What was once the capital of Turkey is now a truly amazing location for a city break. Culturally, historically and literally divided between east and west – Asia and Europe, it makes for a fascinating city with plenty to see and do. Most of Turkey’s holiday makers will spend a good portion of time here, so here are some of the things you should see and do when visiting this enchanting city:
Old City Walls of Istanbul
Dating from back when Istanbul was Constantinople, the old city walls are rather hard to miss. Believed to be the largest fortress constructed in the Christian era, the various towers and extended fortification remain an incredible sight to see to this day. Although much of the walls have been dismantled as the city continued to grow beyond its medieval limits, a restoration programme has been underway since the 1980s and you can get a real glimpse of the imposing defence system on your Turkey holiday.
Grand Bazaar
A trip round the markets and bazaars is pretty much a given for any holiday to Turkey, and where better to try your hand at bartering than at one of the largest covered markets in the entire world? Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar has such a claim to fame and the sight itself is every bit as impressive as that implies – with over 58 streets and 6,000 stalls, it attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors on a daily basis. Although you can get a huge variety of goods and souvenirs from it, it is especially known for its jewellery, leathers, pottery, spices and carpets.
Sunken Palace Cistern
James Bond aficionados may recognise the Sunken Palace as a set used in ‘From Russia with Love’, but it holds far more cultural significance than just that. Built around 532AD by Constantinople the Great, the mysterious cavern is held up below ground from 336 columns. Visitors walk over 2 acres of 12 inch thick water on wooden walkways, and are encouraged to marvel at the intricate design and occasional art exhibits.
Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum
The building that now houses the Turkish and Islamic Arts museum was built in 1524 and originally designed as the palace of Ibrahim Pasha, the first grand vizier to Suleiman the Magnificent. Nowadays the building houses a memorable collection of Islamic art – calligraphy, rugs, tiles and ethnographic displays from many of Turkey’s diverse cultures.
Byzantine Hippodrome
Once upon a time this was the political and recreational centre of Byzantine Constantinople and Ottoman Istanbul – nowadays, despite this action packed history, it is a tranquil park area. There are a number of throw backs to its historical past and atmospherically it still feels important, making it an essential area to visit on a holiday in Turkey.
Sultanahmet Mosque
One of the biggest tourist attractions on a Turkey holiday, the Sultanahmet Mosque is a beautiful piece of architecture in its own right, but is also of great historical importance. Construction began in 1609 and took seven years. It was designed as a rival to Ayasofya, and it certainly achieved its goals. From its striking minarets to its 20,000 blue tiles on the high ceiling, the Sultanahmet Mosque is a truly beautiful structure.
Ayasofya
Translating as Church of the Divine Wisdom, this is one of the most impressive buildings that you are ever likely to see. Like the Sultanahmet Mosque, this was also originally built to outdo another building, in this case the Church of St Polyeuchtos. It was changed into a museum in 1935, which it remains to this day despite opening a prayer place in the east side of the building last year. The building is beautiful, as are the many artefacts that are now housed here – a must see on your holiday to Turkey.
Topkapi Palace
As the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans between 1465 and 1853, it’s no wonder that this is an absolute must see on any holiday in Turkey. Now a museum, it houses many fine artefacts from Turkish history in surroundings which are best described as lavish.
There’s plenty more to find in Istanbul, but with much of the fun in exploring every inch of this fascinating city for yourself you should uncover plenty of the hidden cultural and historical gems for yourself. With fine sites, food and entertainment, no holiday in Turkey would be complete without a city break in Istanbul.
