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Exotic sights, scents & sounds reign in this fascinating city
where Europe & Asia meet. Istanbul has served as a capital for 3
mighty empires which have all left their marks behind converting
this metropolis into a mind boggling open air museum. It is
Istanbul's endless variety & diversity that fascinates the
visitor. The museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaars,
scenery, the people & vibe make Istanbul 'the city of past,
present & future'. Reclining on the European shore of the
Bosphorus at sunset contemplating the red evening light
reflected through the windows of the Asian shore you may
suddenly & profoundly understand why so many centuries ago the
settlers chose to build on this remarkable site... |
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Cagaloglu Hamami,
one of the city’s best-known & most picturesque bathhouses, it was built in
1741 by Sultan Mahmut I, with the intention of raising funds to support his
library in Haghia Sophia. International figures from King Edward VIII to
Kaiser Wilhelm, from Franz Lizst to Florence Nightingale, are all reputed to
have bathed here. |
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Istanbul Modern, this
cutting-edge gallery’s collection of modern Turkish painting,
sculpture & photography is augmented by touring exhibitions, video-audio
installations & art-house cinema. Turkish art has been known for tradition
rather than innovation, set in a beautifully converted warehouse on the
Bosphorus, this museum is sure to surprise. |
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Chora Museum, (St.
Saviour Church), is home to 1 of the world’s finest collections of
Byzantine art; more than 100 magnificent mosaics & frescoes
depicting biblical images were commissioned in 1315. The church was
converted into a mosque in the 16th century & like many other former
places of worship in Istanbul, Chora is now a splendid museum. |
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Spice Market, once the largest
spice trading venue of the medieval world, with its abundant stalls
still featuring piles of edible exotics it's a definite highlight
for anyone exploring Istanbul. Life & trade have been bustling under
the high domed roof of the Egyptian Bazaar since 1664. Here you can
find spices, herbal medicine, aromatic incenses, fragrant oils &
more... |
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Basilica Cistern, this beautiful
'Sunken Palace', as the Turkish name has it, was built as a vast
underground water-storage tank. The structure was expanded in 532
A.D to ensure that Constantinople was always supplied with water; it
has an area of 9,800 sq/m, it once held 80 million litres of water,
the roof is supported by 336 pillars, 8 m in height. |
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Miniaturk, here’s a chance to
take in all of Turkey’s finest sights in a single afternoon, Europes
finest miniature park on the shore of the Golden Horn contains 1:25
scale models of the country’s most impressive structures, from the
Bosphorus Bridge to Haghia Sophia, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Mt. Nemrut,
Istanbul Airport, Ephesus, Troy & more... |
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Cicek Pasaji, an icon of
Beyoglu's past & present, the Cicek Pasaji occupies a stunning
rococo arcade, the original of which dates to 1876. It is somewhat a
miniature version of the famous Galleria in Milan, Italy. The
building hosts rows of meyhanes, winehouses & restaurants serving
delicious food, it is one of the most entertaining places where
locals are regulars. |
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Important note : Please excuse us, as
the above list consists of only & most definitely less than %1 of
attractions or activities in Istanbul & these may rank differently
on each & every travellers to do list and therefore should be
considered only in conjunction with the other %99. Please visit the
following link for Istanbul's statistically most visited sights.
Istanbul major attractions |
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