What to see in Istanbul first?

Istanbul is one of the largest and most famous cities in Turkey. It is located immediately in two parts of the world - Asia and Europe. Today it is not only an industrial and a port, but also a cultural center of the country. This city survived the rule of the three empires and was their capital, so there is no problem with what to see in Istanbul, the main thing is that there is enough time and effort to inspect all the sights.

In this amazing city different religions and customs interwoven, there are Christian churches and Moslem mosques, classical buildings and eastern markets. Since the reign of the Roman Empire in Istanbul, there have been magnificent palaces, temples and squares, sculptures and columns have been preserved. The most famous square is the Hippodrome.

What to see in Istanbul is really worth it, so it's at the temple of Hagia Sophia. It was built in Byzantine times and served as an Orthodox shrine, with the advent of the Ottomans became a mosque. Today this magnificent museum, combining the memory of the two religions, it amazes with its size, the presence of unusual mosaics, rich carpets, luxurious silk draperies.

Tour to Istanbul is worth buying, at least in order to visit the world-famous Blue Mosque, which used to be called Sultanhamet. Blue was named because of the magnificent blue and white patterns. This building is recognized as a masterpiece of not only Islamic, but also world architecture. The walls of Constantinople, which have survived to this day, will help you to travel back in time several centuries ago. They have been restored many times, but still saved the spirit of that era.

What to see in Istanbul is really necessary, so it's on Basilica Cistern. This sacred palace was built over two centuries and served people as a storehouse of fresh water and fish. Especially good he helped the Istanbulites during the war. Underground reservoir immediately evokes thoughts of some sort of guarded secret. In 12 rows there are 336 antique columns, two of them are decorated with the head of Medusa Gorgona.

Considering what to see in Istanbul, one should not forget about history. It is worth to visit the mosque, built by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. In it there are two mausoleums, where the bodies of the ruler himself and his beloved wife, Hurrem, known even under the name of Roksolana, are buried. Here is striking acoustics, which is explained by the fact that during the construction of walls, pitchers-resonators were walled in. The foundation was originally filled with water, so the mosque was not damaged even during strong earthquakes. Although the building has another problem: it slowly goes underground.

To look at the oriental flavor, get acquainted with Orthodox and Muslim shrines, learn the history from the Roman era and up to the present day - for all this it is necessary to go to Istanbul. Reviews of tourists who have visited this wonderful city, convince that the trip will be truly unforgettable. In this Turkish city it is interesting not only to go to famous places, to admire architectural and historical monuments, but also to wander along the waterfront, buy roasted chestnuts, go to a cafe and eat oriental sweets. In the heart of every tourist Istanbul remains forever. This is the place where you want to come back again and again.