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PHOTOGRAPHY & WATERCOLORS

Travel: Turkey Galleries

EPHESUS & KUSADASI, TURKEY, MAY 1993 AND APRIL 2011 : Ephesus is the best preserved classical city on the Eastern Mediterenean. In ancient times it was a great trading and religious city and was once the home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus became the Roman provincial capital and was known for its wealth and beauty, but was pillaged by Gothic invaders in 262 AD. Today the remains are so well preserved, that it is easy to get a feel for what life was during the Roman times. Ancient Ephesus grew from a seaside settlement to a powerful trading port and sacred center for the cult of Artemis. Its fame drew the attention of a series of conquerors, among them Croesus of Lydia and 6th-century BC Cyrus of Persia. After a Greek uprising against the Persians failed, the people of Ephesus, exercising effective diplomacy, managed to avoid conflict by appeasing each side, both of whom took turns controlling the city until Hellenistic times. The city was visited by powerful leaders such as Alexander the Great, who aided the city in its efforts to rebuild. After he died, his lieutenant moved the city to its current location. Some of these photos were taken during our first visit to Turkey in May 1993 using my old film camera. I scanned the prints to convert it to digital format. The rest of the pictures were taken during our trip on April-May 2011. Where in the world is EPHESUS? Where in the world is KUSADASI? Information shown in these Turkey galleries where based on Wikipedia, Turkish tourist pamphlets, maps of Turkey, a book on "Turkey" by Mert, a book "Cappadocia - Cradle of History" by Omer Demir.

EPHESUS & KUSADASI, TURKEY, MAY 1993 AND APRIL 2011

Ephesus is the best preserved classical city on the Eastern Mediterene ...

Updated: May 17, 2011 10:39am PST

DIDIMA & PRIENE, TURKEY, MAY 1993 : DIDYMA or Didim was a sacred place starting from the 8th century B.C. as it was a cult center for the city of Miletos with a spring and sacred grove. The word Didyma meant 'twins' and was associated by some as being the meeting place of Zeus and Leto to have their twins Apollo and Artemis. Today it is surrounded by a Turkish village call Didim or Didima. It is in the Soke district in the Province of Aydin. These photos were taken in May 1993 with my old film camera. I scanned the prints to convert it to digital format. Where in Turkey is DIDIM?

DIDIMA & PRIENE, TURKEY, MAY 1993

DIDYMA or Didim was a sacred place starting from the 8th century B.C. ...

Updated: Oct 01, 2006 5:57pm PST

THE VIRGIN MARY'S BIRTHPLACE, EPHESUS, TURKEY : The House of the Virgin (Meryemana in Turkish), located in a nature park between Ephesus and Seljuk, is believed to be the last residence of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. The peaceful site is sacred to both Christians and Muslims, and is visited by many tourists and pilgrims. According to predominant Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the Resurrection of Christ and lived out her days there. This is based mainly on the traditional belief that John came to Ephesus (see St. John's Basilica) combined with the biblical statement that Jesus consigned her to John's care (John 19:26-27). Archaeologists who have examined the building identified as the House of the Virgin believe most of the building dates from the 6th or 7th century. But its foundations are much older and may well date from the 1st century AD, the time of Mary. This site had long been a place of pilgrimage for local Orthodox Christians. The modern history of the Virgin Mary's House is unusual. It was "discovered" in 1812 by a German nun, Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich, who never traveled away from her home. Sister Emmerich, an invalid confined to bed, awoke in a trance with the stigmata and visions that included the Virgin Mary and Apostle John traveling from Jerusalem to Ephesus. She described Mary's house in detail, which was recorded at her bedside by a writer named Brentano. Emmerich described a rectangular stone house, which John had built for Mary. It had a fireplace and an apse and a round back wall. The room next to the apse was Mary's bedroom, which had a spring running into it. The German nun went on to say that the Virgin Mary died at the age of 64 and was buried in a cave near her house. When her coffin was opened soon after, however, the coffin and burial shroud were empty. The house was then turned into a chapel. The Meryama was later visited by Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, who confirmed its appropriateness as a place of pilgrimage. On November 29, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass here.

THE VIRGIN MARY'S BIRTHPLACE, EPHESUS, TURKEY

The House of the Virgin (Meryemana in Turkish), located in a nature pa ...

