ISTANBUL
Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet Camii
With its massive central dome flanked by six slender minarets, the Blue Mosque stands as the single most recognizable monument on the Istanbul skyline. Built between 1609-1616 during the reign of Ottoman Sultan Ahmet I, the enormous complex also included a hospital, caravansary, public kitchen, marketplace, schools and the Mausoleum of Sultan Ahmet I. The mosque's immense interior, flooded with sunlight streaming through 260 windows, is decorated with more than 20,000 precious Iznik tiles detailing traditional flowers of Ottoman design. In fact, it is the deep blue glow of the tiles in sunlight that gives the building its name.
Hagia Sophia, Ayasofya
Built by Byzantine Emperor Constantine in the fourth century and reconstructed by Justinian in 537 A.D., this was the greatest church in Christendom for a thousand years, and remains an architectural masterpiece to this day. Its immense dome rises nearly 200 feet above the ground and is more than 100 feet in diameter. The Ottomans converted the basilica to a mosque in the 15th century, but today the Hagia Sophia serves as a public museum, known for its majestic serenity and fine Byzantine mosaics.
Topkapi Palace
Covering 172 acres, Topkapi Palace is a vast assemblage of garden-filled courtyards, richly decorated chambers, kiosks, pools and passageways. For hundreds of years, the palace was home to the Ottoman imperial family and the administrative headquarters of the Ottoman empire, including: the Imperial Treasury teeming with incredible treasures such as an 86-carat diamond and a 7-pound emerald; the pleasure kiosks; the gilded Council Chamber; the Imperial Harem; and kitchens boasting exhibits of fine Chinese porcelain.
Dolmabahçe Palace
Built in the mid-19th century by Sultan Abdülmecit, the Dolmabahçe Palace occupies an impressive 2,000-foot waterfront site on the Bosphorus, its most important feature being the vast reception salon with 56 towering columns and a huge 750-bulb crystal chandelier weighing well over four tons. The Bird Pavilion, where birds from all over the world were once kept, is another attraction. Atatürk, the founder of the Turkish Republic, died here in 1938.
Galata Tower
A circa 1340 Genoese edifice, the Galata Tower rises nearly 200 feet above the Golden Horn, the estuary dividing the European side of Istanbul. From the top of the tower, there is a marvelous panorama of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. When the sun goes down, the landmark becomes a popular restaurant, nightclub and bar.
The Tower of Leander, Kiz Kulesi
Long regarded as one of the most romantic symbols of Istanbul, the tower was first constructed in the 12th century on a tiny islet at the entrance to the city; the present building dates from the 1700's.
Istanbul's City Walls
Stretching over four miles from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn, the walls were built in the fifth century by Emperor Theodosius II. The many towers and bastions of the structure, most of which has been recently restored, made it the mightiest fortifications in Europe. UNESCO has declared the walls and the area they enclose to be a World Heritage Site.
The Princes' Islands, Istanbul Adalari
An archipelago of nine islands in the Sea of Marmara, the Princes' Islands are famous for their beautiful woods and beaches. On the largest, Büyükada, horse-drawn phaetons (carriages) meander through the pine groves overlooking the numerous coves of the island's coast. Today, during the summer months, wealthy Istanbulites escape to the cool sea breezes and elegant 19th century houses that dot four of the islands.
The Grand Bazaar, Kapali Çarsi
Situated along the road that once led to Rome, the Grand Bazaar is a maze of some 4,000 shops, selling treasures of every type. Still the commercial center of the old city, its 80 streets constitute the original shopping mall, with something for every taste and budget - Turkish crafts, world-renowned carpets, brilliant hand-painted ceramics, copper and brassware, meerschaum pipes and excellent quality leather products. In the heart of the bazaar, the Old Bedesten offers an intriguing assortment of antiques.
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