Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia / Aya Sophia or Grand Mosque- with its innovative architecture, rich history, religious significance and extraordinary characteristics has been fighting against time for centuries. Hagia Sophia was adorned with the most elegant examples of Turkish arts such as calligraphy, tile art and artefacts during the Ottoman period. It is a majestic building with a unique architectural design which serves as a temple, a mosque and a museum during its existence. It has been reconverted into a mosque in the recent past by the Turkish government

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) is Istanbul's largest and most magnificent mosque and a true masterpiece of Ottoman architecture. It was constructed during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I (1603 to 1617). The Blue Mosque's six minarets set it apart from all other mosques in the Islamic world. Each of the four, which rise at the corners, has three balconies. The complex of the Blue Mosque consists of a madrasa, a soup kitchen, a caravanserai, a fountain, a hospital, sales halls and mausoleums. It is artistically designed and its beauty overshadows all other Ottoman mosques.

Topkapi Palace Museum

Topkapi Palace is located in one of Istanbul's oldest historical districts. The palace is one of Istanbul's most recognizable landmarks, situated between the Marmara Sea, the Bosphorus, and the Golden Horn on the medieval Istanbul peninsula. From Fatih Sultan Mehmet through the 31st Sultan Abdülmecid, Topkapi Palace was the administrative, educational, and cultural heart of the empire. It was built on an area of 700,000 square meters on the Eastern Roman acropolis in Sarayburnu. Although Topkapi Palace was progressively abandoned by the mid-nineteenth century as the royal family moved to Dolmabahçe Palace. However its historical significance and value were preserved.

Bosphorus Strait

The Bosphorus, which is considered to be one of the natural boundaries between Europe and Asia, is also an international waterway. Shores of the Bosphorus have been home to many civilizations throughout history. The Bosphorus, which offers a different beauty each season, is transformed into a royal boulevard with mimosa that open in late April and mid-May and become a must-see. The Bosphorus has a great geopolitical and economic importance in all times of history because of the fact that it is the only road connecting the Black Sea to the high seas. The Bosphorus Strait is the only alternative gateway to the Black Sea coastline, leading to the Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean seas.

Dolmabahce Palace Istanbul

Dolmabahçe Palace, the elegant palace of the Bosphorus, is one of the most magnificent symbolic structures of the Ottoman Empire. It has a stylish architecture which was a trend setter during the medieval 19th century.

Hodjapasha Istanbul

This Culture Center is located at the center of the Historical peninsula of Istanbul and was converted from a 550 years old historical Turkish bath called Hocapaşa Hamamı in 2008. It was originally built by Hoca Sinan Paşa who was a teacher and later vizier to Fatih Sultan Mehmet during 1470's. It was a double bath for both men and women. It was comparatively a big bath with a high dome, made of cut stone and also corner walls were designed like a peacock tail. This building served as a Turkish bath till 1988. Location of the area is called Sirkeci which is next to Topkapı Palace Walls, Sirkeci Train Station formerly known also as Orient Express Train Station and Sultanahmet Area.