Istanbul is
a city that wears its cultures and history well, blending them into an exciting
city that has much to offer travelers from around the world. Founded during
Neolithic times, Istanbul today is a modern city that remains true to its
historic heritage through its mosques, basilicas and cathedrals, and ancient
bazaars. Standing between the East and the West, Turkey’s largest city offers
an aura of intrigue and charm that will appeal to all visitors. An overview of
the top tourist attractions in Istanbul:
Top
Tourist Attractions in Istanbul
Galata Tower
At 67 meters
(219 feet) high, the Galata Tower rules over the Istanbul skyline, offering
great views of the old city and its surroundings. The medieval stone tower,
known as the Tower of Christ, was the tallest building in Istanbul when it was
built in 1348. It still stands tall over Istanbul today. The tower has been
modified over the centuries, at one time being used as an observation tower to
spot fires. Today, its upper reaches include a café, restaurant and a night
club, both reached by elevator in the nine-story building, where one can find
the stunning vistas.
Istanbul Archaeological Museum
One of the
most important museums in Turkey, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum is
actually three museums: the Archaeological Museum, the Ancient Orient Museum
and the Tiled Kiosk Museum. The three museums combined contain more than 1
million objects from civilizations around the world. Founded in 1891, it was
the first Turkish museum, and was located on the Topkapi Palace grounds. The
Tiled Kiosk dates back to 1472. The museums contain thousands of precious
artifacts, including the sarcophagus of Alexander the Great.
Chora Church
The Chora
Church may be a little bit off the beaten tourist path, but visitors say the
beautiful Byzantine art is well worth the effort to get there. Magnificent
mosaics and frescoes depict the life of Jesus and his mother, Mary. Known as
the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora, it has been described as one of the
most beautiful surviving works of Byzantine architecture. Dating back to the
days of Constantine, the Chora was a monastery in its early years; a few
centuries later, it became a mosque, and in 1948, it was converted to a museum.
Basilica Cistern
The Basilica
Cistern has been providing Istanbul residents with water since the sixth
century when it was ordered built by the Roman Emperor Justinian I. A visit
leaves travelers raving about the technology the ancient Romans used to build
this architectural wonder that was very advanced for its day. The underground
cistern, just a few steps away from the Blue Mosque, was built on the site of a
basilica that was constructed in the third century. Known as the Sunken Palace,
the cistern can hold up to 2.8 million cubic feet of water. The cistern is one
of the locations used in From Russia with Love, a James Bond thriller filmed in
1963.
Dolmabahce Palace
Luxurious,
plush and beautiful are just some of the adjectives used to describe the
Dolmabahce Palace, which has been compared to the Palace of Versailles. Built
in the 19th century using 14 tons of gold leaf, Turkey’s most glamorous palace
blends traditional Ottoman architecture with the European styles of
Neoclassical, Baroque and Rococo. Home to six sultans from 1856 to 1924, it
also is home to the world’s largest Bohemian crystal chandelier, a gift from
Queen Victoria. The Dolmabahce Palace’s setting is stunning: It was built along
the Bosphorus coastline.
Suleymaniye Mosque
Visitors to
the Suleymaniye Mosque say its beauty and peacefulness gives them an inspiring
sense of spirituality. Located on the Third Hill of Istanbul, the mosque was
ordered built in 1550 by the Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. The mosque,
indeed, is magnificent, blending the best of Islamic and Byzantine
architecture. The mosque was extensively damaged over the years, including
during World War I when a fire broke out while the gardens were used as a
weapons depot. It was restored in the mid-20th century. The mosque is marked by
four minarets, indicating it was built by a sultan. When it was built, the dome
was the highest in the Ottoman Empire.
Grand Bazaar
Travelers
who love to shop shouldn’t miss out on a visit to the Grand Bazaar, with 5,000
shops making it one of the largest indoor marketplaces in the world. Receiving
more than a quarter-million visitors a day, the bazaar features such items as
jewelry, carpets that may or may not fly, spices, antiques and hand-painted
ceramics. The bazaar dates back to 1461 and today is home to two mosques, four
fountains, two hammams or steam baths, and the Cevahir Bedesten, where the
rarest and most valuable items have been found traditionally. Here is where
shoppers will find old coins, jewelry with precious gems, inlaid weapons and
antique furniture.
Topkapi Palace
Topkapi
Palace is one of the must-see attractions in Istanbul that combines history and
stunning scenery in an experience that is not to be rushed. Rich in the history
of the Ottoman Empire, the Topkapi Palace is surrounded by five kilometers (3.1
miles) of stone wall with 27 towers. Topkapi, which dates back to the 15th century,
is situated on a hill overlooking the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the
Golden Horn. At one time it was an official royal residence of the Ottoman
Empire sultans and seat of Turkish government, but is now a museum that is
considered the largest and oldest palace in the world. Visitors can get a
glimpse of the harem’s quarters, where the government worked, a collection of
old weapons used by the sultans, the palace kitchens with a huge porcelain
collection, and the treasury with its collection of jewels and clocks.
Blue Mosque
The Blue
Mosque, built in the early 17th century, remains an active house of worship
today. This means visitors need to time their visits carefully, as the mosque
is closed to sightseers during the five daily prayer times for Muslims. All
visitors must remove their shoes and women must cover their hair. This is a
small price to pay for seeing its priceless treasures that include 20,000
ceramic tiles in various tulip designs and 200 stained glass windows, all with
intricate designs. The mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet, takes its name from the
blue tiles on the dome and the upper levels of the interior.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia
Sophia was once a house of worship that served several religions well over the
centuries. It started out as a Greek Eastern Orthodox basilica that was home to
the Patriarch of Constantinople when it was built in 537. For almost six
decades in the 12th century it was a Roman Catholic church. It became a mosque
in 1453, remaining that way until 1931, when it was closed. It reopened as a
museum in 1935. At one time, it was the largest cathedral in the world at one
time, and served as the inspiration for other mosques, including the Blue
Mosque, as it was such a great example of Byzantine architecture. It is most
famous for its mosaics depicting various religious scenes.
About PRABISH BISHUNGKHE
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