Napoleon once said,“If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.”
It has stood at the centre of many of the world’s ancient civilisations and today offers a cosmopolitan atmosphere and a wealth of historic and religious sites. Centuries ago Istanbul was at the forefront of culture and commerce. After years of serving merely as an historical tourist Mecca, Istanbul is once more the hot spot for style gurus and culture vultures.
Heavenly Sites and Arty Facts
Istanbul has many mosques, but the Sultanahmet Mosque more commonly known as the Blue Mosque is incredible with its six minarets and amazing architecture. The mosque is still used and consequently you are not able to wear skimpy clothing including shorts. Not to be missed is the 6th century Hagia Sophia basilica on Sultanahmet Square. It is one of the best examples of Roman architecture having been constructed for Justinian I. Its huge dome made it the largest covered space in the world. In the Middle Ages it was made into a mosque by the ruling Ottomans. In 1935 it became a museum and houses amongst many things some impressive mosaics. Suleymaniye Mosque built by the Ottomans in the 16th century in the classic style of the town and the inspiration for the Blue Mosque. The burial chambers of the architect who designed the mosque, Sinan and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent are there. The thousand year old Chora Church contains some ornate mosaics and breathtaking frescoes, which hid behind 500 years of plaster whilst the church functioned as a mosque. Don’t miss out on the Museum of Archaeology even if museums are not rally your bag. This one contains many of the Sumerian tablets, pieces of the wall of Babylon and many ancient Roman statues. The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art houses many examples of Turkish culture and everyday life including many famous rugs and pottery. Moorish Delights
If you’ve ever wondered why so many expat Turks name their restaurants Topkapi then take a trip to the Topkapi Palace, which housed numerous Ottoman Sultans over four centuries, Its opulent decoration will astound; the palace is made up of four courts, each varying in stature. The second court leads into the Harem and the treasury. In the third court there are religious relics from both the Muslim and Christian relics as well as some beautiful rugs and pottery. There are some incredible views across the Bosphorous. Gulhane Park adjacent to the Topkapi Palace was once the royal hunting grounds but today is open to the public and is a beautiful, restful place with some fantastic floral displays. The on-site cafe is housed in the remains of a Byzantine monastery. The Basilica Cistern in the old town is a huge underground Roman cistern, which was constructed in 532 to feed water to the city. It is another Roman masterpiece where you can walk along a wooden pathway between the pillars. The atmosphere is augmented with eerie music and fantastic statues of Medussa. Take some food for the fish with some many tourists passing through here they have come to expect it! The epicentre of old Constantinople was the Hippodrome, which used to stand close to the Basilica Cistern, Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. Today there are numerous 4th century statues and obelisks. Another worthy site is the neo Byzantine German Fountain, which was a gift from Kaiser Wilhelm II. Shopping heaven starts in the world’s oldest shopping mall, the Grand Bazaar, which is home to around 4,400 shops. It is made up of a maze of small streets lined with armies of small outlets al under cover. If shopping is your passion then the Old Bazaar will keep you busy for at least a day. Shops of similar genre are grouped together making it easy to browse if you are looking for a particular item. The Old Town holds the greatest number of cultural sites. Where East Meet West
The strip of land known as the Bosphorus used to separate the Mediterranean from the Black Sea whilst joining Europe to Asia. Nature took its course and the gradual erosion of the land lead to an almighty flood where the Med poured into the Black Sea, which at the time was a large, fresh water lake. Today, the Bosphorus is a scenic stretch of water lined with Ottoman palaces and parks. The Ortakoy district on the shores of the Bosphorus is dominated by the Baroque mosque of the same name. It is a bohemian neighbourhood with plenty of trendy cafes and views over the two bridges that connect the two continents. The south bridge is called the Bosphorus Bridge and the one closes to the Black Sea isknown as Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
