Typical views of the fine city of Istanbul involve mosques and the Bosphorus. Turkey’s largest city sits astride the Bosphorus with the main tourist attractions found on the smaller European side. Cross the Bosphorus by ferry or an Istanbul bridge and you are in Asia.
Istanbul History
Istanbul’s history dates back to ancient times with a colony called Byzantium established in the 7th Century BC. It was taken by Alexander the Great and in the 1st Century AD, it came under Roman rule. Constantine the Great gave it a new name as it became the capital of the Byzantine Empire.
Centuries of conflict followed with periods under Arab, Barbarian and Crusader rule until 1453. The Ottomans under Mehmet II took the City. They gave it its current name, and the religion of Islam. The Ottomans fell and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk inspired the foundation of the Turkish Republic in 1923. Istanbul is not Turkey’s capital, but it remains the Republic’s most important city to this day.
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th Century as a Christian church by the Emperor Justinian I, is a real feat of architectural design. The Ottomans converted it to a mosque when they took Constantinople. It remained so until Ataturk decreed it as a museum in 1935.
A mosque today
The Turkish Government converted Hagia Sophia back to a mosque in 2020 but it will still be accessible to visitors. Almost 3 million visitors walk through its doors each year to explore its wonderful interior.
You will find Hagia Sophia in Sultanahmet close to where the Ottoman Sultans ruled their huge Empire. If you are planning an Istanbul visit, Sultanahmet is the first district to consider. Every Istanbul City tour will include this district in Istanbul.
Blue Mosque
Just a couple of minutes’ walk from Hagia Sophia, you will find another stunning landmark. The official name for this Istanbul mosque is Sultan Ahmet Mosque after the then Sultan, Ahmet I. He commissioned it in 1609 but it gets a nickname because of the blue tiles that decorate the stunning interior.
Even though it is a mosque, tourists are welcome to visit and go inside. That is only outside the times of prayer and simply make a donation on departure.
St. Anthony of Padua
Even though Turkey is a Muslim country, other religions exist in Istanbul. St. Anthony of Padua is a large Roman Catholic Cathedral dedicated to the Portuguese Catholic priest. Home is Beyoglu.
The Italian community built the original church early in the 18th Century. Today’s cathedral opened just before the outbreak of the First World War after the demolition of that original.
The Bosphorus
The Bosphorus is the dividing line of Europe and Asia within Istanbul. It is a very busy stretch of water filled with ferries crossing from one side to the other. It is also the channel that links the Black Sea to the Aegean. Countries like Russia and Ukraine need the trade link. Head west and ships reach the Aegean and ultimately the Mediterranean. There is a constant stream of merchant ships and tankers passing along Istanbul east and west.
Visitors can land on the small island supporting Maiden’s Tower whose history dates back to the 4th Century BC. Today’s Tower is relatively new, but the story of its building and subsequent history is fascinating.
Take a Cruise
There is some prime real estate on the Bosphorus. Cruises along the Bosphorus are very popular with tourists. In the heat of summer, there are few better places to cool off than in its pleasant breezes. Your Istanbul pictures are not complete without some looking at the European side from the Bosphorus.
Grand Bazaar
There are 61 covered streets in the Grand Bazaar, and over 4,000 shops. They sell everything from colourful lights to carpets, jewellery to clothing. The Grand Bazaar in Eminonu within Fatih sits in a traditional trading district which the Ottomans established soon after their arrival.
Completed in 1730, even on a quiet day the Grand Bazaar attracts a quarter of a million visitors. Your Istanbul travel plans should include the Grand Bazaar but don’t expect to see too much of it even in a few hours. You will be invited by shopkeepers at every turn to have a cup of tea.
Dolmabahce
Topkapi Palace had been home to the Ottoman Sultans, their officials and harem for four centuries when they decided to move to this new palace in Besiktas on the Bosphorus. Construction began in 1843 when there were already signs of the Empire’s decline. It is filled with the best of European furnishing around at the time including a huge Irish crystal chandelier weighing 8 tonnes.
Ataturk died in this palace in 1938 with the clock in his office stopped at the time of his death; 0905 (10th November) at the age of just 57.
Modern & Ancient Intermingled
There is more to Istanbul than history. It is the commercial hub of Turkey and there has been plenty of modern construction. Skyscrapers, primarily on the European side, are evidence of Turkey’s modern economy. If you visit Istanbul, as well as the historical and cultural landmarks, you will find modern shopping malls. Seek out the international brands represented, luxury hotels, fine dining, and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
Istanbul’s Bridges
There are important bridges in Istanbul looking to ease movement around this huge city. The Bosphorus Bridge, now renamed 15 July Martyrs Bridge, links Europe with Asia, Ortakoy to Beylerbeyi. It has 6 lanes and opened in 1973. The Galata Bridge crosses the Golden Horn on the European side and the current bridge was completed in 1994. It is the fifth of the bridges known as Galata, the first one opening in 1845.
The photograph above is the most recent bridge, the most northerly. Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, opened in 2016, is for both road and rail and links Sariyer with Beykoz.
Get around by Tram
Istanbul is a hectic city. Relax and just enjoy being in the City. Transport is an ongoing issue with improvements being planned all the time. There is an overland metro service, the ferries, taxis and most common of all on the European side, trams.
Conclusion
Istanbul images are a great way to promote this great City. Istanbul photos often concentrate on Sultanahmet and the major landmarks in this small district. You can easily walk around them in a day.