Five places to visit in Turkey
Turkey and the fifth largest city in the world. Turkey, and is home to many shopping centres, museums, cheap hotels that are youth friendly and bustling a nightlife. Here are five places that have to be visited if you decide to go to to Istanbul for a holiday.
1. The Blue Mosque, also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Istanbul, having six minarets. The Blue Mosque is given its name because the mosque is adorned with beautiful blue tiles. Whether you are a Muslim or from another religion, you will admire the intricate details and magnificent architecture of the Blue Mosque
2. The Hagia Sophia (Greek for “Holy Wisdom”) is an elaborate museum, formerly a church and mosque. Today in its form as a museum, it still has remnants of its previous forms, a mosaic panel from the 9th century, and medallions of Islamic calligraphy, it is a stunning masterpiece today.
3. The Covered bazaar, or The Grand Bazaar, is one of the oldest and biggest markets in the world, housing more than 3000 shops selling textiles, jewellery and ornaments. There is also a plethora of restaurants and cafes specialising in Turkish cuisine. The fun with going to the Covered bazaar is attempting to haggle and get the best deal on whatever items you purchased, as one vendor may sell the same item as another vendor for much cheaper.
4. The Galata Tower, known as the ‘Church Of Christ’ is a very tall tower, spanning over 65 metres tall and having nine stories. The tower is known for its height and the spectacular views from its top story, it also houses a restaurant, café, a nightclub, and even elevators to get people to the top of the tower if they don’t fancy climbing all the way.
5. The Sunken Palace, or Basilica Cistern, is an underground chamber which spans over 130 meters by 65 meters and houses two medusa heads. The Sunken Palace was formerly a water reservoir, but today it is a famous landmark, the largest cistern of Istanbul.