Istanbul embraces two continents with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe. Through the city’s heart, the Bosphorus, course the water of the black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The former capital of their successive empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, Istanbul today honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to a modern future. It is Istanbul’s endless variety that fascinates its visitors. The museums, churches, palaces, grand mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem innumerable.

Reclining on the western shore of the Bosphorus at sunset contemplating the red evening light reflected in the windows of the opposite shore you may suddenly and profoundly understand why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build an this remarkable site. At such times you can see why Istanbul is truly one of the most glorious cities in the world.

Accommodations

My preferred hotel chain is Marriott. I have stayed Residence Inns, which are prefect for longer stays with all the comforts of home; Spring Hill Suites, which I have found nice for longer stays as the have up to 25% more room than comparably priced rooms; Towne Place Suites, again when I want more room or am on a longer stay; Courtyard by Marriott, which has everything the business traveler needs, as well as families; Courtyard, Fairfield Inn, which I find spacious, comfortable and affordable. Another great idea is to stay at one of the JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts where you can enjoy a new dimension for your vacation or holiday. and Marriott Hotels and Resorts and have found them all to be of consistent quality and service. I have also stayed at some of their Vacation Club properties and have enjoyed each visit. AAA members can get discount rates at Marriott, as can Seniors. Click on Great Getaways for less at Marriott for special officers and great deals at Marriott hotels worldwide!

For accommodations in Istanbul, click on Istanbul Accommodations. Reservations through Venere Internet Hotel Reservation services which has been providing great hotel accommodations for holiday and business travelers. They can also help you find the perfect accommodations in Austria, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, you may visit their site in English, Italiano, Deutsch, Francais, and Espanol making it easy for almost anyone to find the perfect accommodations.

Istanbul Hotels - Make your reservations in a great hotel in Istanbul today and, even better, get great discounts by reserving through Getting Away! Click here for hotels in selected other European cities.

Palaces
On a finger of land at the confluence of the Bosphorus, The Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara stands the Topkapi Palace, that maze of buildings that was the focal point of the Ottoman Empire between 15^th and 19^th centuries. In these opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first court. In the second court, on the right, shaded by compress and plane trees, stand the palace kitchens, which now serve as galleries exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain. To the left is the Harem, the secluded quarters of the wives, concubines, and children of the sultan, charming visitor with echoes of centuries of intrigue. Today the third court hold the Hall of Audience, the Library of Ahmet III, an exhibition of imperial costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury and a priceless collection of miniatures from medieval manuscripts. In the center of this innermost sanctuary, the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle enshrines the relics of the Prophet Muhammad brought to Istanbul when the Ottomans assume the caliphate of Islam. ( Open every day except Tuesday).

The facade of the Dolmabahce Palace, built in the mid-19^th century by Sultan Abdülmecit I, stretches for 600 meters along the European shore of the Bosphorus. The vast reception salon, with its 56 columns and four-and-a-half ton crystal chandelier with 750 lights, never fails to astonish visitors. At one time, birds from all over the world were kept in the Bird Pavilion for the delight of the palace’s privileged residents. Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, died in the palace on November 10, 1938. ( Open every day except Monday and Thursday).

In the 19^th century, Sultan Abdülaziz built the Beylerbeyi Palace, a fantasy in white marble set amid magnolia-filled gardens, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus. Used as the Sultan’s summer residence, it was offered to the most distinguished foreign dignitaries for their visits. Empress Eugenie of France was among its residents. ( Open every day except Monday and Thursday).

In addition to the State Pavilions at the Yidiz Palace complex, the compound includes a series of pavilions and a mosque. It was completed By Abdülhamit II at the end of the 19^th century.

And some other palaces are as fallows: The Sale, Gksu Palace, Aynali kavak Summer Pavilion, Ihlamir Pavilion, Merasim Pavilion, Maiyet Pavilion, Maslak Pavilion, Malta Pavilion and Florya Atatürk Sea Pavilion.

Mosques
Across from Hagia Sophia satans the supremely elegant Imperial Sultanahmet Mosque with six minarets. Built between 1609 and 1616 by the architect Mehmet, the building is more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior paneling of blue and white Iznik tiles. During the summer months an evening light show entertain and inform visitors.

