Istanbul tops the list of favourite world cities for most travellers for its eclectic mix of cultures. Walking along the Bosphorus strait that connects Asia and Europe, exploring its vibrant grand bazaars, relishing delicious Baklava and Delights while sipping Turkish coffee, savoring drool-worthy local foods and sticky Dondurma ice-cream, visiting ancient historical monuments and mosques, hopping on the local tram rides – are just some of the many things you can do in the city
It comes as no surprise that back in the 12th century, Istanbul (then Constantinople) was the world’s richest city! Previously a Greek and then a Roman empire from the 4th until the 15th century before the Turks took over the city in the 16th century. I’d highly recommend watching the Netflix docuseries ‘Rise of Empires –Ottoman’ to learn more about the epic warfare strategies used by the Turks to conquer Constantinople. Hagia Sophia, that was once the basilica for a Greek Orthodox Christian church was converted to a mosque. Interestingly, you can still see some mosaics from the Christian Gospels inside.
The mighty medieval Galata Tower that stands proudly till date is now surrounded by quirky boutique stores selling irresistible souvenirs like Turkish soaps, towels, white stone fridge magnets, Ottoman figurines in traditional attires, oil paintings, trinkets, traditional musical instruments and so much more. We climbed the spherical steps to reach the top of the tower for a gorgeous view of the city with its red roofs and bustling streets.
What stood out the most for me was the visit to Dolmabahçe Palace. The Palace with its majestic arches and imperial gardens served as the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and early 20th century. With an astounding cost of 35 tonnes of gold ($1.9 billion in today’s value) on construction, Dolmabahçe is the biggest palace in all of Turkey and a reflection of European, Japanese and Islamic cultures in pure art. A crystal staircase, glass chandeliers, rich tapestry, 3D wall paintings and diamond studded cutlery – just to name a few royalty symbols that one can view inside the premises.
It sure is a city that you can’t get enough of. I for one will come back for the rooftop traditional breakfast (Kahvalati) and dreamy pistachio baklava at Hafiz Mustafa!
Kulture Kaleidoscope 