Hagia Sophia

Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Istanbul is truly a city with a rich history, brimming with beautiful and fun places to explore! Even after a week of fun, it still wasn't enough! / For first-timers in Istanbul, here are some must-visit spots: ✔️Hagia Sophia: One of the top ten most desirable churches in the world, this majestic Byzantine structure is a fusion of a church and a mosque. ✔️Blue Mosque: Adjacent to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is Istanbul's largest domed structure, surrounded by six minarets, making it the only mosque in the world with six tall towers, and one of the top ten wonders of the world. ✔️Basilica Cistern: A mysterious world hidden underground, well worth a visit. ✔️Bosphorus Strait: This strait divides Istanbul into European and Asian sections, with beautiful scenery on both sides. Be sure to take a boat tour here, especially at dusk for a stunning sunset! ✔️Galata Tower: A medieval stone tower, one of the city's scenic viewpoints. Even if you don't enter the tower, taking photos below it is also great. If you want to climb the tower, it's recommended to come in the evening to catch the city sunset. ✔️Galata Bridge Located near the Galata Tower, spanning the Golden Horn, this bridge connects the new and old parts of the city. With many locals fishing on both sides, and pedestrian paths above and below, it's also a great spot for sightseeing. ✔️Grand Bazaar: If you want to buy local products and souvenirs, the Grand Bazaar is a must-visit. Covering 60 streets and housing 5000 shops, it's bustling and vibrant. ✔️Istiklal Avenue: Istanbul's version of the Champs-Élysées, with its must-ride nostalgic tram, truly romantic. The surrounding area also has many quiet, artistic alleys, perfect for a stroll. ✔️Balat District A favorite area among Istanbul's youth, home to many unique coffee shops and restaurants, with colorful buildings that are great for photos. ✔️Topkapi Palace: An old royal palace, once the Ottoman Empire's palace, now Turkey's largest museum, incredibly luxurious inside! ✔️Suleymaniye Mosque: The second-largest mosque in Istanbul, situated on higher ground, visible from the Bosphorus boat tour, and offering a truly great view. / ⭕️ 'Recommended Route': 𝘿𝙖𝙮1: Hagia Sophia—Basilica Cistern—Blue Mosque—Topkapi Palace—Explore the Old City 𝘿𝙖𝙮2: Grand Bazaar—Galata Bridge—Istiklal Avenue—Galata Tower—Watch the sunset from the tower 𝘿𝙖𝙮3: Balat District—Suleymaniye Mosque—Bosphorus Strait—Boat tour at sunset / ⭕️ 'Transport Tips': The Old City can be explored on foot with citywalk. For other trips, you can take buses and boat tours, all accessible with a single transit card. / ⭕️ 'Accommodation Recommendations': For accommodation, it's recommended to stay near the Galata Tower, close to the Old City, with concentrated attractions and convenient access to food, fun, and transportation.

Visiting Istanbul is such a productive trip especially for an Asian like me. The architecture is unique on its own. Staying in Istanbul for more than a week will give you a chance to discover unexplores places and just enjoy the travel at your own pace. #wintergetaway #istanbul #turkey #landscapes #historicallandmarks #historicculture #historicalbuilding #historicarchitecture #historicalandculturaltravel #wintergetaway

This majestic building is one of the famous one in Istanbul. I visited the place during the winter so the weather was not that good though we could still get nice blue sky. Last year the museum has been transformed back into a mosque but still there’s museum in it that you can get into. #wintergetaway #wintergetaway#tripinspired

