Top 4 Sites To Visit In Istanbul

By Author: Globe Hunters
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Istanbul is a charming city to plan your holidays with your family, kids or soul mate. The intriguing city is home to some of the most prominent historical and cultural landmarks in the world. No matter whether you are fond of the rich past, magnificent arts or spectacular culture, following are the sites that you should be visiting:

Basilica Cistern

If you are booking Istanbul flights to enjoy a romantic holiday, the Basilica Cistern is one attraction that must be there in your priority list. It is one of the most romantic sites in the city. It was constructed in 6th century to brought drinking water from Thrace to the city. The water was kept and forgotten for years. Now the water has been fitted with lights and music and the music echoes while water dripping down creating a breathtaking scene. In Turkish, Basilica Cistern is known as Yerebatan Sarayi which literally means sunken palace.

Topkapi Palace

The palace is a must visit site in Istanbul. It was the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans from 1465 to 1856. The palace complex is home to several small buildings that serve ...
... as museums, galleries and mosques. During its peak time, the palace was inhabited by more than 4000 people. Today, tourists from around the world are booking flights to Istanbul especially to spend some time at the palace and feel the freshness of lush courtyards. Some of its major highlights are the Treasury, the Harem and the rooms surrounding İftariye Baldachin.

Blue Mosque

Experience the sacred sanctity is Turkey at Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Officially, the mosque is known as Sultan Ahmed Mosque and the most discerning aspect of its architecture is its six minarets that are visible from far away. Most of the mosques have two or four minarets. Western entrance is known for its spectacular beauty however, non-worshippers who are booking Istanbul flights just to have a look at the magnificent structure need to use the north entrance. As you step into the mosque, you would come across 20,000 blue tiles that have given the name to the mosque.

Chora Church

If you want to spend some time amidst Byzantine splendor while holidaying in Istanbul, visiting Chora Church is a must. The church is also known as Kariye Müzesi. According to experts, the church has world’s best preserved collections of frescos and mosaics of Byzantine times. While walking around the museum, you would come across over 50 mosaic panels and the oldest one was created in 1310. The central room features three main mosaic panels known as Christ to the left of the apse, the Dormition of the Virgin and the Virgin and Child to the right of the apse.

Melissa Newman is an expert content/travel writer who writes on subjects such as Istanbul flights and all-inclusive holidays to Istanbul. Visit us at Globehunters to find out more about Book flights to Istanbul.