Istanbul

The Egyptian Spice Bazaar, on the shore of the Golden Horn tributary of Istanbul, is one of the largest and most famous covered markets in Türkiye. It specializes in spices…

The Grand Covered Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the world’s largest and oldest covered markets. Turkish control of major trade routes between Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean made it…

The Istanbul Archaeological Museum Complex is between Topkapı Palace and Gülhane Park (the former imperial rose garden). It consists of three museums: Together, these three museums contain a collection of…

The Basilica Cistern in Istanbul was built in the 6th century by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, after a period of rioting convinced him that the palace needed a secure water…

The Hagia Irene, meaning “Holy Peace,” is an ancient church in the Sultanahmet District of Istanbul. First built by Constantine the Great in 330 AD, it is the oldest church…

The Great Palace Mosaic Museum displays mosaics of the Great Byzantine Palace discovered during archaeological excavations. They date from 450 to 550 AD. The Great Palace was initially built by…

Also called the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles and artwork on the interior, the Sultanahmet Mosque is one of the most iconic monuments of Ottoman architecture. It was…

A hippodrome is an ancient Greek stadium used for horse and chariot racing. The word comes from the Greek “hippodromus,” combining the words “hippos” (horse) and “dromos” (course). The Romans…

The Hagia Sophia church was the center of Christian worship in Constantinople for over a thousand years.

Topkapı Palace was the Ottoman sultans’ residence and administrative center from the 1460s to 1856. Today, it is a museum and one of Istanbul’s main tourist attractions. Topkapı Palace was…