The cascading domes and four splendor minarets of the Imperial Süleymaniye Mosque dominate the skyline on the Golden Horn’s west bank. Considered the most beautiful of all imperial mosques in Istanbul, it was built between 1550 and 1557 by Sinan, the renowned architect of the Ottoman Empire’s golden age. Erected on the crest of a hill, the building is conspicuous for its great size, emphasized by the four minarets that rise from each corner of the courtyard. Inside are the mihrab (prayer niche showing the direction to Mecca) and mimber (pulpit) made of finely carved white marble and exquisite stained-glass windows coloring the incoming streams of light. It was in the gardens of this complex that Süleyman and his wife, Hürrem Sultan (Roxelena), had their mausolea built, and near here also Sinan built his own tomb. The mosque complex also includes four medreses, or theological schools, a school of medicine, acaravanserai, a Turkish bath, and a kitchen and a hospice for the poor.

And some other mosques are as fallows: Rüstem Pasa Mosque, Imperial Fatih Mosque, Mosque of Eyüp, Yeni (New) Mosque, Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque, and Mihrimah Sultan Mosque,

Museums
The Basilica of Hagia Sophia (Holy Wisdom), now called the Ayasofya Museum, is unquestionably one of finest buildings of all time. Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6^th century, its immense dome rises 55 meters above the ground and its diameter spans 31 meters. Linger hereto admire the building’s majestic serenity as well as the line Byzantine mosaics. (Open ever day except Monday).

The Archeological Museums are found just inside the first court of the Topkapi Palace. Included among the treasures of antiquity are the celebrated. Alexander Sarcophagus and the facade of the Temple to Athena from Assos. The Museum of the Ancient Orient displays artifacts from the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Hatti and Hittite civilizations. (Open every day except Monday).

Rumeli Hisari, or European Fortress, was built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to his capture of Istanbul. Completed in only four months, it is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture in the world. In the castle is the Open-Air Museum amphitheatre that is the site for some events of the Istanbul Music Festival. (Open every day Except Wednesday).

The dark stone building that houses the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art was built in 1524 by the Grand Vizier to Süleyman the Magnificent, Ibrahim Pasa, as his residence. It was the grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire. Today it hold a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork, miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as some of the oldest carpets in the world. (Open every day except Sunday and Monday).

The Kariye Museum, the 11^th -century church of "St. Savior" in the Chora complex, is, after Hagia Sophia, the most important Byzantine monuments in Istanbul. Unremarkable in its architecture, inside, the walls are decorated with superb 14^th-century mosaics. Illustrating scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary, these brilliantly colored paintings embody the vigor of Byzantine art. In restored wooden houses in the area surrounding the church you can enjoy tea and coffee in a relaxed atmosphere far removed from the city’s hectic pace. (Open everyday except Wednesday).

And some other museums are as fallows: St. Irene Museum, Museum of Turkish Carpets, Yerebatan Sarnici, Aviation Museum, Military Museum, Atatürk Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, City Museum, Rahmi Koc Industry Museum, Sadberk Hanim Museum, Caricature and Cartoon Museum.

Historical Sites and Monuments
The ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races and the center of the Byzantine civic life, stood in the area that is now named for the mosque, Sultanahmet. Of the monuments which once decorated it only three remain: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Remains from the carved end of the Hippodrome wall can be seen on the southwest side of these three monuments. Today the square forms the center of Istanbul’s historical, cultural, and touristic pursuits. Take particular note of the surrounding wooden houses, especially the 18^th century homes on Sogukcesme Street.

The Ahmet III Fountain, built in 1729, stands at the entrance to Topkapi Palace. A generous roof shades the water spouts where the thirsty can stop for a cup of refreshing water. The highly ornate, free-standing fountain is a superb example of the late Ottoman style.

Mehmet II built the Beyazit Tower (85 meters high) in 1828 as a fire tower. Today it is included in the grounds of Istanbul University.

The Istanbul City Walls, once an impenetrable fortification, stretch seven kilometers from the Sea of Marmara in the Golden Horn. Recently restored, as also many times before, these walls date from the fifth century and the reign of Emperor Theodosius II.

The Galata Tower, a Genoese construction of 1348, rises 62 meters above the Golden Horn. From the top there is a marvelous panorama of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. In the evening you can enjoy its popular restaurant, nightclub and bar.

Kiz Kulesi, also known as Leander’s Tower, is one of the most romantic symbols of Istanbul’s harbor, the first tower was constructed in the 12^th century. The present building dates from the 18^th century.

