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r A City unique in that she bridges two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul stretches along the shores of the Bosphorus which meet the wa ters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, as well as the Golden Horn on the European side. Istanbul's strategic setting gives way for the reason that she has been the succe- sive capital of three world empires. The city is a fusion between the East and the West, the past and the pre sent. Aside from her historical interests, Istanbul is a fascinating city filled with great beauty and excitement. An elegant display of minarets and domes dominates the city's skyline. Within the city, the bustle of the crowd, the grinding noises coming from the cars as they climb up Istan bul's ancient cobblestone streets, the ceaseless coming and going of the ferries and the chants of the merchants as they pass by all adds to the touches of what makes Is tanbul the colorfuf and exciting port it is today. Istanbul is infinite in her sights: The museums followed by the ancient churches, palaces and mosques are all summarized by the unforgettable excursion down the Bosphorus mao king one's stay not less than three to four days. i Suleymaniye Mosque man the Magnificent. The interior is colorful bazaars as much as browsing decorated with beautiful İznik tiles. in the modern shops choosing things from simple handicrafts to the most MONUMENTS .YENİ CAMİ (1597-1663) A familiar sophisticated jewellery. sight located at the Eminönü end of AND the Galata Bridge is the New Mosque. The favorite shopping centre is, of This fine 17th century mosque is course, the "Kapalı Çarşı" or the MUSEUMS preceded by a large courtyard with a Covered Bazaar in the old city. Here is particularly elegant fountain for ablu a labyrinth of shops where each trade tion as well as the kiosk decorated has its own street such as the gold with İznik tiles. smith's street or the carpet seller's str eet". In the Bazaar there is something GALATA KULESİ (1348) This huge to suit every taste. There is a tremen TOPKAPI PALACE Overlooking the tower was built by the Genoese in 13- dous selection of jewellery from tra Bosphorus and the Golden Horn 48. A t a hight of 120 m. one can app ditional pieces like Harem rings to stands the labyrinthine residential pa reciate the lovely panoramic view of modern settings. The carpet shops pre lace of the Ottoman sultans from the the city, the Golden Horn and the sent a lovely arrangement of vivid 15th to the mid 19th century. Today Bosphorus. colors and Intricate designs. If a carpet this palace is one of the richest muse seems too expensive then one should ums in the world. (Open every day ex THE AQUEDUCT OF VALENS Built not forget the kilim and cicim (a kind cept tuesdays.). Beside the monumen by the Emperor Valens in 375 A.D. of rug) with their bold Anatolian de tal gate to the palace is the fountain this aqueduct supplied the Byzantine signs and bright colors. The best sort of Sultan Ahmet III. In the first court and later the Ottoman Impreial of souvenirs are the genuine products you will find the ancient church of palaces with water. of ancient Turkish crafts such as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque) Saint Irene, one of the first Christian Galata Tower hand painted ceramic plates, and the sanctuaries in Istanbul. On the left of BELEDİYE MÜZESİ (1946) The Mu hand-beaten copper and brassware, the second court is the palace kitchen nicipal Museum Is located at the foot trays, water ewers, cauldrons, etc.) now housing an exquisite collection of of the aqueduct in an old medresse. which make beautiful decorative (Blue Mosq in Istanbul, (1505), and is surrounded Chinese porcelain. The fascinating Ha SULTAN AHMET CAMİİ Here are selections from the way of in Istanbul because It is the burial pieces; or the "heybe" (pouches) and ue' 1609-1616) Facing St. Sophia, by a complex of religiuos foundations. rem now beautifully restored is the life in Istanbul, along with selections place of Eyüp, the standard bearer of the "yastık" (pillows) made out of secluded quarters for the wives and is the supremely elegant Mosque of The mosque has a beautiful colonnad from the theatre play Karagöz etc. the Prophet Mohammed, who died in Sultan Ahmet I, popularly known as ed courtyard and the rare marbles of wool in the traditional Anatolian the concubines of the sultan. It is en an assault on the walls of Constantin maze of colors. Also something me tered through a gate by the right side the Blue Mosque Because of its magni- the sultan's lodge are particularly ZEYREK CAMİİ The ancient church