It is Istanbul, one of the cities in Turkey. Istanbul embraces two continents with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe. The two continents are connected by the Bosphorus Bridge. Its history dates back to the earliest ages and is one of the most distinguished cities of the world. Through the city’s heart, the Bosphorus, course the water of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. It is Istanbul’s endless variety that fascinates its visitors. The museums, churches, palaces, grand mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem innumerable.

Topkapi Palace

The Topkapi Palace was constructed between the 15th and 19th centuries during the reign of Sultan Mehmet II, the Conqueror and was used as the management center of the Ottoman Empire and primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Now it has been used as a museum. Visiting the museum is a must for many reasons, for instance, some of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. belongings like His swords and beards are placed here.

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Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque has a special place among the various Ottoman buildings constructed in the Sultanahmet Square. This building was constructed by Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, which is in the true meaning of the world, a masterpiece of architecture is the culmination of two centuries, Ottoman mosque and Byzantine church development. Sedefkar Mehmet Aga took classical Ottoman architecture and the Hagia Sophia into consideration in designing and construction of the Blue Mosque and created an interior space which is more spacious and well lighted and airy than the others. The mosque is known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. In addition to these blue tiles, wood works enriched with inlays of mother-of-pearl, stonemasonry and handwritten calligraphies contribute to the beauty of the building.

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Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia after serving 916 years as a church, 481 years as a mosque now maintains its historical function as a museum since 1935 and is the most important monument of the architectural history. Byzantine historians Theophanes, Nikepheros and Leon, the Grammar teacher of Byzantine wrote that construction of Hagia Sophia started during the reign of Constantinius I (324-337) and completed in 360 during the reign of Constantinius II. Its first name was Megali Eklesia (The Great Church) and it was changed to Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom) after the 5th century.

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Kapali Carsi (Grand Bazaar)

The history of the Grand Bazaar, which is in the historical peninsula between Nuruosmaniye and Beyazit, goes back as far as old ages. In Ottoman period Mehmet the Conqueror (1451-1481) built two covered bazaar side by side for the first time, and in time, top of other open bazaars that settled around were closed and a complex market was formed by the roads between them. Grand Bazaar has three main sections. Interior Covered Bazaar forms the core. It is also known as Cevahir Covered Bazaar and Old Covered Bazaar. Sandal Covered Bazaar is the second main section of the Grand Bazaar.

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Taksim Square

Taksim Square is surrounded by the Istiklal Avenue, Siraselviler Avenue, Tarlabasi Boulevard, Ayaspasa-Gumusuyu Avenue, Mete Avenue and Cumhuriyet Avenue. The first building in Classical Ottoman style at this area of Istanbul after the Frank and Levantine settlement was a water tank. Water was brought from dense forests on the northern part of the city by water pipes during the reign of Sultan Mahmut in 1732-1733. Taksim Water Tank was built to store waters in a stone tank here. Therefore it gave its name to the square (the word ‘taksim’ means ‘share, distribution’).

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