The Bosphorus
A stay in Istanbul is not complete without a traditional and unforgettable boat excursion up the Bosphorus, that winding strait that separates Europe and Asia. Its shores offer a delightful mixture of past and present, grand splendor and simple beauty. Modern hotels next to yali (shore-front wooden villas), marble palaces abut rustic stone fortresses and elegant compounds neighbor small fishing villages. The best way to see the Bosphorus is to board one of the passenger boats that regularly zigzag along the shores. You embark at Eminönü and stop alternately on the Asian and European sides of the strait.

During the journey you pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, farther along rise the green parks and imperial pavilions of the Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of the parks stands the Ciragan Palace, refurbished in 1874 by Sultan Abdülaziz, and now restored as a grand hotel. For 300 meters along the Bosphorus shore its ornate marble facades reflect the swiftly moving water. At Ortaköy, the next stop, artists gather every Sunday to exhibit their works in a street side gallery. The variety of people create a lovely scene. Overshadowing Istanbul’s traditional architecture is one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, the Bosphorus Bridge, Linking Europe and Asia.

The beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace lies just past the bridge on the Asian side. Behind the palace rises camlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul. You can also drive here to admire a magnificent panorama of Istanbul as well as the beautiful landscaped gardens, On the opposite shore, the wooden Ottoman villas of Arnavutköy create a contrast with the luxurious modern apartments of neighboring Bebek farther along stand the fortresses of Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari facing each other across the straits like sentries guarding the city. The Göksu Palace The second link between the two continents, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge straddles the waterway just past these two fortresses. On the further way of Bosphorus these are the places to see: Duatepe Hill, Emirgan Park, Kanlica, Beykoz Korusu, Tarabya Bay, Sariyer, Büyükdere.

The Golden Horn
This horn-shaped estuary divides European Istanbul. One of the best natural harbors in the world, the Byzantine and Ottoman navies and commercial shipping interests were centered here. Today, lovely parks and promenades line the shores where the setting sun casts a golden hue on the water. At Fener and Balat, neighborhoods midway up the Golden Horn, whole streets full of old wooden houses, churches, and synagogues date from Byzantine and ottoman times. The Orthodox patriarchy resides here at Fener,. Eyüp, a little further up, reflects ottoman architecture. Many pilgrims come to the Tomb of Eyüp in the hope that prayers will be granted. Piere Loti Cafe, atop the hill overlooking the shrine is a wonderful place to enjoy the tranquility of the view.

Canakkale
The city of Canakkale lies at the narrow, 1.200 meter entrance to the Canakkale Strait ( the Dardanelles) that connects the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Gelibolu Peninsula Historical Natioanal Park was established to honor 500.000 soldiers who gave their lives on Gelibolu, also known as Gallipoli. Homer immortalized Truva (Troy) in his stories of King Priam, Hector and Paris and the beautiful Helen. The ancient harbor of Alexandria –Troas was built in the 3^rd century B.C. St. Paul passed through twice, and then on his third missionary journey, he continued on to Assos. The acropolis of Assos (Behramkale) is 238 meters above sea level. The temple of Athena was constructed on this site in the 6^th century B.C.

Edirne
Edirne for some years the Ottoman capital, and in the 18^th century one of the seven largest cities in Europe. On a verdant plain of poplar trees near the junction of the Tunca and Meric Rivers. Selimiye Mosque is the city’s focal point occupying the top of a hill. Sinan’s design reflects the classical Ottoman style. Built on the orders of Sultan Selim II, (1569-1575) it attests to the technological abilities of the day and the genius of the master Ottoman architect.

Edirne has retained many of its colorful traditions and customs. Every summer, where the Tunca River divides, an emerald green meadow, called Sarayici, is the site of the Kirkpinar Greased Wrestling Contests.

Iznik (Nicea)
Formerly known as Nicea, Iznik lies at the eastern tip of Lake Iznik, to the south of Izmit. The city was founded in 316 B.C. by Antigonas, of the generals of Alexander the Great. The Roman theater was built by Trajan. On the shore of the Lake Iznik. Stands the Roman Senate, where the first Council of Nicea took place in 325. Iznik stands along with Jerusalem, Ephesus and the Vatican in importance in the Christian world. In the 16^th and 17^th centuries, Iznik was the center of exquisite ceramic ware production which made an important decorative contribution to mosques and palaces throughout Turkey.

Yalova
In ancient times Yalova was known as Helenapolis in memory of Emperor Constantine’s mother Helena who designed the entire city Today, Yalova is an important port city, famous for its thermal baths.

Date this page was last edited: Friday, January 02, 2009 18:10:39

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