A blend of European and Asian cultures, Istanbul has a rich past. Istanbul is a truly majestic and huge city. It boasts a centuries-old history, significant and impressive architectural monuments, landmarks, and modern neighborhoods. This densely populated metropolis with 15 million inhabitants has a unique character and atmosphere, always welcoming to tourists and travelers. The uniqueness of this city lies in the fact that it is the only one in the world that captures two continents, Europe and Asia. Since Istanbul is like a walking museum, it is easy to get lost there. There are too many beautiful attractions to visit and admire, so you won’t be bored and spend your time playing at www.betamo.com in the hotel. Start your Istanbul itinerary with these Top 3 must-see Istanbul historical marvels. Each of them is a testament to Istanbul’s glorious past and enchanting present.
Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque (Ayasofya Tarih ve Deneyim)
Located on the world-famous Sultanahmet Square, the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia or the Church of Holy Wisdom is a former Orthodox cathedral. It was built in 537 AD by the Emperor Justinian I. The architecture of the cathedral had to symbolize the power and strength of the Byzantine state. Greek architects Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus decorated the majestic cathedral with marble reliefs and mosaics.
At the time it was built, its dome was the second largest dome in the world. In 1453, after the Ottoman Empire seized Constantinople, Sultan Mehmed converted the Hagia Sophia Cathedral into a Muslim mosque with minarets. The mosque stayed for 482 years. The first politician who thought of preserving the unique complex as a museum was the president Kemal Ataturk. In the middle of the 20th century, he turned the building into a unique museum, a treasure trove of Islamic and Christian cultures. In 2020 Hagia Sophia was converted back into a mosque again.
The impressive building of Hagia Sophia is a UNESCO world heritage site. Inside the 56-meter-tall Hagia Sophia, you can admire beautiful calligraphic disks, marble wall panels, a gold mosaic ceiling, and the Sultan’s lodge. Four of the calligraphic disks in the dome are the largest calligraphic disks in the Islamic world. One of the most magnificent Byzantine mosaics is called “Deesis”. It depicts Christ, John the Baptist, and the Virgin Mary. When gazing at Hagia Sophia’s interior, you can get transported back in time into the rich and dramatic Byzantine-Islamic past of Istanbul. Exploring The Weeping Column inside the dome is tied to an interesting legend. It has a thumb-sized hole, and if you insert your thumb in it, your dreams will come true.
Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii)
The next majestic building, erected directly opposite the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, is the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque. These two architectural monuments are the two iconic landmarks of Istanbul. The Blue Mosque was built under Sultan Ahmed I between the years of 1609 to 1616. He wanted to leave behind something as majestic as Hagia Sophia that would complement it symmetrically. Blue Mosque is a unique mosque with a non-standard number of minarets – six. From the inside, it is fully decorated with tiles of rare blue İznik marble hence the name. The interior leaves a special impression on visitors with its incredible stained glass windows, painted ceramic tiles, unique handmade carpets, and marble prayer niche Unfortunately, numerous cataclysms and time have spoiled the beauty of this place. So part of the Venetian decor has to be replaced. But regardless of this, it is one of the city’s unmissable attractions. The Blue Mosque remains a working mosque and an important spiritual place for Muslims.
Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıçı)
In the same neighborhood you will find another must-see for tourists, Basilica Cistern. Cistern means “water reservoir” in Greek. It is the ancient water reservoir of Istanbul, built during the reign of Emperor Justinian I. Naturally, such a grandiose and large-scale construction was erected for a reason. It had to store a huge stock of water in case of a siege of the city or drought. In its appearance, the structure remotely resembles a real palace. For its creation 336 nine-meter tall columns from different ancient temples were brought here. On two of them, you can see two two marble heads of Medusa, one upside down, and the other vice versa. It is not known why they are installed in this way, they are said to have special powers of wish fulfillment. The reservoir was used for its intended purpose until the 16th century when it was abandoned and polluted.
More Istanbul Attractions
If you have more time, also add Topkapi Palace, Galata Tower, Dolmabahçe Palace, Süleymaniye Mosque, Beyazıt Mosque, Rüstem Paşa Mosque, and Grand Bazaar to your Istanbul bucket list. Take a boat trip along the Bosphorus Strait, as this is the only way to enjoy all the fabulous views of this enchanting and unique city.