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IstanbulIstanbul, Turkey’s largest city with over 9 million inhabitants, is a city caught between two words, two civilizations, East and West, Europe and Asia. Its long and rich history, the capital of empires and civilizations, is embedded in the very stones of the city itself, a reflection if a mixed past, culture, and people.
Tourists flock to Istanbul for its cultural attractions and entertainments, a mixture of old and modern. Atmeydani, or, the Hippodrome, is one of Istanbul’s main attractions, where the Emperors of old held chariot-races instead of elections and riots swept into revolutions. Rulers used to outdo each other in beautifying the area with marble statues, but constant raids and sackings during the Crusades have robbed the Hippodrome of much of its wealth. Aya Sofya, once a magnificent member of the Catholic Church, fell with Constantinople and was resurrected as a mosque. Today, it is a museum where visitors can walk about its intimidating grandeur. The exterior of the building is adorned in colorful mosaics with a majestic dome. Within, 30 million gold tiles create an almost holy light, impressive and pricey. In direct competition with Aya Sofya is the Blue Mosque, built by the Sultan Ahmet to rival the Pope Justinian’s creation. The mosque earns its name for its blue Iznik tiles littering the interior. The layout of the mosque is made to create a sense of harmony, well proportions, and balance. For the ultimate taste in cultural flavor, take a walk around the Grand Bazaar, a huge shopper’s mecca filled with traders and buyers selling everything from carpets to spices. While tourist stands crowd around the front thoroughfare, a decisive search along the lesser known back streets will garner you greater wealth in brilliant cloths, jewelry, and authentic local crafts for sale. The Imperial Topkapi Palace was once the home of many an Ottoman Sultan, grandiose and decadent. It will take you over half a day to fully explore this ancient wonder, from the Imperial Council Chamber to the Treasury to the Sultan’s Harem. Link to this page! Copy the source below and paste it into your page source. It's that easy!
 TripLogs: Istanbul |
