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Neil's Top 5 in Istanbul

Apr 21

Written by: Neil E. Traveler
Wednesday, April 21, 2010 3:10 AM

5. With more than 58 streets and 4,000 shops, the Grand Bazaar, opened in 1461, is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Each day between 250,000 and 400,000 people visit this market, known for its jewelry, pottery, spice and carpet shops. The experience of observing all of the goods on display, and just taking in the atmosphere, is not to be missed, and it's a great way to relive Istanbul as it was hundreds of years ago. When you've tired from browsing, cafes and restaurants provide the opportunity to pause for a bite to eat. The Grand Bazaar is open Monday-Saturday from 9am-7pm, and closed Sundays and bank holidays. It is a fifteen minute walk from the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque area. Click here for a map illustrating the enormity of the Bazaar. Or click here for additional information about the Grand Bazaar.

4. Travel back in time to the days of the Ottoman Sultans and see the official and primary residence they occupied from 1465 to 1856. Topkapi Palace, located on the Seraglio Point overlooking the Golden Horn and Sea of Marmara, was the site of many state occasions and royal events. Today it is a major attraction containing some of the most holy relics of the Muslim world - including the Prophet Muhammad's cloak and sword. It is filled with examples of Ottoman architecture, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, porcelain, weapons, shields and armor, as well as a display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry. In 1985 Topkapi Palace became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Topkapi Palace.

3. Take some time to visit the largest mosque in Turkey - the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, or more popularly, the Blue Mosque, named for the blue tiles that adorn its interior walls. Although a popular tourist destination, it is still a working mosque, and is closed to non-worshippers during the five daily prayers for about 30 minutes at a time. The Mosque is comprised of a tomb of its founder, amadrasah - literally meaning "a place where learning/studying is done", and a hospice. It took seven years to complete (from 1609-1616) and features six minarets and several domes. The interior is breathtaking - tens of thousands of tiles, hundreds of stained glass windows, verses from the Qur'an done in beautiful calligraphy, sculptured marble, and a large prayer area with an immense chandelier overhead.

2. Perhaps one of the most notable sites in Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is an amazing architectural beauty and adds to the culture and diversity of the city. Hagia Sophia is an important monument for both the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Once a church - Cathedral of Byzantium Constantinople, converted to a mosque - when Istanbul was conquered by Mehmet in 1453, it is now dedicated as a museum, famous for its enormous dome. The interior is splendid - covered in polychrome marble and gold mosaics. But perhaps most fascinating is the contrast in religious representations, emphasizing the building's transformation throughout its history. Roundels covered in Islamic calligraphy sit beside Christian mosaics. For almost one thousand years, it was the largest cathedral in the world, until the Seville Cathedral took the title in 1520.

1. Below the busy streets of Istanbul lies one of the most magnificent historical constructions in the city - the Basilica Cistern, or "Sunken Palace." Located at Sultanahmet square, this vast cistern was built during the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. It was forgotten for centuries and rediscovered by a Frenchman, Peter Gyllius, in 1545 when he noticed people in the neighborhood lowering buckets through holes in their basements and pulling up water. With its brick vaults supporting 336 columns, it is a tremendous engineering feat. Check out the two columns in the northwest corner supported by Medusa heads. Before being restored in 1987, the cistern could only be explored by boat (James Bond rowed through it in From Russia with Love). Today there are walkways. With its low lighting and subterranean location, it makes for a great escape from the summer heat. See for yourself.

We would love to know what your top destinations for Istanbul would be....comment below to contribute.

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