Istanbul City
Istanbul, the city of empires
and kingdoms, capital of Roma, Byzantines and Ottoman Empire, heart of
the whole country whole Turkey. Each nation who carried the center of
civilizations into this city had tried to invest and try to make the
best examples of cultural and artistic reflections, and had signed /
labeled the values which decorates the Bosporus / Bosphorus that
connects Black Sea to Marmara Sea.
The
history and historical background of Istanbul goes back up to 30,000
years from our present days and the very first settlement of Istanbul
is the Yarimburgaz Cave next to Kucukcekmece Lake.
Istanbul did
not loose it's popularity of being the city of capitals with it's
history, cultures, strategical location natural structure and with
it's nature. While one side of Istanbul reaches to Asia and another
side reaches to Europe, Istanbul has been a bridge between Europe and
Asia for all men kinds and humanity. The city carries out it's mission
with success with two bridges established during republication of
Turkey.
Istanbul will be European Capital of Culture in 2010. it
will also held and be host for many of international projects and event
on the top of World Culture Agenda, and it will represent culture of
Turkey to whole world .
It's being hold many small and big
events in Istanbul such as, International Istanbul Music Festival,
Istanbul Theater Festival, International Istanbul Exhibition,
International Bosphorus Festival, Turks World Modern Literature Days,
International Istanbul Film Festival, International CRR Piano Festival,
International CRR Child's Festival, International CRR Youth Festival,
Conquers Celebration, Sile Bezi Culture and Art Celebration, Kartal
International Culture and Art Celebration, Internation CRR Mystic Music
Festival... and many more celebrations, events are held in Istanbul.
This city located in Marmara Region of Turkey is the biggest city of
the country. It has been a host for various empires through out the
history ,and now it is the center of culture and finance of the
country. It has been capital for various empires ever since it was
established and its one of the most crowded cities of Europe and Turkey.
Istanbul
is one of the oldest cities of the world as well, and was capital city
of Roma Empire from 330 to 395, was capital of Byzantium / Byzantine
Empire from 395 to 1261 and 1261 to 1453 , was capital of Latins from
1204 to 1261 and lastly it was the capital city of Ottoman Empire durin
1454 to 1922.
Istanbul is surrounded by seas on north and south Black Sea on
it's north part, Marmara Sea on it's south, Corlu, Tekirdag, Cerkezkoy
and Saray Town on it's west and lastly Kandira town, Kocaeli Gebze Bay
on it's east part are neighbor of the city.
Places to visit in Istanbul
Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia (Saint Sophi / Aya Sofya) Museum stands and faces each other as if they are competing each other in Sultanahmet
area (old town) of Istanbul where the historic memories are most lived
and remembered. Yerebatan Sarnici / Basilica Cistern, Historical Hippodrome (At Meydani) , III. Ahmed Fountain, German Fountain, Obelisk
(Dikilitas), Serpent Column (Delphi / Plataean Tripod, Serpentine
Column) are only some of the monuments, ruins and places being visited
by huge number of visitors each year coming from all over world. Topkapi Museum
is one of Istanbul's Masterpiece , being the Administration Palace of
Ottoman Empire and house of members of Ottoman Dynasty until 19.Th
century and afterward it was turned into a museum in 1924.
While
Eminonu host these popular and histortical places; Yeni Camii (New
Mosque), Rustempasa Mosque, Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar), Tahtakale,
Historical PTT Office, Sirkeci Train Station (Orient Express) and
Sepetciler Summer Palace it takes the crowded population of Istanbul
into it's border from Beyazit Center, Fire Tower and the crowded
visitors of Grand Bazaar /
Kapalicarsi. Suleymaniye Mosque which Architect Sinan said "it's my
foreman's monument" continues to listen the city everyday in middle of
this magnificence.
Halic - Golden Horn (Altin Boynuz) where it
has the most of the city wall along it's shore, being left as a dirty
place just opposite of it's beautiful past history is now totally out
of this image and has been taken care quite well, and became one of
most popular place of the city with it's Fener with it's cultural
variety, Balat , Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Fener Roman Boys School,
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Istanbul (Fener / Phanar Roman
Patriarchate). Pierre Loti Hill which gives an opportunity to watch
Eyup District which is referred as the district of mosques and
silhouette view of Halic / Golden Horn from the top is another
highlight and hot spot of touristic places.