Updated: May 17, 2011 11:13am PST

KORUMAR DE LUXE HOTEL, KUSADASI, TURKEY : This is one of the best hotel we stayed in in Turkey. It is very new and the site is on a clift overlooking Aegean Sea. This is the location of Korumar De Luxe Hotel KORUMAR

KORUMAR DE LUXE HOTEL, KUSADASI, TURKEY

This is one of the best hotel we stayed in in Turkey. It is very new a ...

Updated: May 17, 2011 12:30pm PST

CRUISING THE DARDANELLES, NORTHWESTERN TURKEY : The Dardanelles, formerly known as the Hellespont, literally "Sea of Helle", is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with its counterpart the Bosphorus. It is located at approximately 40°13′N 26°26′E / 40.217°N 26.433°E / 40.217; 26.433. The strait is 61 kilometres (38 mi) long but only 1.2 to 6 kilometres (0.75 to 4 mi) wide, averaging 55 metres (180 ft) deep with a maximum depth of 82 metres (300 ft). Water flows in both directions along the strait, from the Sea of Marmara to the Aegean via a surface current and in the opposite direction via an undercurrent. Like the Bosphorus, it separates Europe (the Gallipoli peninsula) from the mainland of Asia. The strait is an international waterway, and together with the Bosphorus, the Dardanelles connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. A suspension bridge project has been planned, connecting Saricay (a district of Çanakkale) on the Asian side to Kilitbahir on the European side. Here is the location of DARDANELLES

CRUISING THE DARDANELLES, NORTHWESTERN TURKEY

The Dardanelles, formerly known as the Hellespont, literally "Sea of H ...

Updated: May 17, 2011 2:33pm PST

LEGENDARY TROY, CANAKKALE REGION, TURKEY : Troy (Troia) was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida. It is best known for being the focus of the Trojan War described in the Greek Epic Cycle and especially in the Iliad, one of the two epic poems attributed to Homer. Metrical evidence from the Iliad and the Odyssey seems to show that the name Ilion formerly began with a digamma: Ϝίλιον (Wilion). This was later supported by the Hittite form Wilusa. A new city called Ilium was founded on the site in the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus. It flourished until the establishment of Constantinople and declined gradually during the Byzantine era. In 1865, English archaeologist Frank Calvert excavated trial trenches in a field he had bought from a local farmer at Hisarlık, and in 1868 Heinrich Schliemann, wealthy German businessman and archaeologist, also began excavating in the area after a chance meeting with Calvert in Çanakkale. These excavations revealed several cities built in succession. Troy VII has been identified with the Hittite Wilusa, the probable origin of the Greek Ἴλιον, and is generally (but not conclusively) identified with Homeric Troy. Today the hill at Hisarlik has given its name to a small village near the ruins, supporting the tourist trade visiting the Troia archaeological site. It lies within the province of Çanakkale, some 30 km south-west of the provincial capital, also called Çanakkale. Troia was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1998. The different levels or layers of excavations on this site is shown in this MAP This is the CANAKKALE REGION of Turkey.

LEGENDARY TROY, CANAKKALE REGION, TURKEY

Troy (Troia) was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northw ...

Updated: May 23, 2011 10:33am PST

ATATURK MUSEUM & MAUSOLEUM, ANKARA, TURKEY : Anıtkabir (literally, "memorial tomb") is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and the founder and first president of the Republic of Turkey. It is located in Ankara and was designed by architects Professor Emin Onat and Assistant Professor Orhan Arda, whose proposal beat 48 other entries from several countries in a competition held by the Turkish Government in 1941 for a "monumental mausoleum" for Atatürk. The site is also the final resting place of İsmet İnönü, the second President of Turkey, who was interred there after he died in 1973. His tomb faces the Atatürk Mausoleum, on the opposite side of the Ceremonial Ground. The period of Turkish architecture between 1940 and 1950 has been classified by architectural historians as the Second National Architecture Movement. This period is characterized mostly by monumental, symmetrical, cut-stone clad buildings, with great emphasis given to detailing and workmanship in construction. Anıtkabir contains the same characteristics of this period, and is considered by many to be the ultimate monument of the era. In addition, Anıtkabir features Seljuq and Ottoman architectural and ornamentation features. For example, the eaves of the towers and the Hall of Honour are all Seljuq-style sawtooth ornamentation. The site chosen for Anıtkabir was known as Rasattepe (Observation Hill), which, at the time of the architectural competition for Anıtkabir, was a central location in Ankara and could be seen by all parts of the city. Archeological excavations unearthed artifacts belonging to the Phrygian civilization, which were carefully excavated and put on display in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, also in Ankara. Where in Turkey is ANKARA?

