The Blue Mosque:

This magnificent mosque dates back from 1616 and it is one of the most historical places in the city of Istanbul, the history of this mosque goes after the defeat against Persia in the war of 1603-1618 after Sultan Ahmet I decided to build a mosque in Istanbul. The mosque was built beside Hagia Sophia which caused the anger of the Muslim Jurists back then. The mosque has five domes, six minarets and another eight domes and designed in a typical Islamic architecture. The mosque is open for the public to visit, and for non-Muslims are obligated to wear a cape to respect the holiness of the mosque. The mosque is located in Sultan Ahmet district in the old city of Istanbul, and near the Tram Station of Sultan Ahmet.

Hagia Sophia:

Hagia-Sophia

Hagia Sophia has an amazing history which attracts eager tourists, the Hagia Sophia was first an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral from 537 until 1453, after the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans, it was converted as an Ottoman Mosque, and now it is a museum. Hagia Sophia was the largest cathedral for a thousand years until the Cathedral in Seville/Spain was completed in the 1520s. The inside of this place is as wonderful as the outside. Hagia Sophia now contains relics from the Ottoman and Byzantine Empires.

The location of this amazing monument is near the Blue Mosque in Sultan Ahmet District. Having the best sidewalks and a relaxing atmosphere. In addition, to it’s being close to some of the finest restaurants and cafés on the other side of the street. The place is just magnificent.

Topkapi Palace:

This monument once was the home for many people and acted as a ruling center during the Ottoman Era. It has Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, Harem rooms. The palace lost its importance in the empire due to the Sultans preferred to live in their own palaces alongside the Bosphorus shore. The palace has hundreds of rooms and chambers. In 1923 the Palace was turned into a museum. The courtyard of the palace is surrounded by high walls, the first courtyard is the largest of all other courtyards and it was considered as a park. The large gate of Salutation leads directly to the palace and to the second courtyard, the gate has two large towers. The second courtyard was not completed until the reign of Mehmed II, it is surrounded by the bakery, Janissary headquarter, stables, and the imperial Harem. The Imperial stables located around six meters below ground level.

The Grand Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar is one of the largest closed bazaars in the world. The bazaar has different gates each lead to a different section, Akkeciler, Zenneciler, Beyazit, Carsikapi, Mahmutpasa, Cuhacihan, Kuyumcular, Nuruosmaniye, and Sepetcihan, are all gates to the bazaar. The bazaar has different section, jewelry section, clothes section, antiques section, and Turkish Delights and food section. The bazaar was constructed during the Ottoman Empire by Mehmed the Conqueror in the 1460s after the conquest of Constantinople. and since then it is one of Istanbul’s landmarks, and the destination for many tourists around the world. Back in the Ottoman Empire the bazaar was considered the center of economy to the city. It has over 4000 shops each has its unique products. The merchants there can speak foreign languages and can be able to bargain with. The experience you get from spending the time in this bazaar is exciting and unforgettable for many tourists.

The city of Istanbul has an amazing number of monuments dating back to the Greek Empire and through the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, the monuments shaped the history of the city with their amazing architecture and stories. Discover what Istanbul has to offer and get to know more about the city through its monuments. The monuments will not fail you to have an amazing amount of time while touring around the city.