|
From our journals: We spent the first days recovering from jet lag and
exploring the variety of sights in Istanbul.
We try to stay in the Sultanahmet area since it's in easy walking
distance of many major attractions, including the Grand Bazaar. The
Hagia Sophia is a short walk towards
the Golden Horn. Nearby is the sprawling complex of the
Topkapi palace which
takes a day in itself, hosting everything from the
sultan's harem, Mohammed's sword, jeweled clothing of the sultans,
to the famous Topkapi jewels and the kitchens that fed thousands of
Janissaries. And that doesn't include time for the
separate
museums on its ground such as the Archaeological Museum and the
Museum of Middle Eastern Countries. Splendid imperial mosques include the Blue Mosque,
the Suleymanie, and Hagia Sophia. Vivaldi played in the
background
as we toured the enormous Byzantine underground cisterns.
Basilica cisterns. Sometimes magnificent works of art are preserved by
a quirk of fate. An Ottoman pasha had the mosaics of St. Saviour
whitewashed, and they were only recovered in the 20th century. These mosaics and frescoes of the Chorae
Church form one of the visual highlights of any tour. If you're
interested in calligraphy, you'll want to visit the small
museum devoted to it near
Bayezit.
In addition to the imperial mosques, many exquisite,
smaller
mosques are scattered thru the city, and display incredible Iznik
tiles and other decoration.
Byzantine Ruins
Cat Sahaflar Market
Detail, Minaret Bayezit Mosque
Skyline from ferry
Rose near Hagia Sophia
Seagulls Princes Islands
Theodosius in the viewing stands Hippodrome
Supporters of Theodosius Hippodrome
Obelisks Hippodrome
Ottoman Empire
Medusa head Basilica Cisterns
Taxi, street signs
Flower sellers Taksim Square
Flower sellers Taksim Square
Dolmabahce Palace Bosphorous
Tanker Bosphorous
Rumeli fortress Bosphorous
Tanker Bosphorous
Hagia Sophia, sunset, Istanbul
Hagia Sophia , Istanbul
Byzantine walls, Istanbul
|
Obelisk, Hippodrome, Istanbul
Theodosius & family at races, Hippodrome Istanbul
Carrying the obelisk, Hippodrome Istanbul
Chariot racing, Hippodrome, Istanbul
Defeated kings, Hippodrome, Istanbul
Slippers, Covered Bazaar, Istanbul
Night Blue Mosque, Istanbul
Suliemanyie, Yeni mosques, Istanbul
Freighter, Istanbul
Mamluk bowl, 15th c, Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Istanbul
Safavid Koran, Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Istanbul
Palace carpets, Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Istanbul
|
Laleli area
Mannikins Laleli area
|
|