Istanbul is a unique city that straddles Europe and Asia and has served as the capital of two empires. It retains the historical, cultural, and commercial importance as the former capital of the Ottoman Empire. Major attractions include Topkapi Palace, once home to the Ottoman sultans, the Blue Mosque known for its blue Iznik tiles, Hagia Sophia which has witnessed over 1600 years of history, and the Grand Bazaar, a massive labyrinth of shops. Istanbul offers a blend of ancient and modern sites and architecture, reflecting its diverse history and the influence of multiple empires and religions.

1. About Istanbul
Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul, once known as the capital of capital cities, has many unique features. It is the only city in
the world to straddle two continents, and the only one to have been a capital during two
consecutive empires - Christian and Islamic. Once was capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul still
remains the commercial, historical and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its beauty lies in its ability to
embrace its contradictions. Ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical
and earthly all co-exist here. Its variety is one of İstanbul’s greatest attractions: The ancient
mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars reflect its diverse history. The thriving shopping area of
Taksim buzzes with life and entertainment. And the serene beauty of the Istanbul strait, Princes
Islands and parks bring a touch of peace to the otherwise chaotic metropolis.
Places of Interest Topkapı Palace
Overlooking the Golden Horn stands the mare of buildings that was the great palace of the
Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th century. Today it is one of the richest museums of the
world. Topkapı was not just the private residence of the Sultan and his court. As home of Divan, it
was the meeting place of the supreme executives and the judicial control of a great empire as well.
It is now housing the most astonishing collection of rare objects that once belonged to the sultans.
Beylerbeyi Palace
This palace was constructed in the same style as Dolmabahçe Palace. It is situated on the Asiatic
Shore of the Bosphorus and was built during the reign of Sultan Abdülaziz in the year 1865. The
palace consists of the 24 rooms and 6 walls. Italian, French and Turkish artists created the ceiling
decorations. The palace was used as the summer palace of the sultans.
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (The Blue Mosque)
It is known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration with the İznik tiles
with their dominating blue color. The Blue Mosque stands firmly opposite of Hagia Sophia. Blue
Mosque is the supremely elegant imperial mosque of Sultan Ahmed I with its 6 minarets. It was
built by the architect Mehmed Aga.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is one of the world’s most important buildings from the architectural point of view.
The ancient basilica was built by Constantine the Great. The first church was destroyed by a fire. A
new church was built at the same place by Theodosius II, but this was also burned down. It was
then re-constructed by Justinian in the 6th century. The construction of Hagia Sophia witnessed
sixteen hundred years of the history.

2. Süleymaniye Mosque
The mosque of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, where he and his wife are also buried, is
considered to be the most beautiful and splendid of all the imperial mosques in Istanbul. It was
built in among 1550 and 1556 by the famous architect Sinan, whose dearest wish was to surpass
the builders of Hagia Sophia.
Archeological Museum
This extraordinary museum was established in the reign of Sultan Abdülhamit II, by Osman Hamdi
Bey who was also a painter and a collector. It now houses the best antique in the world. The
antiquities mostly originate from Anatolia, the Middle East and North Africa that were all was the
part of the Ottoman Empire.
Grand Covered Bazaar
In 1461, Sultan Mehmed II built the first bazaar and used wood as the material, which is now
called as “Eski Bedesten”. It is oldest section of the bazaar. After several fires the bazaar was
reconstructed in 1894. Today the buildings are surrounded by a wall occupying an area of 200.000
sq. m. Approximately 5.000 shops are spread out in a giant labyrinth of small streets and
passages, which are mostly arranged according to their trades; antiques, gold, silver leather etc.
Egyptian Bazaar
This was built by Hatice Sultan with the taxes collected from Cairo for the trade of Egyptian
commodities, especially herbs and spices. The bazaar with its domes is L shaped and belongs to
the complex of the mosque of the Sultan’s Mother.
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is an inlet of the sea and a natural harbor, dividing the European Side of Istanbul
into two as, the Old Istanbul and the Modern Istanbul. This arm of the Bosphorus is called “Golden
Horn” due to its horn-like shape and the golden color of the water surface at sunset.
Pierre Loti Cafe
Having a magnificent view of the Golden Horn, the cafe is located high above a hill. It has been
called by the name of a French author Pierre Loti. Pierre Loti, (1850-1923) was one of the few
writers who came into prominence and enjoyed and outstanding success during his lifetime. His
real name was Julien Viaud and as a naval officer he had opportunity of visiting many foreign
countries. Turkey seems to have had a very special attraction for him. During his visits to Turkey,
Loti dressed and acted like a Turk, with a fez upon his head and a rosary in his hand, he roamed in
the intricate streets of İstanbul, rested in coffeehouses smoking a gurgling pipe, or sipping a cup of
thick Turkish coffee. He liked to stroll around the mosques of Fatih or Selim but Eyüp was his
favorite place. He frequented this cafe, admiring the magnificent panorama of the Golden Horn,
absorbing the quiet and peaceful atmosphere that reigned there. No one knows exactly how or
where it started but the place has been called after him ever since: Pierre Loti Kahvesi.
Source: http://www.tcmb.gov.tr/yeni/konferans/fms/Istanbul.htm