ISTANBUL 

Istanbul, the cradle of civilization that served as the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires for 16 centuries, continues to be the all-time center of attraction with its unique history.

Istanbul is one of the first cities in the world that come to mind thinking of a both “historic and touristic city”. 

With its unique streets, historical temples, the Bosphorus joining the two continents, sophisticated islands and museums shedding light on the world history, Istanbul awaits its guests to share the experience. 

But what makes Istanbul “Istanbul” are the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, and Basilica Cistern on the ancient Peninsula, attracting local and foreign tourists year-long. 

Moreover, visitors ready to be mesmerized and want to travel in time can explore the Suleymaniye Mosque -- Turkish architect Mimar Sinan's unique work --, Spice Bazaar with its authentic smells, the world's oldest shopping center Grand Bazaar and 127-year-old Istanbul Archaeology Museums. 

The mystical atmosphere of the Maiden's Tower, the lookout fortress of the Bosphorus, Gulhane Park with over 90 kinds of trees, the famous Bath-house of Haseki Hurrem and Soguk Cesme Street full of wooden houses with bay windows lure those who seek an alternative trip in the city.

Hagia Sophia, ‘8th Wonder of the World’

Hagia Sophia is one of the most visited museums in the world and most prominent structure in terms of art and architecture history, welcomes visitors with all its glory.

Dubbed the "8th Wonder of the World" by historians, the Hagia Sophia was used as a church for 916 years. In 1453, it was converted into a mosque by Fatih Sultan Mehmet. 

With restoration works carried out during the Ottoman era and the minarets added by Mimar Sinan, it is one of the most important monuments still standing in world architecture history. Hagia Sophia is an important place in the art world in terms of its architecture, magnificence, size and functionality.

A must-see palace

Major attraction Topkapi Palace, used as an administration, education and art center in the Ottoman Empire for 400 years from the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet to Sultan Abdulmecid, was also the residence of the former. It is among the top local and foreign tourist attractions.

Its unique buildings, exquisite tiles, structure nested in nature as well as its location in Sarayburnu gives Topkapi Palace a natural beauty and splendor. 

Engaging stories knitted by history and extraordinarily rich collections make Topkapi Palace is one of the most spectacular palaces in the world.

Blue Mosque: A structure leaving its print on the city

With its aesthetic elements of Turkish-Islamic civilization, the Blue Mosque continues to be the focus of attention of not only Muslims but also local and foreign tourists over the last four centuries.

The place built on the second of seven hills of Istanbul and greeted by the ships coming from Marmara Sea to Istanbul is also important in terms of harboring all the beauty and subtleties of the 17th-century art and aesthetics.

Built on second of Istanbul's seven hills and greeted by the ships coming from Marmara Sea to Istanbul -- bringing one of the most elegant works of the Turkish-Islamic civilization to the city -- the mosque illuminating blue lights continues to be the center of attention of both foreign and local tourists for centuries.

The Blue Mosque, built by architect Mimar Sinan’s student Sedefkar Mehmed Agha on the will of 16th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire Ahmed I, is also important in terms of harboring all the beauty and subtleties of the art and aesthetics of the 17th century.

Built in the southern part of the Byzantine Hippodrome of Constantinople, the Blue Mosque with its six minarets and elegant dome portrays an enchanting work of art. It has 20,043 blue tiles and decorated with Rumi, hatai, penc, cloud and leaves -- popular motifs of Turkish decorative arts -- and is called the “Blue Mosque” by Westerners due to the pencil works dominated by the color blue and the light of the stained glass.

Cisterns of Istanbul

Cisterns built to meet the water needs in the Byzantine era increasingly serve tourism in the field of culture and art. 

Istanbul, the capital of the Eastern Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires for many centuries in history, continues to draw attention in culture and art tourism with its cisterns once built to meet water needs. 

Cisterns such as Basilica, Nuruosmaniye, Binbirdirek and Hipodrom are some of Istanbul's cultural treasures of its thousands of years old history.

Largest mosque of Ottoman era

The milestone of architectural history built by Mimar Sinan, the Suleymaniye Mosque, has been admired for centuries with its fine engineering, fine craftsmanship and architectural brilliance.

The mosque, standing upright for centuries in all its glory, holds the title of being the largest mosque of the Ottoman period.

Suleymaniye Mosque was built not only as a mosque but also as a complex of education, culture and aid, consisting of a primary school, a Turkish bath, a dining hall for distributing food to the poor and a hospital. Its library of manuscripts written with ink produced from oil is also among the attractions in the complex.

Bazaar that smells cinnamon and cloves 

The 351-year-old Spice Bazaar, which was completed in 1667 for the purpose of bringing income to Yeni Cami (New Mosque) in Eminonu, has been fascinating visitors by the scent of cinnamon and cloves that seeped into the arch stones, its architecture.

The Spice Bazaar is a gigantic market where dried plants, all kinds of herbs and hundreds of spices have been sold throughout its hundreds of years old history. 

The bazaar, which still appeals to most with the smell of cinnamon and cloves that have seeped into the arch stones of the market, is the most important leg of the Silk Road trade in Istanbul with the duty of a bridge between the East and West.

5-century-old shopping center

Standing out with all its glory and magnitude, the Grand Bazaar has been one of the most important trade centers of Istanbul for more than 500 years. 

The market lures enthusiasts of all ages and incorporates a rich cultural structure. In the Grand Bazaar -- one of the oldest shopping centers in the world -- there used to be 4,399 large shops, 2,195 small shops, 24 hans -- tradesmen’ inns and workshops --, 497 booths, 12 cellars, 10 masjids, 16 fountains, eight wells and two fountains. 

The Grand Bazaar is located on the list of places to visit in Istanbul for those who want to focus on shopping.

128-year-old home of civilization history

Founded by world-renowned artist and archeologist Osman Hamdi Bey, the Istanbul Archaeology Museums have been displaying the most important works of the world such as the Alexander Sarcophagus and the Treaty of Kadesh. For 128 years, it has been hosting people who want to travel in the corridors of history and see the evolution of civilizations.

The Istanbul Archaeology Museums, which was founded by the son of Ibrahim Edhem Pasha, an Ottoman statesman, is one of the top 10 museums in the world which was designed as a museum building.

The museum is home to some of the most important works of the world, such as the Alexander Sarcophagus and the Treaty of Kadesh.

Reporting by Cigdem Alyanak:Writing by Binnur Donmez