What to see in Istanbul?

Hagia Sophia Mosque

Officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it is a former Christian basilica, later converted into an Orthodox church, then a mosque, then a museum, and since August 1, 2020, back into a mosque in the city of Istanbul.Famous for its enormous dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have changed the history of architecture. It was the largest cathedral in the world by area for almost a thousand years. It was also the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Byzantine Orthodox Church for almost another thousand years. In addition, it was the main mosque of Istanbul for almost five hundred years.

Topkapi palace

Located in the Sultanhamet district, it was the grand palace of the sultans in Constantinople, the largest and most important monument of Ottoman civil architecture. Of enormous dimensions, it consists of different buildings set in perfectly maintained gardens. The most visited areas are the Treasury, which has high-value objects, such as the Topkapi dagger, the most expensive weapon in the world; and the Harem, the residence of the Sultan, his family and, as its name suggests, the Sultan's harem.

Istanbul Grand Bazaar

Located very close to Sultanahmet, it's a must-see for any tourist who loves shopping and the art of haggling. Covered and well-organized, it boasts 64 streets lined with shops where you can find all kinds of jewelry and traditional crafts. Without a doubt, it's the best place to buy all sorts of gifts and souvenirs before heading home. For over five centuries, it has been one of the city's most important social institutions and embodies Istanbul's commercial character.

Egyptian bazaar

The Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Bazaar, is one of the oldest markets in Istanbul and one of the best places in the city to buy typical products. It is made up of two aisles flanked by an infinity of shops, among which there are many spice shops, but also sweets, dried fruits, soaps, fabrics, perfumes and teas.Currently, despite that many of the spice stalls have been replaced by another type of business, the bazaar, still continues to give us the smells and flavors with which the delicious Turkish gastronomy is created. The variety of products is immense, you will find pots full of spices, dehydrated fruits, nuts, Turkish delight, baklavas and a wide variety of desserts that cause a visual and olfactory impact difficult to forget.

Rustem Pasha Mosque

The Rüstem Pasha Mosque is located in the area of what was once the Eminönü market and is one of Istanbul's best kept jewels. It is not one of the best-known monuments, because one of its particularities is that it is built on the arcades of what were the market stalls, so it is not easily seen walking through the network of small streets that make up this neighborhood. It is an Ottoman mosque, built between 1550 and 1561 by the well-known architect of the time Mimar Sinan in honor of the Grand Vizier Rüstem Pasha, son-in-law of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.The mosque It's not very big and the first thing that surprises you is finding it on the roof of the building you just entered. From here, you will see its beautiful entrance arch, forming a beautiful portico, the central dome, surrounded by semi-domes and its elegant minaret. The surprise awaits you in the calm interior because its tiled walls are a true wonder. These tile mosaics (originating from Iznik) create harmonious floral and abstract decorations that make the mosque dazzling. The small pieces are distributed throughout the venue, forming surprising combinations of colors and designs in which the blue color predominates, but full of nuances.

Ancient Hippodrome of Istanbul

The Hippodrome of Constantinople (Sultanahmet Meydanı) was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire and the largest city in the world in the 5th century. Today it is a square called Sultanahmet Meydanı (Sultan Ahmet Square) in Istanbul, with only fragments of the original structure surviving.Horse racing and chariot racing were popular pastimes in the ancient world, and racecourses were common in Greek cities during the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.The Hippodrome is often associated with the glory days of Constantinople when it was the imperial capital, but the monument predates that date. The first hippodrome was built when the city was still called Byzantium, a provincial town of moderate importance. In 203, Emperor Septimius Severus rebuilt the city, increased its walls and provided it with a hippodrome. In 324, Emperor Constantine the Great decided to move government from Rome to Byzantium, renaming the city Nova Roma. The name did not impress, so it became known as Constantinople, the city of Constantine. Constantine greatly expanded the city, with the renovation of the hippodrome being one of his most important goals. The hippodrome is estimated to have been about 450 metres long and 130 metres wide, and had a capacity of one hundred thousand spectators.
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