Although Turkey's capital city is Ankara, it is Istanbul which is the country's largest city and which has a population estimated to be around 14 million people. Turkey is in Europe but is very close to Asia and this is why the culture in Istanbul is a unique blend of the two. People in Istanbul are very religious and this is why there are so many stunning sites and monuments which people visiting the city can see.
The Beyazit Mosque is one of the largest and oldest mosques in Istanbul and can be seen from quite a distance. The size of the Beyazit Mosque is breath-taking and unlike any mosque found elsewhere in Europe. Even people who aren't religious will appreciate seeing this mosque because the architecture is truly magnificent. The dome on the roof alone is almost 17 metres in diameter and standing next to the mosque are two huge pillars.
If people are interested in seeing the mosques of Istanbul then the Suleymaniye is one which is not to be missed as it is truly a masterpiece. The dome alone measures over 27 metres and stands 53 metres high. The Suleymaniye is huge at nearly 60 metres wide and long and it overlooks all of the residential properties located around the outside of it. The Suleymaniye despite still looking spectacular has had a troubled history as it has twice been restored as a result of huge fires. One fire occurred in 1660 while the second was in the First World War when the courtyard was used as an ammunition hold.
The St. Savior in chora has a very interesting history and is a beautiful building which inside is covered in a large number of religious mosaics. Originally a church of Christianity it later became a mosque and the mosaics were covered in plaster. It is now a museum and the mosaics have been uncovered so that people can appreciate their beauty.
For something slightly different, the Istanbul archaeology museum should not be missed by anyone with an interest in history. All of the films we see nowadays about the Greeks and Romans are brought to life by over one million artefacts some of which actually come from Troy and Ephesus.
The Beyazit Mosque is one of the largest and oldest mosques in Istanbul and can be seen from quite a distance. The size of the Beyazit Mosque is breath-taking and unlike any mosque found elsewhere in Europe. Even people who aren't religious will appreciate seeing this mosque because the architecture is truly magnificent. The dome on the roof alone is almost 17 metres in diameter and standing next to the mosque are two huge pillars.
If people are interested in seeing the mosques of Istanbul then the Suleymaniye is one which is not to be missed as it is truly a masterpiece. The dome alone measures over 27 metres and stands 53 metres high. The Suleymaniye is huge at nearly 60 metres wide and long and it overlooks all of the residential properties located around the outside of it. The Suleymaniye despite still looking spectacular has had a troubled history as it has twice been restored as a result of huge fires. One fire occurred in 1660 while the second was in the First World War when the courtyard was used as an ammunition hold.
The St. Savior in chora has a very interesting history and is a beautiful building which inside is covered in a large number of religious mosaics. Originally a church of Christianity it later became a mosque and the mosaics were covered in plaster. It is now a museum and the mosaics have been uncovered so that people can appreciate their beauty.
For something slightly different, the Istanbul archaeology museum should not be missed by anyone with an interest in history. All of the films we see nowadays about the Greeks and Romans are brought to life by over one million artefacts some of which actually come from Troy and Ephesus.
