Istanbul Holiday Guide
Istanbul Holiday Guide
Istanbul - Constantinople - Byzantium. City on the Bosphorus, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea, City on two continents. Officially 9 million, unofficially 14 million inhabitants. Boundary between Asia and Europe, between Orient and Occident. Mosques and bazaars, western lifestyle and Anatolian tradition. The reason for our 4-day stay in Istanbul, however, was the operation of Vivien (see link below). Since it looks again without glasses and contact lenses, like an eagle!
Already on the journey from the airport into the city, we were enchanted by the silhouette, with its myriad dome and minarets fascinated. Again and again we went on parts of the 21-km-long massive walls along.
The Bosporus, the strait between Asian and European continent by a 1 km long, free-floating bridge spans and offers next to the hellish traffic, beautiful views of the two banks of the Bosphorus. A boat trip or a long walk along the shore you should not miss.
Sultanahmet Camii, owes its Beinahmen the “Blue Mosque” of the decoration with blautonigen tiles and 6 with its minarets, instead of the usual 4, the most impressive buildings next to the Hagia Sophia. During the prayer hours, hundreds of Muslims come here to pray, an impressive experience.
In addition to the traditional parts of the city, offers Istanbul, around the Taksim Square, even a completely modern, western city centre pedestrian zone along with the usual international shops and restaurants. Only the historic tram recalls the old days. Away from these miles are still Local and traditional tea gardens with a wide range of local cuisine.
Another dominant structure is the Galata tower at the northern end of the same bridge. From up here you have a wonderful overview of the entire city. At night you can see a show and dinner Folklore-/Bauchtanz- visit, but at astronomical prices € 60, –/Pers. We renounced it.
With most “experienced” man Istanbul at a stroll through the great bazaar. His gigantic proportions of nearly 31 ha and nearly 4000 stores in a labyrinthartigen covered Gewölbebau make the visit a unique experience. Spices, gold, carpets, ceramics, copper, brass, leather goods, etc. everything is in abundance exists and will loudly by the merchants. It is traded and haggled, just typical oriental and for us always fascinating.
Topkapi Sarayi, the centuries-old Ottoman Sultan’s palace is situated in a beautiful park and one of the main attractions of Istanbul. The view from here on top of the Bosporus, the Golden Horn and the city are unique. We enthusiastic but especially the architecture and the equipment of different premises. A fairy tale palace as from Thousand and One Nights. Before louder photographing and amazed, we missed time in the harem to go, because already at 16.00 clock close to its gates. Schade, the tickets we had purchased thus free.
Despite the partly already widely west dominated lifestyle, there is still the old traditions. Verschleierte women and provides traditional craftsmen still everywhere in the roads. The company is pure men almost everywhere.
Our trip to Istanbul was not only in relation to the operation successful. The whole city with their different ways of life, the grandiose buildings and the lively street life has us very much. Istanbul is in any case worth a visit.
Istanbul Sultanahmet
Istanbul is located in the north-west Turkey extending into the Marmara region and surrounded by the provinces of Tekirdag to the west, Kocaeli to the east, the Black Sea to the north and the Sea of Marmara to the south.
Istanbul famous for its history and its importance for the country as one of the most principal commercial centre today is a huge cosmopolitan metropolis connecting continents , cultures, religions and home of around of twelve millions of inhabitants. The Bosphorus (Bogaziçi) Strait divides the province in two parts: the European side and the Asian side, and that is why Istanbul is described as “the crossroads of Europe and Asia”.
Istanbul along its history was the capital of three successive empires: Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman. Today Istanbul still maintains remains of its glorious past which contrasts with the development of the region and the modernity. Turkey is worth to visit and where travellers will not be disappointed.
Istanbul is a cosmopolitan city located in the center of the Old World, in the northeast of the Anatolian Peninsula between the Black and Aegean Seas, boasting for a vast and glorious history and magnificent scenic beauties. Istanbul is the unique city in the world built on two continents divided by the Bosphorus strait.
Istanbul through its history was the capital, successively, of three important empires of the Old world, The Eastern Roman Empire (324-476), the Byzantine Empire (476-1453) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922) during each period the city acquired different names as Byzantium, Constantinople until take its actual name. Today Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures, and religions contrasting its unrivalled heritage with the modernity.
Recent population census made in Turkey shows that Istanbul has a population of about 12 million people, from which almost 65% are inhabitants of the Asian side but with few remains and attractions to see. In contrast, the European side is the commercial and cultural center, further divided into two districts by the Golden Horn; the Old City and the modern downtown. Both extremes of the city, the European and Asiatic can be reached by two bridges, the Bosphorus Bridge, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. The Old City and the New City in the European side separated by the Golden Horn; a natural channel 7km long, are connected by two bridges, the Galata Bridge and Atatürk Bridge.
The majority of historical monuments are located in the Old part of the city in the European side. The most famous are St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome, The Wall of Theodosius, Topkapi Palace, Suleymaniye Mosque, Underground Cistern, St.Eirene, St.Saviour in Chora, Archeological Museum, Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market; while in the new part can be appreciated the modern face of the city with its skyscrapers and luxurious shopping centers, and at the same time, visitors could be delighted by the wooden houses bordering the Bosphorus and historical sites such as Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Galata Tower, Nusretiye Mosque, Clock Tower and many others more.
Although the Asiatic side of the city, has no much to offer to see bears a mixture of modern houses, lovely wooden villas as well as some historical sites such as Anadolu Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace, Leanders Tower, Cinili Mosque, etc.
Undoubtedly Istanbul has too much to offer for visitors delighting with its historical legacy.
Reccomend Hotels in Sultanahmet;
Sultanahmet Hotels ; Peninsula Hotel