Istanbul is divided into the new city and the old city, 2 days of sightseeing and eating is enough~ Walking, shopping and eating delicious food is the right way to explore Turkey's largest city! Here are some routes suitable for checking in and experiencing Turkish history and culture🚶 - Day1 🗺️Old City Sightseeing Route: Blue Mosque➡️Hagia Sophia➡️Basilica Cistern➡️Topkapi Palace 📍Blue Mosque Mainly named for its blue ceramic tiles, it is one of Istanbul's iconic buildings! 📍Hagia Sophia Once the cathedral of the Byzantine Empire, it later became a mosque of the Ottoman Empire, and now it is a museum, famous for its spectacular architecture and rich history~ 📍Basilica Cistern The ticket is 350 lira, a underground cistern from the Byzantine to Ottoman Empire period, mainly supported by more than 300 stone pillars 📍Topkapi Palace The old palace is beautifully decorated, this palace was once the palace of the Ottoman Empire, now it is a museum, the ticket is 750 lira~ - Day2 🛍️New City Shopping and Eating Route: Galata Tower➡️Taksim Independence Street➡️Tomtom District➡️Cukurcuma District➡️Balat District 📍Galata Tower A place you will regret not visiting in Turkey! Open until 22:00 in the evening, the sunset is really beautiful, you can see the panoramic view, those who love photography and enjoy the scenery must not miss it, it's worth it! The ticket is 90 lira~ 📍Tomtom District This fashionable district is full of art, culture and trendy atmosphere, with ubiquitous cute cafes, galleries and creative spaces🎨 📍Taksim Independence Street Traditional pedestrian street, restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs, very good for strolling, ice cream is also delicious! 📍Cukurcuma District A great place for antique lovers to treasure hunt! There are many antique shops to visit, and you can also find some vintage🧥 📍Balat District The entire district is full of colorful houses, filled with colorful history and culture🌈, there are also many vintage shops and handicraft shops~ - 🍽️Restaurants 🔸Genoese Galata Near the Galata Tower, super large portion of Turkish barbecue, rich menu, high cost performance! 🔸Nusr-ET Steakhouse The famous Salt Bae's main store! The average price is 💰400, a bit expensive, a local internet-famous restaurant that mainly serves steak🥩 ☕️Rota Balat cafe A local coffee check-in spot in Istanbul, there are many street artists here, you won't feel bored sitting here for an afternoon with a cup of coffee, come here with young people, parents, and girlfriends for a romantic hot air balloon ride 8⃣️

If you haven't experienced the charm of Turkey for yourself, you must consider taking a trip to Turkey this year and immerse yourself in this mysterious country. ISTANBUL Hagia Sophia: A Byzantine architectural paradigm and a symbol of Turkey Blue Mosque: The only mosque in the world with six minarets Basilica Cistern: A mysterious and romantic underground water world Bosphorus Strait: The boundary between Asia and Europe, enjoy the scenery of both shores GOREME Cappadocia: Take a hot air balloon to see the magical karst landscape Goreme Open Air Museum: Visit caves churches with different styles Goreme National Park: Admire the unique landscape of Cappadocia Goreme Town: Roman castle buildings surrounded by volcanic rocks PAMUKKALE Cotton Castle: Millennium hot springs known as one of the world's seven wonders Karahayit Village: Famous for its red hot springs Hierapolis: Roman theater built in the 2nd century BC Sacred Pool: The sacred pool of Pamukkale from Roman times ANTALYA Mediterranean Coast: Enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery Kas Town: Very quiet and comfortable, a famous diving spot Duden Waterfalls: Cliffs connected to the Mediterranean, a sea waterfall landscape Aspendos Theatre: The most well-preserved ancient theater FETHIYE Turkish Dead Sea: Azure waters paired with fine white sand Fethiye Paragliding: A classic fun activity, soaring over the sea Lycian Sarcophagi: Ancient tombs overlooking the city panorama Amyntas' Tomb: Rock-cut tombs on the cliffs IZMIR Ephesus Theatre: A place for drama and gladiator fights Ephesus Ancient City: One of the UNESCO heritage sites Aegean Coast: Full of romantic Aegean Sea Temple of Artemis: One of the seven wonders of the world CESME Cesme Castle: A typical Ottoman architecture Alacati: A beautiful and leisurely town with blue and white houses Ilica Beach: A holiday resort on the Aegean Sea Cesme city seaside recreation area: A good place for leisure and vacation ANKARA Ankara Castle: An ancient city with a panoramic view of Ankara Kocatepe Mosque: White mosque with blue embellishments Mausoleum of the founder of Turkey: Very elegant and solemn environment Roman Baths Ruins: A famous archaeological site SAFRANBOLU Ottoman Houses: The city is full of white walls and red roofs Hidirlik Hill: Enjoy the view of Safranbolu from the hill Carsi District: The whole district is full of ancient and exquisite Crystal Terrace: A local spot for viewing the canyon

