Istanbul – 7.3 million, Ankara – 2.8 million, Izmir – 1.7 million, as well as Adana and Bursa.
Istanbul– a beautiful ancient city, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, a place where East and West merge together. It is the only city in the world located in two parts of the world at the same time. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and one of the most populous cities in the world with over 13 million people. Majestic Istanbul, which until 1930 bore the name of Constantinople, is located on the shores of the Bosphorus, at the place where the waters of the Black and Marmara Seas meet, and the border between Europe and Asia passes. The mixture of these two cultures to this day largely determines the appearance of the city, giving it a unique charm and charm and attracting millions of tourists. Probably, the main value of Istanbul lies precisely in its amazing diversity, a city in which everyone will find a place for themselves, where he wants to return. In turn, the European part is divided into two halves by the beautiful Golden Horn Bay, which is one of the symbols of the city. To the south of the bay is the Eminonu area, or the Old Town, which has largely preserved its historical appearance. To the north of the Golden Horn Bay there is a port and business districts of the city. The Asian part of the city is mainly residential areas, however, many interesting monuments and sights have been preserved here. Historical values and architectural sights preserved in the museums of Istanbul make up half of the cultural and historical heritage of all of Turkey. largely preserved its historical appearance. To the north of the Golden Horn Bay there is a port and business districts of the city. The Asian part of the city is mainly residential areas, however, many interesting monuments and sights have been preserved here. Historical values and architectural sights preserved in the museums of Istanbul make up half of the cultural and historical heritage of all of Turkey. largely preserved its historical appearance. To the north of the Golden Horn Bay there is a port and business districts of the city. The Asian part of the city is mainly residential areas, however, many interesting monuments and sights have been preserved here. Historical values and architectural sights preserved in the museums of Istanbul make up half of the cultural and historical heritage of all of Turkey.
Attractions:
The sights of Istanbul cannot be described in a few words, these are world-famous Christian churches and Muslim mosques, many museums, monuments of ancient architecture, palaces and fortresses, one of the most visited places is the historical center of the city – the Sultanahmet district. Here are two truly impressive monuments of architecture and religion – St. Sophia Cathedral and the Blue Mosque.
Hagia Sophia is one of the main symbols of the city. Once it was the main church of the Christian faith in the East and the largest church in the entire Christian world, and now the cathedral functions as a museum. The grandiose building with a dome 31 meters in diameter has become a real architectural masterpiece of its era.
Also worth a visit in Istanbul, and this is only a small part of the trip:
Topkapi Palace – This Sultan’s palace, with its many courtyards and openwork gates, evokes nostalgia for the distant past. There are several museums on its territory, the most interesting of which are the Treasury, which houses the famous Topkapi dagger and Spoonmaker’s diamond, and the harem, in which the wives and children of the Sultan lived (visiting
both is not included in the ticket price to the palace).
The Blue Mosque, or Sultan Ahmet Mosque is another religious symbol of Istanbul and one of the largest functioning mosques in the world, the most beautiful example of Islamic architecture, the mosque was built in the early 16th century, and still remains the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets. The building gets its name from the 20,000 blue Iznik tiles used in its construction.
Dolmabahce Palace is a magnificent palace in Istanbul, which served as the residence of the last sultans of the Ottoman Empire. The palace was built in just 13 years (construction began in 1843 and ended in 1856).
The Galata Tower is one of the most famous sights of Istanbul, an integral symbol of the city. Located in the European part of the city, in the Beyoglu district, at the end of Istiklal Street, it can be observed from almost all points in the central part of the city, the height of the tower is about 140 meters.
The Basilica Cistern is one of The largest and best-preserved ancient underground reservoirs of Constantinople, the Suleymaniye Mosque – the largest in size in Istanbul – dates back to 1557. Inside it is the mausoleum of Sultan Suleiman and his wife Roksolana. The famous Ottoman architect Sinan, who built many Istanbul mosques in the 16th century, is also buried next to Suleymaniye.
The Hippodrome Square was previously the center of life in Byzantium for 1000 years, and for about 400 years it was just as important in the Ottoman Empire. Unfortunately, only the ruins of arches and fragments of walls have survived from the Hippodrome. In the western part of the Hippodrome is the palace of Ibrahim Pasha (16th century). Currently, there is the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, which displays old manuscripts, carpets, Iznik tiles, miniatures, as well as ancient clothes.
Chora Monastery, founded in the 5th century, contains amazingly beautiful frescoes and mosaics depicting the Virgin Mary and the life of Jesus (the frescoes date back to the eleventh to fourteenth centuries).
The Grand Bazaar attracts a large number of people. Almost everything is on sale – carpets, gold, fabrics, spices, and much more. The bazaar is a whole world in which it is easy but pleasant to get lost among the aromas of oriental coffee. Istanbul Aquarium contains species from all over the world (about 1500 species, 15,000 animals in total). It will be interesting here for both adults and children. There is a cafe on the territory of the aquarium.