ATATURK MUSEUM & MAUSOLEUM, ANKARA, TURKEY

Anıtkabir (literally, "memorial tomb") is the mausoleum of Mustafa Kem ...

Updated: May 18, 2011 6:59am PST

THE WHIRLING DERVISHES, SELJUK CARAVANSERAI, AVANOS, NEVSEHIR : Avanos (Ancient Greek:Αβανος), is a town and district of Nevşehir Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey, located 18 km (11 mi) north of Nevşehir, the capital city of the province. It is situated within the historic and touristic region of Cappadocia. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 43,131 of which 11,921 live in the town of Avanos.[1][2] The district covers an area of 994 km2 (384 sq mi),[3] and the average elevation is 920 m (3,018 ft), with the highest point being Mt. İsmail Sivrisi at 1,756 m (5,761 ft). The old city of Avanos, whose name in ancient times was Venessa overlooks the longest river of Turkey, the Kızılırmak (Red River), which also separates Avanos from the rest of Cappadocia. The most famous historical feature of Avanos, which is still relevant and very visible today, is its production of earthenware pottery, it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. It is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and superb views over the river.

THE WHIRLING DERVISHES, SELJUK CARAVANSERAI, AVANOS, NEVSEHIR

Avanos (Ancient Greek:Αβανος), is a town and district of Nevşehir Prov ...

Updated: May 18, 2011 8:59am PST

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH AND BASILICA, SELCUK, TURKEY : The Basilica of St. John (St. Jean Aniti) was a great church in Ephesus constructed by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. It stands over the believed burial site of St. John, who is identified as the apostle, evangelist (author of the Fourth Gospel) and prophet (author of Revelation). The basilica is on the slopes of Ayasoluk Hill near the center of Selçuk, just below the fortress and about 3.5 km (2 miles) from Ephesus. St. John's grave was marked by a memorial and enclosed by a church of modest proportions in the 4th century. In the 6th century, Emperor Justinian (527-65 AD) believed that a tomb dating from the 300s was John's, so he built a magnificient church on the site dedicated to the saint. The traditional tomb of St. John, located under the main central dome, elevated the site to one of the most sacred sites in the Middle Ages and thousands made pilgrimage here. But with the decline in importance of Ephesus and after Arab raids, the basilica fell into ruins until the Seljuk Aydinoglu clan converted it into a mosque in 1330. The building was then completely destroyed in 1402 by Tamerlane's Mongol army. The ruined church was thereafter pillaged for building materials, but recent restoration enables visitors to understand its size and visualize its former splendor.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH AND BASILICA, SELCUK, TURKEY

The Basilica of St. John (St. Jean Aniti) was a great church in Ephesu ...

Updated: May 18, 2011 9:47am PST

TERRACE HOUSE 2, EPHESUS ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, EPHESUS, TURKEY : Behind the shops on the south side of Curetes Street near the Library of Celsus are luxurious private houses, known as the Slope Houses or Terrace Houses for their location on the slopes of Mt. Coressus (Bulbuldag). Occupied from the 1st century to 7th century AD, the Terrace Houses have been compared to the 1st century villas of Pompeii in importance. The Terrace Houses are also known as the Slope Houses and Hanghausen (in German, because the archaeologists are Austrian). The Slope Houses were used from the 1st century to 7th century AD, and then were abandoned. Around this time, after the devastating Arab raids and the continued silting up of the harbor, the remaining inhabitants of Ephesus moved to Ayasuluk hill (near the Basilica of St. John). After being abandoned, the Terrace Houses gradually fell into decay. However, a number of them were filled with soil from landslips, which preserved them and their contents. The houses at Ephesus are not inferior to those found at Pompeii and Herculaneum in terms of preservation and importance. Their decor and furnishings provide a great deal of information about the lifestyle of the Ephesian upper class in the Roman and Byzantine periods. How do I get to EPHESUS ARCHELOGICAL MUSEUM?