Just across the street from the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, every time I came before, the scaffolding for repairing the ceiling in the middle of the church was always there, but this time it's gone! Because in July 2020, Turkey officially changed this nearly 1500-year-old architectural gem of the Eastern Roman Empire, which has been displayed as a museum since 1935, into a mosque for worship. In fact, more than five hundred years ago, the Ottomans had already conquered the Eastern Romans. When the Eastern Roman Empire was destroyed and the Ottoman Empire was established, the Hagia Sophia, which can be said to have changed architectural history and occupied the largest church building in the world for nine centuries, had already been converted into a mosque, as a symbol of Islam's conquest of Christian civilization. As the most important mosque in Istanbul for nearly 500 years, the Hagia Sophia is a model for many mosques during the Ottoman Empire, such as: Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque), Sehzade Mosque, Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque. But the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Kemal, had already stopped Islamic activities in the Hagia Sophia in 1934 and began to restore the murals and sculptures left from the Eastern Roman Empire era inside the church, and finally the church was reopened to the world as a museum in 1935. Although Kemal turned the Hagia Sophia into a museum, it was not only for the need to protect historical buildings, but also a demonstration of his determination to completely abandon Islamic tradition and fully westernize... Under the leadership of the current president Erdogan, Turkey has shown more and more anti-secular characteristics in recent years, and the practice of changing the Hagia Sophia into a mosque has gained widespread support and praise in Turkey. But because of the sensitive position of this church in history and its important historical and cultural value, Western countries and UNESCO do not want to change the current situation, hoping that the cathedral can continue to be protected as a museum... We don't know what the future will be like. Religion has given the Hagia Sophia a supreme status, but it has also kept it at the center of the vortex of the game between Christianity and Islam. Once upon a time, I visited many buildings with religious attributes changed due to power changes and times in my last round of global travel. This time, I witnessed it happen! The move to change the Hagia Sophia into a mosque in the 21st century is no less than the decision to rename Constantinople as Istanbul in the 1930s of the last century, which is undoubtedly a heavy news in the Western world, especially the Christian world! Finally, let's share some architectural background and details of the Hagia Sophia that are worth visiting and appreciating. The church is a great achievement of late ancient architecture and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence in architecture and rituals is profound and widespread in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church, and the Muslim world. The largest column in the cathedral is 19 to 20 meters high, with a diameter of about 1.5 meters, made of granite, and weighs over 70 tons. Justinian I ordered the disassembly and transportation of eight Corinthian columns from Baalbek, Lebanon, to Constantinople to build the Hagia Sophia. At the east and west ends of the church, the arched notches extend from the semi-dome, forming a semi-circular conversation space. This tiered dome creates a vast elliptical space under the main dome, which was unprecedented in the near ancient times. Even so, the weight of the dome still poses a problem, so buttresses need to be built outside. The interior floor is paved with multicolored marble, green and white with purple porphyry, and golden mosaics, and the mosaic murals of the Hagia Sophia are not to be missed: these mosaics depict the Virgin Mary, Jesus, saints, emperors and empresses, as well as other purely decorative geometric mosaics, arranged quite gorgeously.

