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Best Places to Visit Other Countries |
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Turkey Travel GuideBest Places to Visit in Istanbul |
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Overview Topkapi Palace The Grand Mosques Hagia Sofia The Yerebatan Cistern and Hippodrome Area The Bazaars Dolmabahaçe Palace The Bosporus |
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| Overview |
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| Istanbul Climate
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Istanbul,
Turkey's largest city (its population is estimated at approximately fifteen million), is divided by the Bosporus, an 18 mile
long, narrow channel that links the Black Sea with the Sea of Mamara.
The western shore of the Bosporus marks the eastern edge of Europe while its
eastern shore marks the beginning of Asia, the world's largest continent.
The majority of Istanbul's population resides on the European side of the
city and this is, also, where you will find the attractions of interest to most travelers.
Istanbul is a city of aliases. It was known as Constantinople when it was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, although originally it was called Byzantium. In1453 Constantinople was conquered by the Ottomans and, eventually, was renamed Istanbul. Mehmet the Conqueror made the city the new capital of the Ottoman Empire (replacing Edirne) and Istanbul became the home of the most powerful Islamic empire in world history. After reaching its peak power in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the Ottoman dynasty slowly deteriorated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was abolished in 1922 after the war of Turkish Independence. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, who led the victorious forces in the War of Independence, is regarded as the “father of modern Turkey” and remains a popular historical figure for the Turkish people to this day. He moved the capital for Turkey to Ankara and it was not until the 1950's that Istanbul regained its global importance.
The majority of the celebrated antiquities of Istanbul are found on the “European” or western side of the Bosporus and concentrated to the south of the famous "Golden Horn", an 8 km (4.8 miles) long, natural port located on a deep, freshwater estuary. There is some debate as to whether the name of the Golden Horn derives from the shape of the estuary or the fertile soil and abundant fishing that was associated with this area in the past. Although modern boats can dock here with ease, in Byzantine times the entrance to the Golden Horn was blocked by a chain that was used to deny access to enemies or those in disfavor with the emperor. The Golden horn separates the Old City (Sultanahmet) from the more modern Beyoglu. You will want to spend the majority of your time in the Old City, but you will find that major shopping areas, many great restaurants and the Dolmbahce Palace are to the north across the Galata Bridge in Beyoglu. Travel using conventional taxi’s or water taxis. Istanbul is a great town for walking but the different sections of the city are far apart. Do not hesitate to grab a taxi when the day grows hot or the distance to walk back to your hotel is too long. Eventually you are going to want to see the eastern side of the city and a water taxi is just the ticket. Arriving in Istanbul is accompanied by sensory overload, as it is truly the place where East meets West. If you arrive by boat, the view from the docks is a feast for the eyes, as the combination of architectural styles assault the senses. While one expects mosques to abound in Istanbul, the profile of the Old City, dominated by massive domes and minarets reaching for the sky, is spectacular. It is hard to arrive in Istanbul from the sea, without feeling that you have arrived at a place of significant historic and modern importance.
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When docking in Istanbul on a cruise, you will see the beautiful Süleymaniye Mosque
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Topkapi PalaceTopkapi Sarayi (Topkapi Palace) was built by Mehmet the Conqueror and dates from 15th century. It served as the primary royal palace for the Sultans and royal families of the Ottoman Empire until the mid-19th century. Topkapi Palace, sits on the edge of the old city overlooking both the Bosporus and the Golden Horn. Although Topkapi was extended and rebuilt several times during the Ottoman reign, the architectural styles make for a pleasant blend. This is the one site in Istanbul that seems to capture the imagination of all visitors to the City. It is, also, the most popular attraction in Istanbul.
The Palace complex, which is surrounded by over five kilometers of walls, was established when the capital of the Ottoman Empire was moved here following the conquest of the city in 1453. The Palace was abandoned in 1853 when the Dolmabahce Palace was constructed. Topkapi was converted to a public museum in the 1920s, shortly after the War of Turkish Independence.
The palace was used for state occasions but also served as the private residence of the sultans and their harems (their wives, families and various staff). Because of this relationship, Topkapi offers the visitor a number of distinct views of the lives of the Ottoman sultans. Topkapi houses fine collections of Ottoman artifacts including imperial jewels, porcelain, armor and weapons (although some are so jewel encrusted (for example to famous and gorgeous Topkapi Dagger) that it is doubtful they were used for fighting. In addition, the Topkapi museum includes holy relics of the Prophet Mohammed that are revered throughout the Islamic world. Note that there is a great interest in the Harem and, if you intend on visiting the areas once shared by the royal family, you must buy a ticket for the Harem tour. Entry to the Harem is limited and you should attempt to make a reservation to visit as soon as you arrive in Istanbul. Topkapi is open from 19:00 to 17:00 every day except Tuesday with the ticket boots closing an hour earlier. Note that the hours can vary by season so check locally. As noted above, the Harem is a separate tour and ticket. See the official website for detailed information on visiting.
If you need information about another travel destination, try our Destination Guide Index or Googling ThereArePlaces.
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Looking toward the "New City" from Topkapi Palace
A view of the warren of rooms that comprise the interior of the Harem
Looking towards Hagia Sophia from the Topkapi Palace
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