TERRACE HOUSE 2, EPHESUS ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, EPHESUS, TURKEY

Behind the shops on the south side of Curetes Street near the Library ...

Updated: May 18, 2011 10:53am PST

ASKLEPION ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, BERGAMA, TURKEY : Bergama (ancient Pergamum), 100 km (62 miles) north of Izmir and 250 km (155 miles) south of Çanakkale (map), was renowned in Hellenic and Roman times for its great library and as the medical center where Galen laid the foundation for medical practice. Bergama, was an ancient Greek city in modern-day Turkey, in Mysia, today located 16 miles (26 km) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus (modern day Bakırçay), that became the capital of the Kingdom of Pergamon during the Hellenistic period, under the Attalid dynasty, 281–133 BC. Today, the main sites of ancient Pergamon are to the north and west of the modern city of Bergama. Three kilometers south of the Acropolis, down in the valley, there was the Sanctuary of Asclepius (also known as the Asclepieion), the god of healing. In this place people with health problems could bathe in the water of the sacred spring, and in the patients' dreams Asclepius would appear in a vision to tell them how to cure their illness. Archeology has found lots of gifts and dedications that people would make afterwards, such as small terracotta body parts, no doubt representing what had been healed. Notable extant structures in the Asclepieion include: the Roman theater the North Stoa the South Stoa the Temple of Asclepius a circular treatment center (sometimes known as the Temple of Telesphorus) a healing spring an underground passageway a library the Via Tecta (or the Sacred Way, which is a colonnaded street leading to the sanctuary) and a propylon.

ASKLEPION ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE, BERGAMA, TURKEY

Bergama (ancient Pergamum), 100 km (62 miles) north of Izmir and 250 k ...

Updated: May 18, 2011 1:14pm PST

PAMUKKALE HIERAPOLIS ANCIENT CITY : Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey. The city contains hot springs and travertines, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. It is located in Turkey's Inner Aegean region, in the River Menderes valley, which has a temperate climate for most of the year. The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white "castle" which is in total about 2,700 metres (8,860 ft) long, 600 m (1,970 ft) wide and 160 m (525 ft) high. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the town of Denizli, 20 km away. Tourism is and has been a major industry. People have bathed in its pools for thousands of years. As recently as the mid-20th century, hotels were built over the ruins of Heropolis, causing considerable damage. An approach road was built from the valley over the terraces, and motor bikes were allowed to go up and down the slopes. When the area was declared a World Heritage Site, the hotels were demolished and the road removed and replaced with artificial pools. Wearing shoes in the water is prohibited to protect the deposits. Pamukkale's terraces are made of travertine, a sedimentary rock deposited by water from the hot springs. In this area, there are 17 hot water springs in which the temperature ranges from 35 °C (95 °F) to 100 °C (212 °F). The water that emerges from the spring is transported 320 metres (1,050 ft) to the head of the travertine terraces and deposits calcium carbonate on a section 60 to 70 metres (200 to 230 ft) long covering an expanse of 240 metres (790 ft) to 300 metres (980 ft). When the water, supersaturated with calcium carbonate, reaches the surface, carbon dioxide degasses from it, and calcium carbonate is deposited. The depositing continues until the carbon dioxide in the water balances the carbon dioxide in the air.[citation needed] Calcium carbonate is deposited by the water as a soft jelly,[citation needed] but this eventually hardens into travertine.

PAMUKKALE HIERAPOLIS ANCIENT CITY

Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish, is a natural site in De ...

Updated: May 18, 2011 3:37pm PST

CERAMIC FACTORY, CAPPADOCIA REGION, TURKEY : This is one of the factory that has an agreement with the tour company to visit their place to increase sale. If you are part of a tour group you can not do anything about it but take what you can get and learn from it. The neighborhood appearance does not show it, but most of the buildings have their rear end against the back of a hill and carved into it. My guess is that originally these are old shelters and what is shown on the streets are the "add-ons" to the original. The ceramic factory's production and display areas are like a cave as it is carved into the hill. I was impressed by their workmanship and quality of their product.

CERAMIC FACTORY, CAPPADOCIA REGION, TURKEY

This is one of the factory that has an agreement with the tour company ...

