Day
two Saturday 6 April: Istanbul the city of the Byzantines and the Ottomans
‘Inhabited for at least
8,000 years, Istanbul was the capital of two of the world’s most powerful empires-
the Byzantines and the Ottomans- and every stone is steeped in history.’ (Eyewitness
guide: Istanbul highlights, pg. 10’)
This city is one of the most
extraordinary places on the globe and trying to cover all it has to offer can
be overwhelming. Our group visited four key sites today: the Blue Mosque, Haghia
Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Spice market.
The Blue Mosque
Unlike yesterday, we tackled
the city early before the crowds would create havoc with endless queues. The
weather was perfect, and we entered the famous Blue Mosque with a moderate wait
this time. It was time to don the headscarf and remove our shoes before entering
this impressive place. The mosque was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet and is said
to be one of the world’s most famous religious buildings. Its name comes from
the use of the delicately patterned iznik BLUE tiles that cover the interior. Completed
in 1616, it marked the supremacy of Islam over Christian Byzantine. Tourists
and visitors are welcome but are advised to avoid prayer times.
Haghia Sophia
One of the oldest symbols of
Istanbul, the Haghia Sophia was originally built as a Christian church in 567
by Emperor Justinian. Some of the remnants of the Christian era can be seen prior
to its conversion to a mosque in the 15th century by Fatih Sultan Mehmet.
Its function changed yet again in the 1930’s under the leadership of Ataturk where
it was converted to a museum. Today its role as museum and mosque is a shared
one is visited by worshippers and tourists alike.
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Topkapi Palace
As the Christian era of Constantinople
(Istanbul) ended with the emergence of the Ottomans, Sultan Mehmet 11 had
Topkapi Palace built as his main residence between 1460- 1478. It is a massive site and its opulence
overwhelming. Macit told us that the decree of the Sultan was always paramount,
and it did not bode well for any architect or builder to disappoint him. It would
result in a beheading if you failed in your tasks! Macit ably guided us through
all the key areas of the courtyards, kitchens which had over 4,000 people
working in that area alone, the harem, Throne room, the Imperial wardrobe, the
treasury with all its jewels and treasures and finally the armoury sharing with
us its fascinating history.
The Spice Market
Feet sore, energy levels hammered,
and brains overloaded we had had one more experience to be immersed in: the
Spice Market (known as Misir Carisi- the Egyptian Bazaar). Unlike the Grand
Bazaar, the Spice market is a smaller and easier place to navigate, and its
culinary delights are just divine. Despite our flagging energy levels, it was
the perfect way to end a magical day in this fantastic city. Many Turkish
delights, teas and spices were purchased as the shop owner who greeted our
group clearly made a packet from our visit. It will be interesting to see if
the ‘presents’ I purchased for family back home survive the next few weeks without
being eaten! Just divine.
Two days in Istanbul aren’t enough,
but they do provide a powerful incentive for a return, and longer visit. Put it
on your bucket list folks!
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