Hagia Sophia

6th century AD Orthodox church

Hagia Sophia, meaning "Holly Wisdom" in Greek, was a former Orthodox church built by Byzantine emperor Justinian I in the 6th century, then converted into a mosque by Ottoman sultan Mehmet II after the Conquest of Constantinople in the 15th century, then used as one of the most important museums of Istanbul during the Republic era, and finally re-converted to mosque in July 2020. It's located in Sultanahmet neighborhood as a World Heritage Site of UNESCO. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture.

Building: Hagia Sophia is a mosque since July 2020 and open daily.

• Date: 532-537 AD
• Sponsor: Emperor Justinian I
• Architects: Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus of Miletus

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Blue Mosque

Sultan Ahmed mosque built in 17th century

Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque because of its interior decoration color, is the most important mosque of Istanbul. It was built by the Ottoman sultan Ahmed I in the beginning of 17th century AD.

The mosque is open to visitors daily except during prayer times. Also, on Fridays it's closed to visitors from the morning until the end of Friday Prayers.

• Date: 1609-1616 AD
• Sponsor: Sultan Ahmed I
• Architect: Sedefkar Mehmed Aga

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Topkapi Palace

Topkapi palace and the Harem

Topkapi Palace is one of the biggest palaces in the World. It was built in the 15th century AD by the sultan Mehmet II on a hill dominating the Golden Horn, the Sea of Marmara, and the Bosphorus strait, with great views of the Asian side of Istanbul as well. The palace was the political center of the Ottoman Empire until 19th century.

Harem was a complex of apartments in the palace belonging to the wives, concubines and children of the sultan.

Museum: Topkapi palace and Harem is open daily except on Tuesdays.

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Bosphorus strait

Bosphorus strait, suspension bridge, Ortakoy mosque

The Bosphorus is a natural strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. It's 32 kilometers long in the north-south direction, meanwhile its width varies between 730-3300 meters, with a depth varying between 30-120 meters. The Bosphorus separates the European part from the Asian part of Istanbul.

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The Bosphorus is a very busy waterway with many commercial ships going through, as well as local fishing and ferry boats go to the Asian side back and forth. There are two suspension bridges on the strait connecting two continents and the third one is under construction. There is also a tunnel for the subway running between Europe and Asia, also a second tunnel for the motor vehicles is under construction.

Bosphorus is one of the most popular areas of Istanbul. Fine neighborhoods such as Ortakoy, Ottoman palaces such as Dolmabahce Palace, fortresses such as Rumelihisar, old wooden villas, hotels, parks and gardens, restaurants and cafeterias are lined up along its shores.

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Byzantine Cistern

Byzantine underground cistern

Yerebatan cistern was built in the 6th century by Byzantine emperor Justinian I as a water storage in order to be used during the siege of the enemy. The water was brought by aquaducts built during the Roman rule. There are two Medusa friezes brought from the ancient Temple of Apollo in Didyma. Today the cistern is restored and used as a museum.

• Date: 532-535 AD
• Builder: Justinian I

Museum: Yerebatan Cistern is open daily.

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Kizkulesi Tower

Maidens Tower on the Bosphorus

Kizkulesi, meaning "Maiden's Tower" in Turkish, is a tower on a small rock located at the southern entrance of the Bosphorus.

There are several legends about its name, but originally its construction dates back to the 5th century BC when it was built on a rock at the entrance of the Bosphorus for the surveillance of the waterway. Throughout the centuries the building was used to control the traffic in the channel, as a checkpoint and customs area to collect taxes from the passing ships, as a prison, as a light house, and so on. Final restoration was done in 1998 and in 2023.

Transfer: There are scheduled shuttle boats for transfers to the tower from the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.

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Cappadocia

Hot-air balloons flying over "Fairy" Cappadocia

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Ahtamar island

Church on Ahtamar island in lake Van

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Ishakpasa Palace

Ishakpasha palace in Dogubeyazit - Agri

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Gulet boats

Wooden Gullet boats anchored along the Turkish Riviera

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Selimiye mosque

Dome of Selimiye mosque in Edirne

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Ataturk's Mausoleum

Mausoleum of Ataturk in Ankara

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