Turkey is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. Asia meets Europe in Istanbul, making the city a very strategic location throughout its rich history. It was also known as Constantinople and was the capital of three great empires: the Roman, the Byzantine and the Ottoman. History, religion and assorted cultures create a rich mosaic of incredible sights . . .
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- Our tour of Istanbul will start on the left in the Old Town and then go across the “Golden Horn” to the new city.
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- The walls surrounded the old city and date to the first half of the fifth century AD, built during the reign of the Byzantine emperor Theodosius II.
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- The oldest aqueduct in Istanbul, Valens has served the city for more than 15 centuries as its most important water source. It was built in the Late Roman and Early Byzantine era.
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- Constructed in the sixth century, the Basilica Cistern stored drinking water.
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- The upside-down head of Medusa forms the bottom of one column, proof that Byzantine builders saw Roman relics as little more than reusable rubble.
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- Topkapi Palace was home to generations of sultans and their wives. In addition to some incredible jewels, visitors can see their dishes, monies, weaponry and various objects.
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- Tokapi Palace
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- The Aya Sofya (or Hagi Sophia) was built by Emperor Justinian. The sixth-century Byzantine masterpiece was a basilica, then a mosque, and now a museum.
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- Unfortunately, much of the Aya Sofya was under renovation so there were several areas we couldn’t visit.
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- Aya Sofya
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- The 17th-century Blue Mosque is one of a few mosques in the world to boast six minarets.
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- Blue Mosque
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- The Blue Mosque is famous for its walls of beautiful İznik tiles.
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- Blue Mosque
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- The massive mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent.
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- The original complex included several religious schools, a hospital and a library.
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- There is also a cemetery . . .
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- . . . and a crypt where the sultan is buried.
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- Much of the Chora Church in the old city walls was also undergoing renovations but we were able to see some of its stunning mosaics and frescoes.
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- Like Aya Sofya, it went from Byzantine church to Ottoman mosque and now a modern museum.
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- Chora Church
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- Church of St George. Since the early seventeenth century it has been the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the senior patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox church.
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- Church of St George icons
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- The Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı), built in the 15th century, is the oldest and one of the world’s biggest covered markets in the world.
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- Grand Bazaar
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- Grand Bazaar
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- Grand Bazaar
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- Grand Bazaar
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- Grand Bazaar
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- The 17th-century Eminönü Egyptian Spice Bazaar.
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- Great best place to pick up dried fruits and nuts, olives and, of course, spices.
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- They also have coffee beans.
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- Not far from the Spice Market is one of several venues to see the Whirling Dervishes. They believe this practice brings them closer to God.
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- Another experience not to be missed is a Turkish bath. I never thought I’d enjoy it as much as I did — what a treat!
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- Istanbul’s old train station was known as the ‘Gate of Istanbul to Europe.’ It was the last stop for the Orient Express, which ceased service to Istanbul in the 1970’s.
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- Agatha Christie’s “Murder on the Orient Express” was filmed here.
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- The Orient Express dining room.
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- Guests who arrived in town by train were ferried across the Golden Horn and then carried to the grand Pera Palace Hotel in sedan chairs.
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- The hotel was first opened in 1892, during the last years of the Ottoman Empire. It is very ornate and has been restored as a ‘museum-hotel.’
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- The Pera Palace was the first western style hotel in Istanbul.
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- Also on this side of the Bosphorous in the New City is the Galata Tower. Built in 1348, the tower was built by Genoese residents that lived in the area.
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- The top of the tower boasts incredible views of the city and in a footnote to aviation history, it was from this tower that Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi flew across the Bosphorus from Europe to Asia in 1638, thus inaugurating the first ever intercontinental flight.
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- Leaving the tower and traveling down and to the end of busy Istiklal Street is Taksim Square. It is a gathering place and the heart of modern Istanbul.
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- It was laid out in the late 1800s near an Ottoman taksim (branching-point) in the city’s water distribution system. Istiklal means distribution.
Waltzing Wanderers 