ople in 670. The mosque and türbe ficient interior decoration of blue İz striking. morable to take back are the vases and of the court. In the third, following of Christ Pantocrator was constructed (mausoleum) were originally built in plates in the beautiful green or gold one another is the audience hall of the nik Tiles. It is the only mosque which by the Empress Irene in the early 12th 1458 but the mosque itself was rebuilt Standing on onyx stone and in addition pipes carv sultan, the library of Sultan Ahmet III, has six minarets. On summer evenings SÜLEYMANİYE CAMİİ century, later having been converted in 1798. the third of the city's seven hills is one ed out of the soft white meerchaum an exposition of the silken kaftans there is a sound and light show into a mosque and now a museum. (0- presented in different languages. of Istanbul's grandest mosques, the stone. There are the gaily embroider and tapestries of the sultans, the objects pen every day except Mon.) THE LAND WALLS Built in the 5th ed blouses in şile bez, ideal for sum belonging to the sultan and his family Mosque of Sultan Suleyman. Built century by the Emperor Theodosius AT MEYDANI In front of the Blue between 1550 and 1557 by the great mer wear as the yemeni edged with and a room containing an exhibition II, these walls stretch 7 km. from the "oya", (lace). of miniatures. In the fourth court you Mosque is the ancient Hippodrome ; architect Sinan, the mosque has four Originally built bet FATİH CAMİİ Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn If one is interested then it is worth will find the Pavillion of the Holy the scene of chariot races and the cen minarets with ten "şerefe" (balconies) ween 1463 and 1470, this Mosque of and were once the mightiest fortifica looking at the great range of antiques Mantle containing sacred relics belong ter of Byzantine civic life. Of the mo denoting that Suleyman was the tenth Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror is well tions in Christendom. in the Old Bedesten in the centre of ing to the Prophet Mohammed, as well numents once lining the spina (the Ottoman Sultan. The sculptured white noted for its vast complex of annexes as various other pavillions of interest. Hippodrome's central axis) only three marble mihrab and mimber of the including medresses, imarets (hospices) the bazaar. There is an endless array remain : The Obelisk of Theodosius, mosque are particularly. Fine. hospital, baths, caravansarai and li of authentic antiques and souvenirs: THE ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM is the Bronze Serpentine Column (from Adjoining the mosque are medresses, a brary. Copperware, lamps, arms, jewellery, situated on the boundary of the first the Temple of Apollo) and the Obe school of medicine a refectory, tiles, silver and glassware. court belonging to the Topkapi Palace. lisk of Bricks. asylum, caravenserai and a Turkish FETHİYE CAMİİ The ancient church It holds one of the richest collections bath. of the Most Blessed Virgin with its Behind the Yeni Cami (New Mosque) of classical antiquites. Next to this MOZAİK MÜZESİ To the eastern side fine 14th century mosaics dates from is another charming bazaar of a d if museum is the Museum of the Ancient of the Blue Mosque is the mosaic mu the 12th century. (Open every day ferent sort, the Mısır Çarşısı or the Orient displaying antiquites belonging seum, erected on the site of the Byzan TÜRK VE İSLAM ESERLERİ MÜ except Mon.) Spice Bazaar. Here the air is filled with to the Hittite, Assyrian, Babylonian, tine Great Palace where a fine mosaic ZESİ The museum of Turkish and Is SHOPPING the enticing aroma of open sacks of and Summerian civilizations. In front of the 5th or 6th century can be seen. lamic arts is located in the "imaret" KARİYE CAMİİ The church of St. mint,thyme, cinnamon and allspice. of the Archeological Museum is the (Open every day except Mon.) (hospice) of the Siileymaniye Mosque. Saviour in Chora from the 11th cen Çinili Köşk (museum of tiles ). It contains many beautiful Turkish tury is, after St. Sophia,the most im IN Contrasting with the gay atmosphere YER EBA TA N SA R A YKV Ith century) and Persian miniatures, Selçuk tiles, portant Byzantine building in Istan of the bazaars are the sophisticated A YA SO FYA The construction of this T o the west of St. Sophia is the Byzan korans and antique carpets. (Open bul. There is a beautiful display of ISTANBUL shops of İstiklal Caddesi and Cumhu ancient church was started by Justini tine cistern known as the Yerebatan every day except Mon.) Byzantine mosaics and frescoes of the riyet Caddesi both branching o ff Tak an in the 6th century.