HISTORY
AYASOFYA
The basilica of Hagia Sophia was constructed by Roman Emperor Justinian in 537 AD. This was the largest church in the Christian world for a thousand years. It’s immense dome rises nearly 200 feet above the ground and its diameter spans more than 100 feet. The mosaics covering the walls are among the most important works of art that have survived to this day of Brizantine era.
Large round buildings had been successfully covered by domes before, but Hagia Sophia had a rectangular structure by a huge central dome was being tried for the first time in history. The dome collapsed and repaired many times.
The Ottomans converted the basilica to a mosque in the 15th century after the conquest of Istanbul. Recognizing its historic and universal importance, the Turkish
Government turned it into a museum in 1935
SULTANAHMET MOSQUE
Sultanahmet Mosque is the most famous monument in
both the Turkish and the Islamic worlds. It was
built in the classic Turkish architectural style between
1609-1616 by the architect Mehmet. The building is
more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because
of its magnificent interior paneling of more than 20,000
blue and white Iznik tiles.
The inside is a single immense space into which the light pours from 260 windows. The dome 141 feet high is supported by four enormous circular pillars 16 feet in diameter and is known as elephant feet. As it is located across Hagia Sophia, the mosque was designed to be as large and as magnificent as this Byzantine structure.
TOPKAPI PALACE
Topkapi Palace is certainly the most important historical
site to be visited in İstanbul. It is one of the most frequently
visited museums of Europe and is the most visited one in
Turkey. the palace served as the administrative center of
Ottoman Empire for nearly 400 years between the 15th
and 19th centuries. Its principal parts were finished in 1478,
then altered and enlarged by new additions in the reign of
each succeeding sultan. The Place was abandoned in 1855
when Sultan Abdülmecit 1, 31st Sultan of the Ottoman
Empire, moved to the new Palace of Dolmabahçe.
In 1924, it was turned into a museum upon the orders of Atatürk.
Palace is a complex of buildings spread out over one of the seven hills of İstanbul. It consists of courtyards serving different purposes which are separated from each other by monumental gates. Pavilions, each used for different purpose, surround these courtyards. The total area of the Palace is twice the area of Vatican and half of Monaco in size.
Besides being the official residence of the Sultan, the Topkapı Palace served as the headquarters of the government. It also housed the state treasury and archives. The mint, as well as the highest educational institution was located on the palace grounds.
On exhibitions are the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain; imperial handmade costumes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the treasury; the richest collection of clocks in the world; the sacred relics of Islam including the swords of Muhammed, his bow and mantle; priceless objects. One of the largest diamonds in the world, the Spoon seller Diamond, is displayed in a special showcase in the hall. The rooms are exquisitely decorated and tiled.
KARİYE MUSEUM (The Chora Church)
The Karıye museum is, after Hagia Sophia, the most important Byzantium monument in Istanbul. The existing building was built towards the end of the 11th century and dedicated to Christ the Savior.
After the Turkish conquest, the church remained deserted for a time, and was turned in to mosque in 1511 by addition of minaret. It became a museum in 1948 and its frescoes were cleaned and restored by the American Institute of Byzantine Research.
The walls are decorated with superb 14th century mosaics, illustrating scenes
from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. These are finest masterpieces of chiristian religious art to be found anywhere in the world. Paintings, rocks and architectural designs seen in the background make the pictures three-dimensional. The scenes are made with special care for them to look daily, lively and ordinary. The scenes are enriched with explicating stories near them.
TROY
Ancient city of troy is located 30 km south west of Çanakkale province in the Marmara Region of Turkey. This is one of the most important historical cities of Anatolia. Archeological excavations have revealed nine separate periods of settlement at this site, including ruins of city walls, house foundations, a temple and a theater. The earliest settlement dates from five thousand years ago and a last coincided with the late Roman period. Famous Trojan wars, depicted in Homer’s epic Iliad took place here at about 1200 BC. A symbolic wooden horse at this site commemorates this legendary war.
MOUNTAIN NEMRUT
Antiochos 1, ruler of the Commagene Kingdom in the first century bc, built himself this funeral monument on top of Nemrut in eastern Turkey. It consists of a tumulus and a dozen gigantic statues representing Antiochus1, eagles, lions and ancient gods. Lion and eagle statues were used as the guardians. The tumulus is 50 m high and 150 m. in diameter. Although the inscriptions at the back of the thrones on east and west terraces record that Antiochos I had chosen the hierothesion as his sacred last resting place or a place where his body will sleep for endless eternity, sysmic research did not show any grave chamber or large cavity in tumulus. The average height of the statues is 26-23 feet. These are made of stone, too heavy and large to be carried to the museum and remain where they were originally erected. Time has inflicted heavy damage on sculptures-their bodies sit with their beautifully carved heads at their feet.
PAMUKKALE
This sight of spectacular beauty is located in the inner Aegean region. The terraces over 300 feet in height composed of layers of the accumulated limestone sediment have been gradually formed in the course of the ages. For thousand of years a deep underground spring on the hills above has been pouring out streams of hot, mineral-saturated waters. As the water has flowed down the mountainside, the water’s rich mineral content has coated them in a smooth layer of white calcareous rock. Since these white slopes resemble castles when observed from the plain, the area is called Pamukkale which means cotton castle in Turkish. Several Roman emperors came to bathe in these thermal pools. The area is still one of the leading hot springs in Turkey.
