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Istanbul is Turkeys' largest city lies on either
side of the Bosporus and thus is located in both Europe
and Asia. Istanbul is located on a peninsula at the way
in to the Black Sea, Byzantium was founded as a Greek colony
in the 8th century BC. Passing to the Persian Achaemenian
dynasty in 512 BC and then to Alexander the Great, Istanbul
became a free city under the Romans in the 1st century AD.
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The Emperor Constantine I made the city the seat
of the Eastern Roman Empire in 330, and later naming it
Constantinople. Istanbul remain the capital of the successive
Byzantine Empire after the fall of Rome in the late 5th
century. In the 6th-13th centuries Istanbul was regularly
besieged by Persians, Arabs, Bulgars, and Russians. Istanbul
was captured by the Fourth Crusade (1203) and turned over
to Latin Christian rule. Istanbul was returned to Byzantine
rule in 1261. In 1453 Istanbul was captured by the Ottoman
Empire and made the Ottoman capital. When the Republic of
Turkey was founded in 1923, the capital was moved to Ankara
and Constantinople was officially renamed Istanbul in 1930.
Many of the city's historic sites are located in the medieval
walled city (Stamboul). Among its architectural treasures
are theHagia Sophia, the Mosque of Süleyman, and the
Blue Mosque. Istanbul educational institutions include the
University of Istanbul (founded 1453), Turkey's oldest university.
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The Church of
Hagia Sophia (Aya Sofya) Istanbul is
famous for its impressive size, remarkable architecture
and beautiful mosaics and frescoes, the massive ochre-coloured
domed structure known as Hagia Sophia is one of Istanbul's
most popular attractions. The Church of Hagia Sophia,
associated with one of the greatest creative ages of
man, was also the Cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate
of Constantinople for more than one thousand years.
Originally known as the Great Church, because of its
large size in comparison with the other churches of
the then Christian World, it was later given the name
of Hagia Sophia, the Holy Wisdom of Christ, the second
person of the Holy Trinity. The interior contains different
features from its time as a cathedral and then as a
mosque, including incredible Byzantine mosaics, icons
and marble columns, a mihrab (niche indicating the direction
of Mecca), and Islamic calligraphy inscriptions on the
dome from the Ottoman period.
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Blue Mosque Istanbul: is one of
the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul, especially
when viewed from the First Hill or from the Asian
shore of the Sea of Marmara. It is very impressive
with its beautiful domes and semidomes, nice courtyards
and six slender minarets. Blue mosque is also known
as The Sultan Ahmet Camii. It's magnificent domes
and six graceful minarets is one of the most striking
and immediately distinguishable structures on the
Istanbul's skyline. Constructed as an Islamic rival
to the Hagia Sophia in 1609, it is one of the finest
examples of Ottoman architecture and is still used
by hundreds of worshippers. It is decorated with blue
and white Iznik tiles embellished with traditional
Ottoman flower patterns from inside, and it is this
special feature that gives the mosque its name.
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Turkish and Islamic Art Museum Istanbul:
Turkisn and Islamic Art Museum, was the grand
16th century palace of the sultan's Grand Vizier,
Ibrahim Pasa, containing what many consider to be
the finest collection of Islamic artefacts in the
world. The museum has been moved to Ibrahim Pasha
Palace from the soup kitchen building in 1983. Ibrahim
Pasha Palace, which is one of the most important samples
of 16th Century Ottoman civil architecture samples
is on the stages of the historical hippodrome, the
history of which goes back to the Roman Period. The
palace itself was the finest private residence ever
built in the Ottoman Empire. The museum is well laid
out and contains more than 40,000 examples of Selçuk,
Mamluk and Ottoman Turkish art, including ceramics,
Koran cases, calligraphy, textiles, metalwork and
illuminated manuscripts. Its antique carpet exhibit
is renowned; the carpets, kilims and prayer
rugs forming one of the richest and oldest collections
in the world.
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The Covered Bazaar Istanbul: is
the oldest and biggest enclosed bazaar in the world.
The Covered Bazaar is also known as the Grand Bazaar.
It is Consisting of a vast labyrinth of 65 twisting
streets crammed with more than 4,000 shops, teahouses,
hamams (Turkish baths), mosques, storehouses and fountains.
The bazaar's streets are named and labeled, but still
confusing. Unfortunately, this bustling space of the
new and old has had its fair share of tragedies. Earthquakes
and fires have both affected the building more than
once - the most recent being the major fire of 1954.
After each event, the Grand Bazaar was repaired, but
original records have been lost forever. And so, we've
lost that bit of history too. But life marches on
in and around the bazaar. It is a fascinating experience
to wander around the alleyways, looking and enjoying,
or bargaining and purchasing. Here you can find
almost anything, from meerschaum pipes, carpets and
jewellery, to Turkish Delight, textiles, spices, clothing
and hand-painted ceramics. Protracted bargaining over
a cup of tea is an important institution.
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Topkapi Palace Museum Istanbul: The
Museum was built by Mehmet the Conqueror as a Sultan's
Palace, consists of a sprawling collection of buildings
arranged around several interconnecting courtyards.
Magnificently situated on one of the seven hills of
Istanbul with uninterrupted views over the Bosphorus
River and the Golden Horn, it was the seat of the
Ottoman Empire for almost four centuries. The main
exterior gate of the Topkapi Palace is the Imperial
Gate (Bab-i Hümayun) which opens up to the Ayasofya
Square. This gate leads to a garden known as the First
Court. This court has the Aya Irini Church which was
once used as an ammunition depot and behind the Church
there is the mint. In later years these have been
replaced with public buildings and schools. Some of
these are still existing. At the end of the 19th century
Archeology Museum and School of Fine Arts (now Oriental
Works Museum) were built in the large garden which
is to the northwest of the First Court. Home to nearly
3,000 people, it served as royal residence, harem,
state administration and military barracks. One of
the most popular sections is the harem, once the quarters
of about 300 women who were the sultans' wives and
concubines, and their children. Visitors can view
the apartments, halls and terraces of the harem, and
see the lavish royal bedchamber and Imperial Hall.
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