Istanbul

Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, divided by the straits of the Bosphorus, Istanbul forms the proverbial bridge between East and West. It is no longer a capital city, but with a population approaching 12 million, it remains one of the world’s great cities and the center of Turkey’s economic and cultural life. The Blue Mosque, Roman Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, and the Bosphorus all mark the historical past of this ancient capital, from the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Istanbul never fails to surprise - with its layer upon layer of history, and hospitable people.

Istanbul is both the nearest Asian city to Europe and the nearest European city to Asia. What adds to Istanbul’s significance is its being a port city and all trade paths have passed through the city for thousands of years.

Another important feature of Istanbul is that it has a highly sheltered structure. Especially the center which is presently called the “historical peninsula”, because it has been a capital city claimed by both Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Its being located on a hill surrounded by three seas makes it almost impossible to be conquered.

Although thousands of years have passed, Istanbul still maintains its geographical importance. Today Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, and religions. Being home to twelve million people it is one of the greatest business and cultural centers of the region.

Hagia Sophia

The Sancta Sophia or Aya Sophia is also known as the Church of the Divine Wisdom. This architectural masterpiece was once a Church, then a mosque in 1453 and in 1932 it became a museum. The decoration is beautiful and although you can’t wander around on the Upper Gallery you may want to use some binoculars to look at the detailed mosaics and chandeliers.

The dome, 33 meters wide, was among the most ambitious building projects of pre-medieval times. The dome was completed within a period of 5 years. It would take ten centuries before any architects dared to challenge its size, but then without full success. But it would take only twenty years after its competition before serious weaknesses with the construction became evident. An earthquake made central parts of the dome collapse. Among the changes which were necessary was to close several of the windows, resulting in the dim half-light that characterize the building even today.

With the Turkish conquest of Constantinople in 1453, Hagia Sophia became a mosque, and in subsequent years all the interior figure mosaics were obscured under coatings of plaster and painted ornament; most of the Christian symbols elsewhere were obliterated. The four slender minarets, which rise so strikingly at the outer corners of the structure, were added singly and at different times; the crescent supplanted the cross on the summit of the dome, and the altar and the pulpit were replaced by the customary Muslim furnishings.

Blue Mosque

Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) Facing St. Sophia is the supremely elegant, imperial, six minaret mosque of Sultan Ahmet I. Built between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Mehmet, it is known as the Blue Mosque, because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

The interior is impressive with hanging crystal chandeliers and intricate mosaics. Built next to the 1000 year older Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, was intended to challenge the grandeur of Christian Constantinopian architecture. It didn't succeed.

The Blue Mosque is beautiful from the outside, but the interior tells stories about crude building engineering and the decorations are not up to the standard found elsewhere in the Muslim world.

The building of the Blue Mosque was difficult. Its 6 planned minarets were considered unholy, as it challenged the mosque in Medina where Muhammad is buried. Moreover, many palaces of imperial ministers were sacrificed to give room. The ministers claimed that the empire couldn't afford the building of the mosque, but they all had to give in the end.

Topkapi Palace

Overlooking the Istanbul Bogazi and the Marmara Sea stands the maze of buildings that was the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The first courtyard is a magnificent wooded garden. On the right of the second court, shaded by cypress and plane trees is the palace kitchen, now housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, while on the left is the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives and concubines of the sultan. The third court contains the Audience Hall of the sultan, the Library of Sultan Ahmet III, an exhibition of robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury and lastly, an exhibition of miniatures. In the center of the third court is the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

The Topkapi Palace was home to the Ottoman Sultans for four hundred years. The buildings and gardens are impressive and pay tribute to the wealth and history of the Sultans of Istanbul in days gone by.

Picture of Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque courtesy of www.bibleplaces.com