Istanbul

• Istanbul is historically known as Byzantium and Constantinopole. It is the largest city in Turkey and 5th largest city proper in the world with a population of 12.8 million, also making it the second largest metropolitan area in Europe by population, and the largest metropolitan city proper.

Geography

• Istanbul is located in northwestern Turkey within the

MarmaraRegion on a total area of 5,343 square

kilometers. The Bosphorus, which connects the Sea of

Marmara to the Black Sea, divides the city into a

European side, comprising the historic and economic

centers, and an Asian, Anatolian side; as such, Istanbul

is the only bi-continental city in the world.

Architecture

• Istanbul is primarily known for its Ottoman architecture, but its buildings reflect the various peoples and empires that have ruled its predecessors.

Sultan Ahmed Mosque

• The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior.

• It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction.

•The upper levels of the interior are dominated by blue paint, but it is of poor quality. More than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs admit natural light, today assisted by chandeliers.

• The floors are covered with carpets, which are donated by faithful people and are regularly replaced as they wear out. The many spacious windows confer a spacious impression

Hagia Sophia

• Hagia Sophia (from the Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, "Holy Wisdom") a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey.

• From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was the cathedral of the Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1934, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935.

• The church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 49 foot (15 m) silver iconostasis. It was the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly one thousand years.

• It is the church in which Cardinal Humbert in 1054 excommunicated Michael I Cerularius - which is commonly considered the start of the Great Schism.

Culture and contemporary life

• Istanbul is becoming increasingly colourful in terms of its rich social, cultural, and commercial activities. While world famous pop stars fill stadiums, activities like opera, ballet and theatre continue throughout the year.

Fine and performing arts

Istanbul Archaeology Museum

• It was established in 1881. It is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. The museum contains more than 1,000,000 archaeological pieces from the Mediterranean basin, the Balkans, Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia. Istanbul Mosaic Museum contains the late Roman and early Byzantine floor mosaics and wall ornaments of the Great Palace of Constantinople

Night life

• There are many night clubs, pubs, restaurants and taverns with live music in the city. The night clubs, restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer.

Shopping

• Istanbul has numerous historic shopping centers, such as the Grand Bazaar (1461), Mahmutpaşa Bazaar (1462) and the Egyptian Bazaar (1660).

• Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) is Turkey's largest covered market offering excellent shopping: beautiful Turkish carpets, glazed tiles and pottery, copper and brassware, apparel made of leather, cotton and wool, meerschaum pipes, alabaster bookends and ashtrays, and all sorts of other things.

ANKARA IS THE CAPITAL OF TURKEY, BUT ISTANBUL IS ITS HEART, THEY SAY…

ALL WHO VISIT ISTANBUL ONCE

ARE SURE TO RETURN