Istanbul is an ancient Turkish city that preserved in memory of the former greatness of the once powerful Ottoman Empire remarkable architectural structures. There are a lot of interesting places to visit all of them, there is not enough for a week, but still it is worth to spend a couple of days and to see at least the most important sights of Istanbul. Tourists who have seen this beauty with their own eyes never regretted the time spent.
It is worth to visit the Ahmedie Square, which used to be called the Hippodrome. It is located in the center of the city and is very popular with tourists, as the most interesting ancient monuments, related to the most important events that took place in this place, are located around the square. Excursions around Istanbul also involve visiting the Basilica Cistern. It is located in the historic district of the city and is an ancient reservoir, very well preserved to this day. Not far from it is the Hagia Sophia, which is also recommended for visiting.
The sights of Istanbul amaze with its luxury. To such buildings it is necessary to include the cathedral of Hagia Sophia. Its name translates as "divine wisdom", it was built on the site of the acropolis. In 330, Constantine the Great ordered the church to be erected, but it did not last long, only 75 years, after which it burned down. Then it was rebuilt by Justinian in 532, and until 1453 the church remained a Christian shrine. The last service was held on May 28, after the fall of Constantinople, Aya-Sofia turned into a mosque.
Visiting the sights of Istanbul, not to visit the Blue Mosque is simply inexcusable. Officially it is called the Sultan Ahmed mosque. Its second name is due to the blue tiles, which is trimmed from the inside. Their number is more than 200 thousand. Construction began in 1609 on the orders of the 19-year-old Sultan, who wanted to plead with Allah for forgiveness for his sins and demonstrate the strength of his faith. This he needed in order to smooth out the terms of the treaty concluded with the ruler of the Habsburg dynasty, according to which the sultan recognized that he was equal to himself.
The sights of Istanbul are not only historical monuments or architectural structures. The city is so significant and rich in cultural monuments that it will be interesting for tourists to visit any part of it. It is worth to visit the local markets, famous for its color, here you can buy a lot of exotic goods, from spices and ending with carpets.
Mosques, churches, parks, bridges, palaces, towers are far from all the sights. Istanbul hospitably welcomes guests, offering to plunge into the atmosphere of this east, feel at least for a short time a resident of this beautiful country. To get to know the history of Turkey, it's worth to visit museums that have collected unique collections. Also do not forget about the rest, excellent relaxation will help the hamam. Necessarily need to taste the local cuisine, try sweets, fish, roasted chestnuts and many other delicacies. A trip to Istanbul will not disappoint anyone.