Istanbul why visit

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Istanbul In 4 Seasons. Accessible Istanbul. All year round, Istanbul invites visitors from across the world with the seven hills, the Bosporus, historical and cultural places, nature and countless beauties. Do you want to subscribe to the e-Bulletin? Cookie and Privacy Settings. How we use cookies. Essential Website Cookies. Check to enable permanent hiding of message bar and refuse all cookies if you do not opt in.

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Istanbul has a past that few places on Earth can match. For as much as 16 centuries, four subsequent great empires were ruled from here! It was influenced by each of them adding up layer by layer of foreign cultures. The Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires each left their impressive remnants. The past glory of Istanbul is reflected in the majesty of its buildings and awe-inspiring historical sights. The boat trip on the Bosphorus is spectacular — the views on the seven hills of Istanbul with multiple minarets of the city mosques are amazing.

One of the main reasons to visit Istanbul is to have a close encounter with the culture and tradition of Islam. With over 3, mosques , calls for prayers from minarets 5 times a day, and some people wearing traditional muslim clothing and headgear, you feel the strong Muslim identity.

In general though, the religious customs here are much more permissive than in the Arab countries, and the only rules imposed on tourists concern entering the mosques without shoes and with arms and legs covered. You will be impressed by the richness of the spectacular islamic art in the mosques — the fascinating ceramic tiles, mosaics, beautiful geometric patterns and endless cupolas of the mosques. Hagia Sophia, built as an Orthodox cathedral in and converted to a mosque in , is considered the most magnificent architectural object of the first millennium of our era.

It is a true spectacle to contemplate, no photos or words prepare you for all its glory and grandeur, and admiring it is definitely one of the definitive reasons to visit Istanbul. The Mosque of the Sultan Ahmed known as the Blue Mosque is one of the most important monuments in Istanbul and its main mosque, although it is half the size of Hagia Sophia — something that is difficult to see at first glance. It is an excellent example of the highest level of the muslim art.

Pure beauty. Interesting Facts about Istanbul — 20 Curiosities. The Topkapi Palace gives you an idea of the richness and power of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire.

The responsibility for its management fell on the mother of the head of state. There is a reason why the Grand Bazaar is the most visited tourist attraction in the world. Turkish cuisine is arguably one of the best in the world. The variety of dishes seems endless, there is a great choice. The range of vegetables, seafood and types of meat used in the dishes is just amazing.

Also the street food is very tasty. Then, we have the world-famous sweets like the Turkish Delight, halva and baklava , just to mention a few. So, food itself is one of great reasons to visit Istanbul — nobody is disappointed!