OH ISTANBUL

If Turkey is a country that effortlessly straddles East and West, Istanbul  is the city where the two actually collide to create a vast, vibrant metropolis that is truly a delight to visit.

Proudly standing testament to the rise and fall of three great dynasties-Byzantine, Roman and Ottoman-Istanbul seamlessly combines the seductive age-old allure of Asia and the vibrant modernity of Europe. The waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn all flow through the Istanbul Strait, the heart of this glorious city.

There’s a whole world waiting to be discovered in Istanbul, famous for its traditions of hospitality. Start your exploration in Sultanahmet where a plethora of architectural marvels jostle for space in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Standing in an erstwhile Hippodrome (Roman racecourse), now a park, is Istanbul’s oldest monument, the 3,500 year old Obelisk of Theodosius. Close by is the famous Imperial Sultanahmet   Mosque or the Blue Mosque, so named because of its beautiful interior paneling of blue and white Iznik tiles. 

Its six elegant spires become the backdrop for a son-et-lumiere during the summer months. Considered one of the most beautiful of all the imperial mosques in  Istanbul, the white marble Imperial Suleymaniye Mosque was built by Sinan, the most famous architect of Ottoman times. 

Situated on the West Bank of the Golden Horn, its vast domes and slender minarets dominate the skyline. Other grand mosques in the city are the Rustem Pasa Mosque, the Imperial Faith Mosque, the Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque, the Mosque of Eyup and the Mihrimah Sultan Mosque.

PALACES:

Istanbul’s stunning palaces are one the reasons why this city is such a magnet for visitors. The spectacular Topkapi palace was once the home of the Sultans of the Ottomon empire between the 15th and 19th centuries

Must-sees are its Harem and its Treasury room with its dazzling 86-carat teardrop-shaped Spoonmaker’s Diamond (the fifth largest in the world), the emerald –studded Topkapi Dagger, the bejewelled sword of Suleyman  the Magnificent and the mother of pearl inlaid throne of Ahmet .

The Ottoman-European Dolmabahce Palace, with its ornate gate and beautiful gardens, spans 600 metres  of the European shore of the Strait.Istanbul’s other splendid palaces include Ciragan Palace, Goksu Palace and Yildiz Palace

MONUMENTS AND MUSEUMS:

 Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, the Basilica of Hagia Sophia (now called  the Ayasofya Museum) is one of the finest architectural masterpieces of all time.

Once the most magnificient church of the Christian world, it was converted into a mosque by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453 and then into a museum by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and the first President of the Turkish Republic. Its awe- inspiring dome and stunning Byzantine mosaics cannot fail to dazzle even the most blasé of visitors.

DON’T LEAVE WITHOUT:

It would be a shame to leave Istanbul without taking an unforgettable boat ride up the Istanbul Strait that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores offer breathtaking views and are lined with beautiful  palaces, majestic fortresses, wooden villas and trendy hotels-a curios blend of the past and the present.

So after having read this typical touristic blog, come and explore the most exotic destination in the world known as  ‘TURKEY ‘