Istanbul, Where East meets West By Sharon Kurtz
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here are many reasons why I fell in love with Istanbul. It’s the only city on the globe to straddle both Europe and Asia, a true melting pot of cultures.
History comes alive in Istanbul You’ll nd over a dozen UNESCO-recognized sites throughout the city. Here are some of my favorites. The Hagia Sophia is a Byzantine marvel, anchoring the Old City of Istanbul and serving for centuries as a landmark for Orthodox Christians and Muslims. Built as a Christian Basilica nearly 1,500 years ago, it was converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest in 1453. When Turkey became a secular Republic in 1934, Hagia Sophia became a museum and UNESCO World Heritage site. In 2020 the court annulled its museum status, and it has once again become an active Mosque. The Blue Mosque is one of the Istanbul skyline’s most iconic features. Its cascading domes and six
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minarets top one of the most impressive monuments in the world. The interior is decorated with 20,000 hand-painted Iznik-style tiles in more than 50 tulip patterns. The Ottoman Empire ruled from the Topkapi Palace for over 600 years. It served as the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans and the administrative headquarters, with over 4,000 people living on the grounds. Transformed into a museum in 1924, it displays some magni cent Islamic works. Don't miss the Harem, where the wives, children, and concubines lived. Other choices include the Great Palace Mosaics Museum depicting daily life, nature, and mythology from a Palace thought to have been built by Emperor Justinian I over 1,500 years ago. The lavish Dolmabahçe Palace interiors are covered in gold and opulent crystal chandeliers. Completed in the mid-1800s, the last of the Sultans resided here in the waning years of the Ottoman Empire. The iconic 196-foot Galatea Tower from the 6th century has panoramic views of Istanbul and the Bosporus Strait.