Updated: May 19, 2011 7:22am PST

GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM, GOREME, CAPPADOCIA REGION, TURKEY : Göreme is a district of the Nevşehir Province in Turkey. After the eruption of Mount Erciyes about 2000 years ago, ash and lava formed soft rocks in the Cappadocia Region, covering a region of about 20,000 km2. The softer rock was eroded by wind and water, leaving the hard cap rock on top of pillars, forming the present-day fairy chimneys. People of Göreme, at the heart of the Cappadocia Region, realized that these soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. These frescoes are a unique artistic achievement from this period. In the 4th century small anchorite communities began to form in the region, acting on instruction of Saint Basil of Caesarea. They carved cells in the soft rock. During the iconoclastic period (725-842) the decoration of the many sanctuaries in the region was held to a minimum, usually symbols such as the depiction of the cross. After this period, new churches were dug into the rocks and they were richly decorated with colourful frescoes. The valley, and other troglodyte ("cave-dweller") habitations in Cappadocia, may have been inhabited since Hittite times, but Göreme is known for its thousand-year-old churches. Most of the frescoes in the churches have been damaged—many of them badly damaged—by wind, water, weather, earthquake, and shepherd boys who sought refuge in the caves and used the faces of the figures as targets for pebble attacks, having been taught that images were sinful. But the beauty of the churches and their decoration is still apparent.

GOREME OPEN AIR MUSEUM, GOREME, CAPPADOCIA REGION, TURKEY

Göreme is a district of the Nevşehir Province in Turkey. After the eru ...

Updated: May 20, 2011 2:58pm PST

CARPET FACTORY, NEVSEHIR, TURKEY : This is another of the factories that have an agreement with the tour company to visit their place to increase sales. If you are part of a tour group you can not do anything about it but spend money or take what you can get and learn from it. Compared to the sales people in the factories in Thailand and Malaysia, the sales people here in Turkey are "mild".

CARPET FACTORY, NEVSEHIR, TURKEY

This is another of the factories that have an agreement with the tour ...

Updated: May 20, 2011 9:41am PST

KONYA, TURKEY : Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. It is the capital of the Konya Province. Excavations have shown that the region was inhabited during the Late Copper Age, around 3000 BC. The city came under the influence of the Hittites around 1500 BC. These were overtaken by the Sea Peoples around 1200 BC. The Phrygians established their kingdom in central Anatolia in the 8th century BC. Xenophon describes Iconium, as the city was called, as the last city of Phrygia. The region was overwhelmed by Cimmerian invaders c. 690 BC. It was later part of the Persian Empire, until Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great in 333 BC. Alexander's empire broke up shortly after his death and the town came under the rule of Seleucus I Nicator. During the Hellenistic period the town was ruled by the kings of Pergamon. As Attalus III, the last king of Pergamon, was about to die without an heir, he bequeathed his kingdom to Rome. Under the rule of emperor Claudius, the city's name was changed to Claudioconium, and during the rule of emperor Hadrianus to Colonia Aelia Hadriana. Saint Paul and Barnabas preached in Iconium during the First Missionary Journey in about 47-48 AD, and Paul and Silas probably visited it again during the Second Missionary Journey in about 50 AD. In Christian legend, it was also the birthplace of Saint Thecla. During the Byzantine Empire the town was destroyed several times by Arab invaders in the 7th-9th centuries. Konya has a harsh, dry continental climate, with cold, snowy winters, and hot, dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and autumn.

KONYA, TURKEY

Konya is a city in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. It is the ca ...

Updated: May 20, 2011 2:07pm PST

ISTANBUL - BASILICA CISTERN (YEREBATAN SARNIC) : Beneath Istanbul lie hundreds of gloomy Byzantine cisterns. They're left from the days when Istanbul was Constantinople. The grandest of all is the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıç), so called because it lay beneath the Stoa Basilica, a grand Byzantine public square. It's also called the Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Saray Sarnıçı) because that's what it looks like. Whatever you call it, it's impressive because of its size, measuring 138 meters long and 64.6 meters wide, covering nearly 1000 square meters (2.4 acres); its capacity (80,000 cubic meters—over 21 million US gallons) and its 336 marble columns.

ISTANBUL - BASILICA CISTERN (YEREBATAN SARNIC)

Beneath Istanbul lie hundreds of gloomy Byzantine cisterns. They're le ...

