MOST ICONIC ATTRACTIONS OF ISTANBUL

Turkey happens to have several cities of different sizes and space. The largest among them all is Istanbul which is the country’s cultural and economic hub. Its large population makes it even more lively and fun to be in. Istanbul has several iconic attractions that one can visit for leisure and just to cool off. The most remarkable and iconic places vary from art galleries to beautiful sights like:

Basilica Cistern

It’s best known for being the one of the most romantic places and also offers a chance to know how drinking water was brought from Thrace into Istanbul. It is fitted with music and lights, upside-down head of Medusa and fish flitters.

Aya Sofya

Aya sofya is a large museum which was previously a church which later turned to be a mosque where the finest carpets will go display in the kitchen which was constructed after the church was turned into a mosque. It has the best mosaic lurk in the galleries and tombs of early ottoman sultans.

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi palace was the home to those who were close to the famous harem, the generations of the sultans and their wives. It has a collection of courtyards which are lush green and kiosks which are delicate. It has spectacular views over the Sea of Bosphorus, Golden Horn and Marmara. Ayasofya Fikrim Sultan Hamam Ayasofya known for stupendous domes with the sound of water running around them and a massage best for a sultan Even though there are several bathhouses to choose from like Galatasaray and cemberlitas, Ayasofya Fikrim Sultan Hamam stands tall among them. It was designed for Roxelana, the magnificent scheming wife of Suleiman in the sixteenth century but was opened for visitors just recently.

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque boasts of six minarets which make it to be among the few mosques in the world to boast of six minarets. It houses the tomb of Ahmed who gave his name to the mosque and the neighborhood.

Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum

It is the former palace of Ibrahim Pasha. Magnificent carpets from all the country are housed in this museum it is also known for the thick blackish Turkish coffee that is served in the pretty café found in the grounds.

Suleymaniye Mosque

Sinan designed several mosques; forty two in number for Istanbul but Suleymaniye Mosque has remained the finest over the years. It had madrasahs, library, hamam and hospital which are social service buildings attached to it. The locals usually come to this place for the Turkish baked beans known as kuru fasuliye.

Chora Church

This place offers a chance to have the Byzantine splendor’s beautiful view. It has shinning mosaic walls and ceilings. Chora Church has similar journey as Aya sofya since both were initially churches then they turned into a mosque before finally becoming museums.

Istanbul Modern

This is the most prominent contemporary galleries of Istanbul and it is found on the shores of Bosphorus. It enables visitors to go through the history of the modern Turkish art and the international shows which are increasingly becoming important.

Author-bio

Kim, a highly addictive traveler, avid reader and freelancer who loves to share his travel experiences on different blogs presently he is working for Bahrain visa. He has a work experience of 4 years as a content writer.

Author: Kim corbett