Istanbul has been on our places-to-visit-list for a while now. It gradually climbed higher up on that list since I got more and more hooked on photography. You always see such beautiful views shared from this city. So as you can imagine I was very enthused about this trip.
I gotta say that Istanbul, which is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural and historical heart, did definitely not disappoint!
The biggest draw remains its historic center, and it’s no wonder that it’s partially listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Everywhere you go, especially in the Old Town, there are reminders of great empires & people long gone. If open for it, you can even feel the passage of time and presence of great history inviting you for a glimpse into the old days. Back to the city known as Byzantium founded by the ancient Greeks.
In case you’re interested in the short history version; Istanbul has served as the capital of four empires: the Roman Empire (330–395), the Byzantine Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922).
After having strolled around this part for most of the first two days, eventually the CRAZY tourists taking selfies EVERYWHRE annoyed the heck out of us. So we decided to explore other parts.
We crossed the Golden Horn through the Galata Brige and up to the Galata tower which is a medieval Genoese citadel. Not far from here we found ourselves in the cultural and entertainment hub of the Beyoğlu district. This part of town with its quaint design shops, cozy cafés and cute art galleries was very much our cup of tea. Here we mostly hung out during the last two days.
In short; Istanbul is a melting pot of different cultures, home to the friendliest locals I’ve ever met on a trip, with the highest rate of kebap-erías you can ever imagine and with crazy amount of tourists, shops, boutiques & bazars selling all kinds of products. Last but not least it provides wonderful scenes for any travel photographer. So I would highly recommend a visit to this beautiful city!
Here are my favorite photos from the trip.
Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya in Turkish) constructed in 537 is a former Greek Orthodox Church, later an imperial mosque, and now a museum.
The Galata Tower (Galata Kulesi in Turkish) — called Christea Turris (the Tower of Christ) by the Genoese — is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy quarter. It’s one of the city's most striking landmarks, dominates the skyline and offers a panoramic vista of the city.
My beautiful wife Shams strolling around in the Beyoğlu district.
The Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi in Turkish), is also known as Leander's Tower since the medieval Byzantine period. It’s located on a small islet 200m from the coast of Üsküdar in Istanbul.