Browsing tag:
Istanbul
One of the main reasons I like Istanbul is its extraordinary history. Originally known as Byzantium, later Constantinople and finally Istanbul, this city was the centre of power for the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires for nearly 16 centuries. While remarkable Byzantine monuments such as Hagia Sophia and the Theodosian Walls still stand, it is the Ottoman heritage that most visibly defines the city today - ...
Why do I like Istanbul? I’ve been asking myself this question for weeks. My first trip to Istanbul was in December 2002. My memories of that visit are vague, but I remember being fascinated and wanting to return. Since then, I’ve visited nine times, each visit as enjoyable as the last. And every time I leave, I feel like I haven’t seen or done enough.
My most recent trip was in July 2025, the starting ...
I first published this post on Istanbul in 2019, after spending five weeks traveling across Turkey. I returned in June 2024 for another week and, in July 2025, I began a three-week journey through Turkey once again in this incredible city.
So, I decided it was time to refresh the post and give it more prominence, a homage to a place that continues to captivate me. Of course, no single article can truly ...
Among Istanbul’s many Ottoman landmarks, the most renowned are its monumental imperial mosques, such as the Blue Mosque, Şehzade Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque. But, in my view, the Pertevniyal Valide Sultan Mosque also holds a significant place in Istanbul’s rich Ottoman heritage.
PERTEVNIYAL VALIDE SULTAN MOSQUE
Situated in bustling ...
PERTEVNIYAL VALIDE SULTAN MOSQUE
Situated in bustling ...
Much like the iconic Yeni Mosque near the Galata Bridge, the Dolmabahce Mosque stands as one of the most recognizable Ottoman imperial mosques, familiar to almost every visitor to Istanbul. Its striking presence along the Bosphorus ensures that anyone embarking on a scenic cruise or simply crossing between the European and Asian sides of the city will inevitably catch sight of its elegant ...
Among Istanbul’s many Ottoman landmarks, the most renowned are its monumental imperial mosques, such as the Blue Mosque, Şehzade Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque. But in my view, the Tesvikiye Mosque also holds a significant place in Istanbul’s rich Ottoman heritage.
Let me say a word about the correct spelling of this mosque’s name. In Turkish, it is the Teşvikiye Mosque. However, since the letter “ş” does ...
Among Istanbul’s many Ottoman landmarks, the most renowned are its monumental imperial mosques, such as the Blue Mosque, Şehzade Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque. But in my view, the Grand Selimiye Mosque also holds a significant place in Istanbul’s rich Ottoman heritage.
OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
Ottoman sultans and members of the dynasty ...
OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
Ottoman sultans and members of the dynasty ...
Among Istanbul's many Ottoman landmarks, the most renowned are its monumental imperial mosques, such as the Blue Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque. However, Ottoman imperial mosques are scattered throughout the city and, in my view, the Eyup Sultan Mosque holds a uniquely significant place in both Istanbul's rich Ottoman heritage and the broader Islamic world.
Let me say a word about the correct spelling ...
Among Istanbul's many Ottoman landmarks, the most renowned are its monumental imperial mosques, such as the Blue Mosque, the Şehzade Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque. However, Ottoman imperial mosques are scattered throughout the city and, in my view, the Laleli Mosque also holds a significant place in Istanbul's rich Ottoman heritage.
OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
<br ...
OTTOMAN IMPERIAL MOSQUES
<br ...
Among the many Ottoman landmarks in Istanbul, the most renowned are the monumental imperial mosques, such as the Blue Mosque, the Şehzade Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque. However, Ottoman imperial mosques are scattered throughout the city and, in my view, the Fatih Mosque stands as a true symbol of the conquest of Constantinople.
The Ottomans captured Constantinople in 1453 and the Ottoman sultanate ...