The new bridge which
had been constructed in the place of historic Galata Bridge which was
burned down in 1992, connects Eminonu , Karakoy and Beyoglu area to
each other with it's new modern image and view.
Istiklal
Street
(Taksim), while being a meeting point of centuries with it's historic
old buildings that take place in every corner, with it's churches,
synagogues, palaces, caravansaries, passages and with it's bale
saloons, it is also the center of international culture - art
activities, nostalgic tram is an ideal and convenient choose for those
who would like to explore the city from one side to another. Taksim and
Harbiye area where there are more and more Cabarets, Modern Discos and
Clubs and Jazz Clubs and of those Cicek Pasaji / Passage and Nevizade
Street is more popular because of their historical and antique
structure and atmosphere streets. Kumkapi and Tarabya Districts with
their fish restaurants and taverns and Ortakoy District with it's Bars,
Clubs and Discos are some of the other districts which gives color and
more joy to the night life of the city. Anadolu Kavagi and Rumeli
Kavagi with their unique and splendid fish restaurants are a taste and
flavor point of Istanbul with magnificent Bosphorus Landscape.
Galata Tower, where Hezarfan
Ahmet Celebi had flown with wooden made wings in 1638 is a unique
meeting point and place of interest for those who would like to enjoy
the unique and spectacular panoramic view / landscape of Istanbul.
Dolmabahce Palace where Mustafa Kemal Ataturk spend his last days ,
Ortakoy Mosque with a location of having the Bosphorus on it's foot,
Karakoy, Tophane and Galata are only some of the districts represents
the light of the city.
Museums of Istanbul; Archeology Museum, Military Museum, Ataturk
Museum, St. Irene Church (Aya Irini), Santa Sophia (St. Sophia / Hagia
Sophia / Ayasofya) Museum, I. Mahmud Library in Ayasofya, Mosaic
Museum, Navy Museum, Galata Mevlevihanesi, Pammakaristos Museum
(Fethiye Mosque), Fine Arts Museum, Aviation Museum, Monument of
Imrahor (Ilyas Bey Mosque) St. Studios Monastery Hagios Ionnes Podromos
Basilica, Chora Church (Kariye / Chora Museum) , Orhan Kemal Museum,
Rumelihisari / Rumeli Hisari, Anadoluhisari, Yedikulehisari, Rahmi Koc
Industry , Sedberk Hanim, Sehir / City, Tekel, Topkapi Palace Museum,
Turkish Carpet , Turkish Islamic Arts, Turbeler / Tombs, Yildiz Sarayi
/ Yildiz Palace Museums and Basilica Cisterns.
Schools / Religious Schools (Madrasah): Rustem Pasa Madrasah was
established for Rustem Pasa by Architect Mimar Sinan in 1550, Koca
Sinan Pasa was established in 1594 and is not Economy University in our
prsent days, Abdulhalim Ankaravi in 1707, Kuyucu Murat Pasa 1606 - 1610
and Hasan Pasa Madrasah
Caravansaries and historical buildings;
Kalcilar, Balkapani, Kucuk Yeni, Burmali, Saksi, Buyuk Valide, Serpus,
Ali Pasa, Tashan, Cuhaci, Yildiz and Cebeci Hani most of these
caravansaries and historical structures were constructed during 16.Th
and 17.Th centuries.
Bazaars exotic markets; Egyptian Market /
Spice Bazaar, Safahlar Carsisi / Old - New Book Stores, Bakircilar
Bazaar and Grand Bazaar.
Synagogues; Neve Shalom Synagogue is located in Galata Distrirct and
is one of the most splendid / magnificent synagogues of Istanbul and
the meaning of it's name is "Oasis of peace", Askenazi Synagogue ,
Yanbolu Synagogue, Zulfaris Synagogue, Italian Synagogue and Ahrida
Synagogue.
Towers; Beyazit Tower first established in 1749,
Dolmabahce Clock Tower (1890 - 1895), Galata Tower first established by
Republic Genoa before it had been through out innumerable destruction
damages , Kiz Kulesi Maiden Tower is established in a small island near
by Uskudar 2475 B.C. by Byzantines, and although it had undertake
numerators missions through out centuries and ages it still protects
it's attribute and specialty of being a lighthouse for ships and boats
passing by, Camlica Television Tower andYildiz Clock Tower.
