I reached Ataturk Airport in Istanbul early in the morning full of excitement. While I was planning this trip my friends had told me that Turkey was a beautiful country and I was eager to see for myself. I had booked a hotel over the Internet, ensuring that it was in the heart of Istanbul and therefore close to many of the historical sights. Istanbul can lay the claim to being the only city sitting on two continents - Asia and Europe - and the city itself displays a link between different cultures, past and present. Constantinople - as it was known before - was officially chosen as the historic capital of the massive Byzantine Empire hundreds of years ago though the city was established in the seventh century BC. It was conquered by the Ottoman Empire headed by Sultan Mohammed II (Mehmed Fateh) in 1453. Much later, the city of Ankara was designated the capital of a young Turkish republic. The Sultan Ahmed I district in the heart of old Istanbul is home to Istanbul's most famous landmarks including the Hagia Sophia, the famous Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, a city square where many of the Byzantine-era chariot races and gladiator fights occurred, the Egyptian spice bazaar, Grand Bazaar, the Archeological Museum and Gullhana park all were within 10 to 15 minutes' walking distances. Istanbul is covered by ancient walkways and dotted by historic alleys and buildings, making the experience of walking between sights an enjoyable experience in itself. However, I began my tour from the city square with a tour bus which first took us to the Hagia Sophia - a masterpiece of architecture and history - originally a Church and then converted into a Mosque by the Ottomans and now famous as a national museum. Built by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the early sixth century AD and designed by Anthemius of Tralles and Isodore of Miletus, the most famous aspect of the Hagia Sophia is the spectacular dome which dominates the skyline of old Istanbul, making it visible from miles away. The dome is equally spectacular from the inside and visitors often feel that their eyes are drawn up towards it as soon as they enter the building. It is also famed for its mosaics, glittering portraits of emperors and empresses and other poignant paintings. From there the bus took us by the famous Gullhana Park which is a part of the Topkapi Palace. Its rose garden offers a wonderful variety of plants and flowers for nature lovers and the park also has cultural significance for having hosted a great many activities and events of the Ottoman Empire. It also boasts of a special museum of the history of science and technology in Islam. We also came across the historic railway station of Istanbul, which was completed in 1870 and was the last stop of the famed Orient Express from Paris. The train rings bells in fans of Agatha Christie's “Murder on the Orient Express” mystery and the train service - discontinued in 1967 - was perceived as the gateway between Europe and the East. Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge is the only bridge that connects two continents and was opened in 1973 on the 50th anniversary of the republic of Turkey. In essence, it connect the European half of Istanbul with the Asian half. The Bosphorus itself links the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara. The tour bus also took us by the historic spice bazaar in Old Istanbul, which was established in 1660 and is one of Istanbul's most colorful and bustling attractions scented by the fragrance of the exotic East. The narrow alleys of the bazaar offer a variety of dried fruits, spices, nuts housewares, herbal medicines and fish. A few blocks to the West of the bazaar, one can also find the Rustum Pasha Mosque - another historical attraction. The mosque was built in 1564 as another masterpiece of Islamic architecture and it is famous for its mosaics. Twisting interior flights of steps in the corners of the mosque give access to a spacious courtyard. The mosque has a double porch with domed bays, from which projects a deep and low roof supported by a row of columns. The famous Galata bridge, which connects Old Istanbul with central Istanbul over the Golden Horn has been built five times in history. The first in the sixth century, second in 1453 after the Ottomans conquered Constantinople, third in 1863 and fourth in 1870 when it was built by a French company. This 480-meter-long bridge was completed in 1875 and used until 1992 when it was damaged by fire and rebuilt to form the modern bridge it is today. The bridge allows visitors access to Galata Tower, another landmark of the city, which was built in 1348. Originally named the Tower of Christ, it was the highest point within the city walls of the Genoese colony Galata. Most of the city walls have vanished but the Tower remains and has been converted into a nightclub. The panoramic views from its balcony are breathtaking but not recommended for anyone scared of heights. The balcony is open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. (7 P.M. during summer) daily for a minimal fee. Taksim Square sits at the heart of central Istanbul and offers visitors the chance to shop and stroll. The Independence Monument (Istiklal Aniti) in the circle at the southern end of the square commemorates the Turkish Republic's founder, Kemal Atatürk, in both his roles, as military commander-in-chief and as statesman. Along the Golden Horn, the bus took us back to the old city, where the shrine of Abu Ayub Al-Ansari was situated in the courtyard of the Sultan Abu Ayub Ansari mosque. Built in 1458, it was the first mosque constructed by the Ottomans following their conquest of Constantinople in 1453. After the conquest of Constantinople a türbe (tomb) was constructed above Abu Ayub's purported grave and a mosque built in his honour. From that point on the area - now known as the locality of Eyüp - became a “sacred locality” and many Ottoman officials requested burial in proximity of Abu Ayub. The last stop of our tour bus was at the famous Blue Mosque where the grave of Sultan Mohammed II is located. The Blue Mosque takes its name from the exquisite tiles adorning its interior, built by Sultan Ahmed I in the early 17th century and designed by a pupil of Sinan, the greatest of Ottoman architects. It is the only imperial mosque with six minarets. The mosque also has a huge grand courtyard where at the outer boundaries of the courtyard a special place for ablution is situated. Going a bit further, there is a cable car service that will take you up to the highest point in Istanbul where beautiful views of the city and Golden Horn can be enjoyed, providing the perfect ending to a tour of this historic city.
