| Page Views: 8,275 Last Visit to Istanbul: March, 1997 | Old Roman Capital, now cultural center of Turkey by mrclay2000 - last update: Feb 28, 2003 |
History all around -- if you look closely | the Deesis, upper gallery, St Sophia |
Istanbul is a fabulous place for those with senses for rich history and gorgeous architecture. It is not the mild setting that Rome is, nor Roman any longer, except that marble capitals are still to be found in the Sea of Marmara off the edges of old Stamboul.
This is a bustling, living, breathing place, where the cares of millions yield all that is wonderful and terrible of so much congestion. Activity is at break-neck pace. Pollution ruins the air and fouls the sea. Construction and decay sit not far from modern and ancient opulence. Look closely. There is an enormous skeleton of history here overstretched by a thin modern fabric of commercial and industrial vitality.
Like Rome, Istanbul divides its space among Seven Hills, each crested by a major mosque. Hundreds of smaller mosques (often with only a single minaret) crowd the lanes and avenues in between. Like Rome, its ancient protection still stands in the form of walls, both on land and on sea, though those of Istanbul are not uniformly intact or even extant around the entire city. Still, there is enough left in the walls themselves to tell the final tale of the last hour of the Roman city. It is precisely there we will begin our journey.
Expect the Turks to welcome you, as the city has ever welcomed visitors. Enjoy the mosques between the daily prayers, which itself is perhaps the most memorable feature of this Islamic marvel. When 500 mosques ring aloud with the call to prayer, how else would 15 million hearts beat with the same passion and purpose? There is nothing else quite like this in all the world. |
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| Pros: | "Hundreds of sites and attractions to choose from" | | Cons: | "Cold in winter, windy, and plagued by carpet dealers" | | In A Nutshell: | "Turkish on the surface, Roman beneath the skin" |
mrclay2000's Istanbul Travel Tips
Comments for mrclay2000 about Istanbul | | | | |
IoannaE Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:37 UTC Beautiful writing and unusual information - thanks! | gilabrand Wed Jan 3, 2007 10:22 UTC I can't tell you how many people I asked about this wall and where I could see it. All I got was a blank stare. In the end I found a hidden bit of it on the way to Istanbul University. Wait, maybe I'm talking about the aqueduct... | boyan18 Fri Nov 10, 2006 15:43 UTC Are you sure about the icebergs? | janetanne Tue Jul 25, 2006 18:25 UTC I live next door to Turkey, but unfortunately have not visited yet! Your tips give me motivation and desire even greater than before. Have you visited Greece? |
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- Antea
Piyerlori Cad. No.21 Cemberlitas, Istanbul
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Kucuk Ayasofya Caddesi No. 26 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
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Binbirdirek Mah Klodfarer Cad 8/10 Sultanahmet, Istanbul
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