Hello, everyone. Today, I would like to talk about five places that you must visit in Istanbul. I’ve lived in Istanbul for 19 years, and it is a great city. It has caused many wars between civilisations throught the history. It is the city which connects Europe and Asia by a bridge, and a cultural center that every person must see when they come to Turkey.
1 – Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii)
It is one of the most famous mosques in Istanbul, placed in Fatih. It was built between 1609-1917. It is called as ‘Blue Mosque’ because there are blue tiles inside of the mosque. Sultan Ahmet I directed the construction process. The reason that it was built is to surpass the famous ‘Hagia Sophia’.
2 – Spice Bazaar
If you are visiting Istanbul, then you must go to the famous spice bazaar also located in Fatih, Istanbul. It is a bazaar where you can find whatever spice you want, located in a historical building. Here, you can also find famous and delicious Turkish Delights, too.
3 – Balat
Balat is a famous neighborhood in Istanbul. Here, you can visit the old and the classical Istanbul. It represents the real culture of Istanbul, with its colorful homes and people. Here, you can drink a coffee with your friends, across those colorful homes, then you can take a photo there.
4 – Galata Tower
Galata Tower is a building which can be seen over the city, from many places. It is 67 meters long, and from the top of the tower, you can see the city. It is also known as the Tower of Christ, and it was the longest building in Istanbul when it was made in 1348. Today, you can visit the restaurant at the top of the tower, to spend a great night with your loved one.
5 – Hagia Sophia
It is one of the most famous buildings in Istanbul, being one of the Roman masterworks. Hagia Sophia means Holy Wisdom in Greek. It was constructed by the Roman Emperor Justinian, it was used as an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral, until 1453. In 1453, when the Turks conquered Constantinople, they’ve turned it into a mosque. Until 1931, it was used for religious purposes, then in 1935, the Republic of Turkey re-opened the building as a museum.
All of the places given above are very close to each other, being in the Western continent of Istanbul. As it has so much history, Istanbul is one of the greatest cities to visit in Turkey. In my next post, I will talk about the capital city of Turkey, Ankara.
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