Castles Forts; Anadolu - Anatolia Fort, Rumeli - Rumelia Castle and Yedikule Castle Fort.
Mosques;
Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet), Feneri Isa (Constantine Lips Monastery),
Arap, Ortakoy Mosque, Dolmabahce Bezmi Alem Valide Sultan, Bebek,
Little Hagia Sophi (Sergius and Bacchus Church), Emirgan, Rustempasa
Mosque, Beylerbeyi, Bodrum (Myrelaion Church), Iskele, Zincirlikuyu,
Altunizade, Koca Mustafa Pasa (Haghious Andreas Church), Hirkai Serif,
Aga, Tesvikiye, Gul, Zuhtu Pasa, Vefa Kilise (Haghios Theodoros
Church), Sultan Valide, Kilise Zetrek, Piyalepasa, Ayazma, Zeynep
Sultan, Murat Pasa, Sebsefa Hatun, Molla Celebi, Nusratiye, Molla
Aski, Sinanpasa, Azapkapi, Iskenderpasa, Ivaz Efendi, Rum Mehmet Pasa,
Firuzaga, Yildiz, Bali Pasa, Osmanaga, Aziz Mustafa, Takkeci Ibrahim
Aga and Hudai Mosques are only some of the great mosques of the city.
Some of the palaces; Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace and Yildiz Palace.
Pavilions
and summer palaces; Sepetciler Pavilion, Aynalikavak Pavilion, Florya
Ataturk Sea Pavilion, Aynalikavak Summer Palace, Filizli, Kucukcu,
Hidiv , Ihlamur and Maslak are some of the important pavilions and
summer palaces of the area.
Ruins; Polenezkoy this natural park in Beykoz District is one of the
most delighted place of Istanbul with it's genuine structure /
architecture , rich forests and with it's different culture and
delicious kitchen.
Buyukada, Kilyos, Beykoz, Cilingoz, Sile,
Karaburun, Agva, Silivri, Poyrazkoy and Sariyer are some of the places
where you can find nice beaches and swim in the city. Two big marinas
in Atakoy and Fenerbahce has a big potential for yacht tourism of the
city.
Ciftalan, Catalca, Silivri, Aydos and Karaburun provide nice racecourses
and areas for paragliding.
There are two big golf course in
Kemerburgaz Sariyer and Silivri constructed in international standards
for golf lovers.
The city because of the convenience of
transportation it has, modern hotel and accommodation opportunities and
because of natural and historical beauties / artifacts it has makes it
the biggest congress tourism center of the whole country.
Kucukcekmece, Florya, Kilyos, Silivri, Bakirkoy, Sile, Buyukcekmece and
Atakoy districts are some of the mail camping areas available for camp
lovers. Belgrade Forest is the largest forest area of the city and gives
an opportunity of Istanbul daily tours
for whose who likes to escape from the metropolitan crowded life and
jump into nature and for a great picnic area. There are also some nice
dams in this forest. Arboretum of Ataturk founded in the forest is
designed for scientist and educational purposes and is in the status of
Istanbul's live plant museum.
Some of the most important structures, bridges and aqueducts mostly
constructed by Architect Sinan; Moglova Aqueduct, Mualla Aqueduct, Uzun /
Long Aqueduct, Sultan Suleyman the magnificent aqueduct, Bahcekoy and
Guzelce Aqueducts are some of the must-see places.
Tuzla is the center of Thermal tourism and Spa tourism of Istanbul for having 2 big thermal spas.
Provinces of Istanbul.
Fatih,
Adalar, Gazi Osman Pasa, Avcilar, Gungoren, Bagcilar, Kadikoy,
Bakirkoy, Kagithane, Bayrampasa, Kartal, Besiktas, Kucukcekmece, Beykoz,
Maltepe, Beyoglu, Pendik, Buyukcekmece, Sariyer, Catalca, Silivri,
Eminonu, Sultanbeyli, Esenler, Sisli, Eyup, Sile, Uskudar, Umraniye,
Zeytinburnu and Tuzla
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