Top ten urkish

The city of Istanbul offers a plethora of the traditional, historic, medieval and modern

Edging the shores of the turquoise blue Bosphorus

The first thing I did after arriving in Istanbul was to throw up my arms in despair, simply because I could not decide on what to miss out on from the wide range of attractions that the magical city has on its menu. However, the concierge at the Crown Plaza Hotel came to my rescue, providing a top-ten itinerary that is ‘inescapable’ for first time visitors to the land, like me. Istanbul is often touted in guidebooks as the ‘Turkish mystique par excellence’.

Founded by the Greeks in the 5th century BC as Byzantium, renamed Constantinople 800 years later by Roman Emperor Constantine, and finally called Istanbul by the 15th century Ottoman Sultans, this historic settlement uniquely stands astride two continents, Asia and Europe. It boasts to be the only metropolis that has served as the capital of two consecutive Christian and Islamic empires, a distinctive position that crafted the region’s history for over 2500 years.

Sea with a majestic skyline dominated by palace domes, mosque minarets, church spires and regal monuments, Istanbul is reputed to strike anyone as a domain where natural beauty has been enhanced by human endeavour, bequeathing the land with an ensemble of marvels which can’t be covered in one visit. However, a reasonable impression can be achieved by visiting the ‘top ten’ listed below.

1. Blue Mosque

What the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, or Big Ben to London, the Blue Mosque is to Istanbul. Built in 1650 it is by far the most famous landmark of Istanbul. The exterior of this 400 year old shrine doesn’t have a pinch of blue in it at all, as the name comes from its 20,000 odd hand-made ceramic blue tiles that gracefully decorate the interior. With six minarets and eight domes, it stands within a spacious courtyard as a great sample of Islamic architecture from the classical period.

2. Süleymaniye Mosque

Istanbul can be easily termed as the ‘City of Mosques’ as you can see one in almost every corner. All of them are architecturally

Timpressive and demand notice, however apart from Blue Mosque, the other one on most visitors’ itineraries is the Süleymaniye Mosque. It is the city’s largest, and is considered as the greatest achievement of famous 16th century Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.

3. Topkapi Palace

The residence of the Ottoman Sultans for 400 years, Topkapi Palace is not a single edifice, but a band of many. Similar to the Forbidden Palace in Beijing, dotted across an expansive garden-courtyard. Many of the ancient buildings have been restored and converted to museums that display Ottoman memorabilia, from their precious jewels and royal clothing, to sturdy swords that have beheaded their challengers. However, the most interesting in the precinct is the harem quarter where the Sultan’s numerous wives and mistresses used to live.

4. Dolmabahce Palace

When Topkapi Palace was abandoned in the mid 19th century, Dolmabahce Palace became the royal quarter. Edged on the Bosphorus with a 600m waterside frontage, this grand white edifice impresses visitors by its excessive display of ostentatious wealth. One good example is a 4000 kg chandelier with 750 bulbs, one of the largest ever made, which adorns the hugely ornate throne room.

If you have time to see only one thing in Istanbul, it has to be the Hagia Sophia, the legendary legacy of the Christian Byzantian Empire. Originally built as a