Updated: May 20, 2011 3:31pm PST

ISTANBUL - BLUE MOSQUE (SULTAN AHMED MOSQUE) : The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical mosque in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey and the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. Like many other mosques, it also comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction. After the Peace of Zsitvatorok (1606) and the unfavourable result of the wars with Persia, Sultan Ahmed I decided to build a large mosque in Istanbul as recompense. This would be the first imperial mosque to be built in more than forty years. Whereas his predecessors had paid for their mosques with their war booty, Sultan Ahmed I had to withdraw the funds from the treasury, because he had not won any notable victories. This provoked the anger of the ulema, the Muslim legal scholars. The mosque was to be built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, facing the Hagia Sophia (at that time the most venerated mosque in Istanbul) and the hippodrome, a site of great symbolic significance. Large parts of the southern side of the mosque rest on the foundation and vaults of the Great Palace. Several palaces had already built there, most notably the palace of Sokollu Mehmet Paşa, so these first had to be bought at a considerable cost and pulled down. Large parts of the Sphendone (curved tribune with U-shaped structure of the hippodrome) were also removed to make room for the new mosque. Construction of the mosque started in August 1609 when the sultan himself came to break the first sod. It was his intention that this would become the first mosque of his empire. He appointed his royal architect Sedefhar Mehmet Ağa, a pupil and senior assistant of the famous architect Mimar Sinan to be in charge of the construction. The organization of the work was described in meticulous detail in eight volumes, now found in the library of the Topkapı Palace. The opening ceremonies were held in 1617 (although the inscription on the gate of the mosque says 1616). The sultan could now pray in the royal box (hünkâr mahfil). The building was not yet finished in this last year of his reign, as the last accounts were signed by his successor Mustafa I. Known as the Blue Mosque, Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the most impressive monuments in the world. Where in Istanbul is THE BLUE MOSQUE

ISTANBUL - BLUE MOSQUE (SULTAN AHMED MOSQUE)

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Turkish: Sultanahmet Camii) is a historical m ...

Updated: May 20, 2011 4:06pm PST

ISTANBUL - TOPKAPI PALACE : The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı) is a palace in Istanbul, Turkey, which was the official and primary residence in the city of the Ottoman Sultans for approximately 400 years (1465-1856) of their 624-year reign. The palace was a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments and is a major tourist attraction today, containing the most holy relics of the Muslim world such as the Prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword.Topkapı Palace is among those monuments belonging to the "Historic Areas of Istanbul", which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985, and is described in Criterion iv as "the best example[s] of ensembles of palaces of the Ottoman period." Initial construction began in 1459, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Byzantine Constantinople. The palace is a complex made up of four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. At the height of its existence as a royal residence, the palace was home to as many as 4,000 people, formerly covering a larger area with a long shoreline. The complex has been expanded over the centuries, with many renovations such as after the 1509 earthquake and 1665 fire. It held mosques, a hospital, bakeries, and a mint.The name directly translates as "Cannon gate Palace", from the palace being named after a nearby gate, which has since been destroyed. Topkapı Palace gradually lost its importance at the end of the 17th century, as the Sultans preferred to spend more time in their new palaces along the Bosporus. In 1856, Sultan Abdül Mecid I decided to move the court to the newly built Dolmabahçe Palace, the first European-style palace in the city. Some functions, such as the imperial treasury, the library, mosque and mint, were retained though. After the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1921, Topkapı Palace was transformed by government decree on April 3, 1924 into a museum of the imperial era. The Topkapı Palace Museum is under the administration of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. The palace complex has hundreds of rooms and chambers, but only the most important are accessible to the public today. The complex is guarded by officials of the ministry as well as armed guards of the Turkish military. The palace is full of examples of Ottoman architecture and also contains large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry. Where in Istanbul is TOPKAPI PALACE?

ISTANBUL - TOPKAPI PALACE

The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı) is a palace in Istanbul, ...

