Istanbul, founded around 1000 BC, has been a home to various empires. It is located both Europe and Asia, so it is a bridge of two cultures. It named as Constantinople in Byzantine times, before the Ottoman conquest. Then it named as Istanbul, after the Turkish Republic. So, Istanbul has hundreds of must see places, with it’s glorious and long history. Therefore, we tried to inform you about some of them briefly.
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, is an immense architectural marvel that was originally built about 1,500 years ago. Firstly, Hagia Sopia is built as a Christian basilica. Besides, it is a long-lasting emblem of the cosmopolitan city, much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Parthenon in Athens. Over the centuries after, though, its role has changed several times. However, back in that time, Hagia Sofia was the biggest church that ever built.
Subsequently, Fatih Sultan Mehmed converted Hagia Sophia into a mosque after the victory in 1453. After Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk converted it to a museum. Therefore, it can be the most popular attraction of must see places for tourists in Istanbul.
Currently, Hagia Sophia is a museum. Consequently, visiting hours are 09:00-17:00 with the last 16:00 entry time at winter period and the summer schedule visitor hours are 09:00-19:00 with the last 18:00 entry time.
More info: https://ayasofyamuzesi.gov.tr/
Topkapi Palace
Moreover, another important historic place in Istanbul is the Topkapi Palace. Firstly, the palace was an Ottoman sultan’s home, the state’s bureaucratic and academic center. After that, On April 3, 1924, after the overthrow of the Ottoman empire, it was turned into a museum by order of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
It still attracts attention hundreds of tourists as a museum today. Every day, except Tuesdays, the museum is open to visitors. Ticket office is closed at 16:00 in the inter-season. And it is closed at 18:00 during the summer season.
More info: https://topkapisarayi.gov.tr/tr
Istanbul Archaeology Museums
Istanbul Archaeology Museums consist of three museums. Those are Archaeology Museum, Old Eastern Works Museum and lastly Enameled Kiosk Museum.
Istanbul Archeology Museums were opened to the public on 13 June 1891. Moreover, famous artist and museum director Osman Hamdi established it as Empire Museum at the end of the 19th century . Besides its importance as the “first Turkish museum”, one of the museum buildings has an importance and speciality that is built as a museum in the world. Today, with more than a million works belonging to different cultures, it still protects its exceptional place in the world’s largest museums.
More info: https://www.ktb.gov.tr/EN-113940/istanbul—archaeology-museum.html
Dolmabahce Palace
The 31st Ottoman Sultan, Sultan Abdulmecid designed the Dolmabahce Palace. The palace attracts attention because of its magnificent architecture, history and because it is located on the Bosphorus shores. Besides, Dolmabahce Palace is near to a variety of Istanbul tourist attractions, including Taksim, Besiktas and Kabatas.
More info: http://www.millisaraylar.gov.tr/saraylar/dolmabahce-sarayi
Further, if you want to travel Istanbul untill satisfied, maybe you can consider to buy an estate and get a Turkish Citizenship.
Fore more information you can read this post of ours: https://turesta.com/how-does-the-application-process-for-citizenship-work-in-turkey/