About the Author:
Sarah Arnesen is the Marketing Manager for Anatolian Sky, a company offering incredible
Turkey holidays
. They provide holidays to the entire Anatolian region, including Asia Minor, Cyprus, and Turkey itself.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – What to do on a City Break in Istanbul
WALLS OF JERICHO on CAPITAL CHAOS 2007
|
|
Art Poster, On Writing – 18.75 x 27.5 $19.95 FREE SHIPPING on this item when you purchase 2 or more Art Posters from ClassicPix.com. This high quality, durable Art Poster measures 18.75″ x 27.50″ and arrives ready to frame. Posters are printed on heavy-stock, semi-matte paper producing the best possible combination of color vibrancy and durability. All posters from ClassicPix.com are made on demand one-at-a-time, just for you — not mass-pro… |
|
|
Art Poster, The Expiation on Calvary – 18.75 x 27.5 $19.95 FREE SHIPPING on this item when you purchase 2 or more Art Posters from ClassicPix.com. This high quality, durable Art Poster measures 18.75″ x 27.50″ and arrives ready to frame. Posters are printed on heavy-stock, semi-matte paper producing the best possible combination of color vibrancy and durability. All posters from ClassicPix.com are made on demand one-at-a-time, just for you — not mass-pro… |
|
|
Asian Décor & Gifts – 36 x 72 Birds on Tree Chinese Brush Art Oriental Wall Screen Painting $79.00 Beautifully rendered, simple & serene, handpainted Sung dynasty era design ink & watercolor paintings- Bird motif, traditional symbol of luck & fortune, on hand crafted Rosewood frame folding screen, with mulberrypaper covered in silk, with 2″ fine silk brocade matte border, shipped with pair of matched 3″ brass geometric hangers for easy wall mounting, or use slightly folded as privacy screen, no… |
|
|
Voices of the Pipa $11.98 With a history of more than 2000 years, the Chinese pipa is one of that culture’s oldest and most elegant instruments. Jiang Ting won first prize in China’s national pipa performance contest in 1996 and graduated from the Beijing Conservatory 1997. This is her first recording outside China… |
|
|
Calligraphy Mirror (China) $72.99 The fine traditional design found in this handcrafted Calligraphy Mirror is a wonderful compliment to a living room, hallway, or bedroom. |
|
|
Long Life Wall Plaque (China) $47.49 Add old world charm to any room with this Chinese Long Life wall plaqueFashioned after a Ming dynasty style Chinese calligraphy wall plaqueThe plaque is topped off with a hand-rubbed medium rosewood finish |
|
|
Luck/ Wealth Longevity Plaque (China) $75.99 Add old world charm to any room with this Luck/Wealth Longevity plaqueThe plaque was fashioned after a Ming dynasty style Chinese calligraphy wall plaqueThe piece expresses wishes for good luck, wealth and long life |
|
|
Landscape Scroll Painting (China) $19.99 Liven up your decor with the Oriental charm of Worldstock’s Classic Hand-painted Silk ScrollWall decor shows the ancient Chinese reverence for natureWall scroll keeps the tradition of the masters alive with stunning calligraphy |
|
|
Chinese Bronze Inscription-Good Relation (China) $68.99 Enhance your home decor with bronze inscription artChinese calligraphy is considered an art for aesthetic appreciationThe inscription shown here shows a marked aesthetic consciousness |
|
|
Chinese ‘Promise’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $19.99 Infuse your decor with artistic elegance with this stunning wall hangingAsian art print features a single Chinese symbol meaning ‘promise’ or ‘vow’ Hand-painted by skilled Asian calligraphy artists |
|
|
Chinese ‘Prosperity’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $22.49 Grace your home or office with the serenity of this hand-painted Asian wall hangingArt scroll is adorned with the Chinese symbol ‘Lu’ meaning ‘prosperity’Artwork is rendered in flowing calligraphy on genuine rice paper |
|
|
Chinese ‘Paradise’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $19.89 Grace your home decor with the serenity of this hand-painted Asian wall hangingArt scroll features the Chinese symbol for paradise, or the ‘Realm of the Gods’Art print symbol is rendered in flowing calligraphy on genuine rice paper |
|
|
Chinese Scholar and Dragon 48-inch Wall Art Painting $42.99 Celebrate the spirit of knowledge and learning with this inspirational paintingBreathtaking wall art scroll hand-painted by skilled Asian artisansMasterful canvas depicts an ancient scholar with calligraphy brush poised to write |
|
|
Chinese ‘Insight’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $23.99 Grace your home or office with the beauty of this hand-painted Asian wall hangingArt scroll is adorned with the Chinese symbol ‘Zhiyi’ meaning ‘insight’ Symbol is rendered in flowing calligraphy on a background of genuine rice paper |
|
|
Chinese ‘Truth’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $27.99 Add uniqueness to any space with a hand-painted wall hanging crafted by skilled Asian calligraphersScroll features the traditional Chinese symbol for truthSymbol is accompanied by traditional stamps, including artist’s family seal |
|
|
Chinese ‘Victory’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $16.29 Add uniqueness to any space with a hand-painted wall hanging crafted by skilled Asian calligraphersScroll features the traditional Chinese symbol for victorySymbol is accompanied by traditional stamps, including artist’s family seal |
|
|
Chinese Symbol for Respect Wall Art Scroll Painting $18.89 Add uniqueness to any space with a hand-painted wall hanging crafted by skilled Asian calligraphersScroll features the traditional Chinese symbol for respectSymbol is accompanied by traditional stamps, including artist’s family seal |
|
|
Chinese Nobility Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $17.99 Add uniqueness to any space with a hand-painted wall hanging crafted by skilled Asian calligraphersScroll features the traditional Chinese symbol for nobilitySymbol is accompanied by traditional stamps, including artist’s family seal |
|
|
Chinese ‘Trust’ Symbol Wall Art Scroll Painting $22.49 Add uniqueness to any space with a hand-painted wall hanging crafted by skilled Asian calligraphersScroll features the traditional Chinese symbol for trustSymbol is accompanied by traditional stamps, including artist’s family seal |
|
|
Chinese Symbol For Virtue Wall Art Scroll Painting $18.49 Add uniqueness to any space with a hand-painted wall hanging crafted by skilled Asian calligraphersScroll features the traditional Chinese symbol for virtueSymbol is accompanied by traditional stamps, including artist’s family seal |