Updated: May 21, 2011 4:27pm PST

ISTANBUL - HAGIA SOPHIA : Hagia Sophia or "Holy Wisdom" is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader established Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. The Church was dedicated to the Logos, the second person of the Holy Trinity, its dedication feast taking place on December 25, the anniversary of the incarnation of the Logos in Christ. Although it is sometimes referred to as Sancta Sophia (as though it were named after Saint Sophia), sophia is the phonetic spelling in Latin of the Greek word for wisdom - the full name in Greek, "Church of the Holy Wisdom of God". Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have "changed the history of architecture." It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520. The current building was originally constructed as a church between 532 and 537 on the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian and was the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to occupy the site, the previous two having both been destroyed by rioters. It was designed by the Greek scientists Isidore of Miletus, a physicist, and Anthemius of Tralles, a mathematician. The church contained a large collection of holy relics and featured, among other things, a 49 foot (15 m) silver iconostasis. It was the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for nearly one thousand years. It is the church in which Cardinal Humbert in 1054 excommunicated Michael I Cerularius - which is commonly considered the start of the Great Schism. In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmed II, who subsequently ordered the building converted into a mosque. The bells, altar, iconostasis, and sacrificial vessels were removed and many of the mosaics were plastered over. Islamic features — such as the mihrab, minbar, and four minarets — were added while in the possession of the Ottomans. It remained a mosque until 1931 when it was closed to the public for four years. It was re-opened in 1935 as a museum by the Republic of Turkey. For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia served as a model for many other Ottoman mosques, such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque of Istanbul), the Şehzade Mosque, the Süleymaniye Mosque, the Rüstem Pasha Mosque and the Kılıç Ali Paşa Mosque. Where in Istanbul is HAGIA SOPHIA?

ISTANBUL - HAGIA SOPHIA

Hagia Sophia or "Holy Wisdom" is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilic ...

Updated: May 21, 2011 4:33pm PST

ISTANBUL - THE BOSPHORUS STRAIT : The Bosphorus or Bosporus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles. The world's narrowest strait used for international navigation, it connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara (which is connected by the Dardanelles to the Aegean Sea, and thereby to the Mediterranean Sea). Bosphorus' limits are defined as the connecting line between the lighthouses Rumeli Feneri and Anadolu Feneri in the north and between the Ahırkapı Feneri and the Kadıköy İnciburnu Feneri in the south. The strait is between the limits 31 km (17 nmi) long, with a width of 3,329 m (1.798 nmi) at the northern entrance and 2,826 m (1.526 nmi) at the southern entrance. Its maximum width is 3,420 m (1.85 nmi) between Umuryeri and Büyükdere Limanı, and minimum width 704 m (0.380 nmi) between Kandilli Point and Aşiyan. The depth of Bosphorus varies from 36 to 124 m (118 to 407 ft) in midstream with an average of 65 m (213 ft). The deepest location is between Kandilli and Bebek with 110 m (360 ft). The most shallow locations are off Kadıköy İnciburnu on the northward route with 18 m (59 ft) and off Aşiyan Point on the southward route with 13 m (43 ft).[1] The shores of the strait are heavily populated as the city of Istanbul (with a metropolitan area in excess of 11 million inhabitants) straddles it. Where in Turkey is BOSPHORUS STRAIT?

ISTANBUL - THE BOSPHORUS STRAIT

The Bosphorus or Bosporus, also known as the Istanbul Strait, is a str ...

Updated: May 21, 2011 1:04pm PST

ISTANBUL - THE SPICE BAZAAR : The place called by the tour leader as the spice bazaar is a market place that sells a variety of things. It was fun to haggle with the merchants specially those selling pastries and candies that are called "Turkish Delights". Every store invites you in to taste their samples and gives you Turkish tea to drink. How about tasting the caviar? It is good so you better visit Istanbul.

ISTANBUL - THE SPICE BAZAAR

The place called by the tour leader as the spice bazaar is a market pl ...

Updated: May 21, 2011 2:49pm PST

ISTANBUL - OUR GROUP'S FAREWELL DINNER : Our farewell dinner was held in a seafood restaurant in Istanbul. It was raining and cold but it did not dampen our spirits. Beth and I would like to thank all members of our travel group for your friendliness and camaraderie.

ISTANBUL - OUR GROUP'S FAREWELL DINNER

Our farewell dinner was held in a seafood restaurant in Istanbul. It w ...

Updated: May 21, 2011 3:18pm PST

MY TURKEY TOUR'S FAVORITE PICS : My favorites, photography wise. I have no captions. The photos will look better by using the slide capability of the website. These photos are also in the respective galleries where it belongs.

MY TURKEY TOUR'S FAVORITE PICS

My favorites, photography wise. I have no captions. The photos will lo ...

Updated: May 21, 2011 4:18pm PST

All photographs on this site © by Andre'Salvador