Turkey

Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul, especially when viewed from the First Hill or from the Asian shore of the Sea of Marmara. It is very impressive with its beautiful domes and semidomes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets.
The Blue Mosque was founded by Sultan Ahmet I. He ordered Architect Mehmed Aga to begin constuction in 1609 and the whole complex was completed in 1616. The location of the mosque is just opposite of the splendid Church of Hagia Sophia as it is trying to compete with it.

Sancta Sophia
Sancta Sophia is one of the wonders of Istanbul. Standing directly opposite the city's famous Blue Mosque, the site was consecrated in 537AD and the current Byzantine building has been a focus for human faith and prayer for more than 1,400 years.
Although it is a museum today, it remains a powerful centre for spirituality where many come to spend time in private worship and contemplation.

Topkapi Palace
Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman sultans until the reign of Abdulmecid I (1839-1860), a period of nearly four centuries. The order for the construction of the Topkapi Palace on the Seraglio Point overlooking both Marmara and Bosphorus was given by Mehmed II after the conquest of Constantinapolis in 1453. The place was then an ancient olive grove. The final form of the first palace covered an area 700m², and was enclosed with fortified walls 1400 meters in length. The walls were pierced by a number of gates, namely the Otluk gate, the Demir gate and the Imperial gate (Bab-i Humayun), and a number of minor angled gates between them.

Archaeological Museum
This complex, which includes the exquisite Tiled Kiosk and the Museum of the Ancient Orient, houses a large collection of artifacts and works of art belonging to ancient Greek, Roman and other Anatolian civilizations dating back to the 6th century BC. The Sarcophagus of Alexander the Great and ancient pieces found in the Sidon excavation are among its most interesting pieces.

Open daily between 9:30-5:00 p.m. except Mondays.

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