Connecting Asia and Europe, which is, of great importance due to its location, Turkey has hosted many civilizations throughout its history. It has untouched natural beauty, a rich cultural heritage, and a very important history. Then let’s start our blog with Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey, which comes to mind when Turkey is mentioned.
Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents, Europe and Asia, is a melting pot of cultures and a treasure trove of history. As the largest city in Turkey, it is a must-see destination for anyone visiting the country. With its unique blend of Eastern and Western influences, Istanbul offers a diverse array of experiences for travelers.
A transcontinental city that separates Europe and Asia. The part in Europe is called the European side or the Rumeli side, and the part in Asia is called the Asian side or the Anatolian side. As we said, it is the most populous city in Turkey and also the most developed city. Istanbul, which has great importance in the transportation industry, trade, tourism, and many fields, is also of great importance in the international arena.
if we talk about the beauties and treasures of Istanbul, which smell of history. Firstly, Istanbul is a fascinating city that visitors do not want to leave and even those who have lived there for years cannot get enough of its beauty. One of the first things that come to mind when Istanbul is mentioned is mosques. Istanbul, which hosts many mosques, amazes those who see the fine workmanship in the mosques, then let’s start with the mosque that comes to my mind when Istanbul is mentioned.
A structure that will never stop telling its history. The building, which was built as the first church and continued its existence as a church for 916 years, was converted into a mosque after the conquest of Istanbul by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. In fact, the Hagia Sophia seen today is also known as the “third Hagia Sophia”, since it is the third structure built in the same place. The other two were destroyed by the riots. The building, which served as a museum from 1935 to 2020 after Fatih Sultan Mehmet, was turned into a mosque again in 2020. In short, Hagia Sophia, which can make every person feel different emotions, welcomes visitors from many parts of the world.
There are 3271 mosques in Istanbul, now we are going to another important mosque.
The Blue Mosque, which is among the important mosques in Istanbul, is Istanbul’s only mosque with 6 minarets. The person who made it, namely Sultan l. We can say that Ahmet wanted to build a magnificent mosque that will be seen from all over Istanbul and so it is. It’s very important for us that it is on the world heritage list like Hagia Sophia.
Because the mosque is decorated with blue, green, and white colored Iznik tiles, and the half domes and the interior of the big dome are also decorated with blue-weighted hand-drawn works, the Europeans call it the “Blue Mosque”.
I talked about our two mosques that are important to us. I had the opportunity to go and see Hagia Sophia and it really feels different, I hope everyone who wants to see it will get this opportunity one day.
