Istanbul Day 2

We booked a day tour through our travel company to get off the beaten path travel deeper into Istanbul, discovering diverse and lesser-visited districts. We walked along the ancient Constantinople city walls; sawTekfur Palace(the Blaherne Palace) which has thick walls adjacent to the landwalls; strolled through the photogenic Fener (Greek) and Balat (Jewish) districts, known for their colourful wooden houses; and cruised the Bosphorus Strait for stunning views of Ottoman palaces and the city skyline. We finished with a visit to the famous spice market, which is located near the original port of Istanbul.

While visiting a Jewish Synagogue and later a Christian Orthodox Church, I asked our guide how long Türkiye has been a majority Muslim country (currently 99% Muslim). He shared that just 100,years ago, only about 50% were Muslim. But, Türkiye allied with Germany in WWI and as you know, chose the wrong side. This led to some forced migration and lots of immigration as the country was occupied.Leer más