| Visiting Istanbul? Here are four places you shouldn't | | | | domed building is now one of the best surviving |
| miss on a walk in Turkey's most spectacular city. | | | | examples of Byzantine architecture in the world. |
| There are few cities in the world that can compare to | | | | The Blue Mosque |
| Istanbul. This Turkish city is an intoxicating fusion of | | | | Perhaps the single most famous sight of Istanbul, The |
| East and West, combining cosmopolitan European | | | | Blue Mosque dominates the city's skyline. Built in the |
| culture and Turkish tradition, and it has been at the | | | | 17th century to try and outdo the grandeur of the Aya |
| centre of the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman | | | | Sofya, this stunning mosque features six minarets, a |
| Empires. With mosques, markets, palaces, museums, | | | | series of cascading domes on the outside, and |
| and much more, there is plenty to keep you occupied | | | | hundreds of thousands of blue tiles on the interior that |
| on a visit to Istanbul. Wandering the city on foot is the | | | | give the mosque its popular name. Best of all, unlike |
| best way to enjoy its unique atmosphere, especially | | | | many mosques, it can be visited by non-believers. |
| since the overcrowded roads are far too hectic for | | | | The Topkapi Palace |
| cars or taxis! If you are looking for a destination to go | | | | Designed and built as the main residence for the |
| on a Turkey walk, the country's most diverse and | | | | Sultans of the Ottoman Empire, this magnificent palace |
| astonishing city is the natural place to start. | | | | is a fitting highlight light for any walk in Turkey's largest |
| You could spend weeks exploring Istanbul and still be | | | | city. It is now a popular museum, and offers an |
| nowhere near to fully understanding and appreciating | | | | unforgettable insight into what life was really like in |
| this wonderful city, but here are the four big highlights | | | | medieval Turkey. |
| that you simply must not miss, no matter how long or | | | | The Grand Bazaar |
| short your stay. | | | | Quite simply, this is one of the most spectacular places |
| Aya Sofya | | | | to go shopping in the entire world. This covered market |
| The Aya Sofya, also known as the Hagia Sophia, | | | | has been open for almost six centuries, and now |
| stands as a fascinating symbol of Istanbul's diverse | | | | features well over a thousand shops spread out over |
| history and divided heritage. It was a Byzantine church | | | | more than fifty streets. As would be expected in a |
| until the city was conquered by the Ottomans in the | | | | market this size, there is a dizzying selection of Turkish |
| fifteenth century. They converted it into a mosque, | | | | goods on display, including Ottoman style ceramics, |
| removing the Orthodox Christian trappings from the | | | | silver jewellery, silk carpets, and traditional Turkish |
| church and covering the unique mosaics that are to be | | | | clothing. Whether you are after the perfect souvenir, a |
| found on the interior. Today, having been first a church | | | | gift to bring home, or just a jaw-dropping spectacle to |
| and then a mosque, Aya Sofya is now a museum. | | | | enjoy on your Turkey walk, don't miss out on a visit to |
| The interior has been carefully restored, and the vast | | | | the Grand Bazaar. |