1. Destination Introduction: Turkey  Asia Turkey, located at the junction of Europe and Asia, has a rich historical and cultural heritage and magnificent natural scenery. Major attractions include the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, hot air balloon tours in Cappadocia, and the natural hot springs of Pamukkale. The best travel time is in spring and autumn when the climate is pleasant, and the travel experience is at its best. Turkish cuisine is rich and varied, with dishes such as kebabs, baked bread, and Turkish ice cream all worth trying. Note: Turkey is a Muslim country, women need to wear long-sleeved clothing in public places, and men should wear long pants. 2. Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul, visit the Blue Mosque after checking into the hotel, and taste local cuisine at the Grand Bazaar in the evening. Budget: Transportation costs about 100 yuan, tickets about 50 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. Day 2: Visit Hagia Sophia, and take a Bosphorus cruise in the afternoon to enjoy the panoramic view of Istanbul. Budget: Transportation costs about 50 yuan, tickets about 30 yuan, cruise ticket about 100 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. Day 3: Fly to Cappadocia, free time after checking into the hotel. Budget: Transportation costs about 1000 yuan, accommodation about 500 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. Day 4: Join a hot air balloon tour, and visit the underground city in the afternoon. Budget: Hot air balloon costs about 2000 yuan, tickets about 50 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. Day 5: Fly to Pamukkale, free time after checking into the hotel. Budget: Transportation costs about 800 yuan, accommodation about 500 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. Day 6: Enjoy the hot springs in Pamukkale, and return to Istanbul in the afternoon. Budget: Hot spring costs about 300 yuan, transportation costs about 600 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. Day 7: Free time in Istanbul, end the trip after buying souvenirs. Budget: Shopping costs about 500 yuan, dining about 200 yuan. 3. Essential Guide: Essential items: passport, credit card, cash, sunscreen, camera, comfortable shoes, light clothing, etc.

#istanbultrip Ayasofya mosque has the spirit of Islam. It's the most special art between all Istanbul mosques. The architecture and interior is definitely well thought. It guests hundreds of people around the world everyday. Inside many tourist guides give services for tourist groups in many languages. It's about history, religious history, importance and many topics and themes about this impressive mosque. Happy to gained this place to Islam again.

My visit to the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul was a profound immersion into a monument that stands as a testament to the city's layered history, embodying the confluence of Christianity and Islam, East and West. Originally built as a cathedral, then transformed into a mosque, and now serving as a museum, the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish) encapsulates the complex tapestry of cultural and religious influences that define Istanbul. Approaching the Hagia Sophia, its imposing dome and towering minarets immediately captured my imagination, hinting at the architectural marvels that lay within. The structure, constructed under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, has withstood the ravages of time and conquest, standing as a beacon of resilience and beauty. Stepping inside, I was enveloped in a space that transcends mere physical dimensions. The vast interior, illuminated by shafts of light piercing through the windows, highlighted the intricate mosaics and Islamic calligraphy that adorn the walls and domes—a fusion of artistic expressions that narrate the Hagia Sophia's storied past. The dome, seemingly suspended by a heavenly force, is an engineering feat that has inspired awe and wonder for centuries. Below it, the nave offers a space of profound spirituality, where Christian mosaics and Islamic calligraphic panels coexist in harmony, reflecting the transitions of power and faith that the Hagia Sophia has witnessed. Exploring the upper galleries, I encountered the famed Deësis mosaic, a stunning representation of Byzantine art featuring Christ Pantocrator, flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. This and other mosaics, painstakingly restored, offer a glimpse into the artistic and spiritual world of the Byzantine Empire. The Hagia Sophia's significance extends beyond its architectural and artistic achievements; it is a symbol of Istanbul's historical identity, straddling two continents and multiple civilizations. It challenges visitors to reflect on the shared heritage of humanity and the transformative power of faith and artistry. Visiting the Hagia Sophia was not just a tour of a historical monument but a journey through the epochs that have shaped Istanbul and the wider world. It stands as a reminder of the city's ability to reinvent itself while preserving the essence of its past. In the Hagia Sophia, the voices of Byzantine chants and Islamic prayers seem to echo together, inviting all who enter to experience the unity and diversity of human culture. #falltrip#mytravelhacks#historicallandmarks