned into a museum and it is now a major attraction for tourists visiting Istanbul. It is a must-see for anyone who is looking to learn more about the history of Turkey and to find out more about its rich history.
Hagia Sophia
This building is one of a kind in terms of the number of religious factions which have used it as a place of worship since it was first built in the 6th Century. It was initially used as a Greek Orthodox cathedral and was then converted into a Roman Catholic cathedral. It was then used as a mosque until the early 20th century. In 1935 it was converted into a museum.
Gulhane Park
Gulhane is a word which comes from Persian and means ‘house of flowers’. Gulhane Park is within walking distance of the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. It is one of the largest parks in the Turkish capital and is definitely the oldest. The ocean breeze and the shade from the tall trees make it a favorite place to cool down on hot summer days for both tourists and locals alike.
Be sure to visit all of these places if you want to make the most of your time in Istanbul and really sample the highlights of such a unique and interesting city. Stay tune for our next Turkey Tourism series as we explore other cities such as Cappadocia, Canakkale, Troy, etc.
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