Istanbul (Day 2)

Istanbul is a bustling metropolis of Türkiye (pronounced Too-key). We took a tour of the highlights of Istanbul—including visits to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, Hippodrome of Constantinople, and the Basilica Cistern. The magnificent Hagia Sophia was built at the behest of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian in 537 BC and was then known as the Church of Holy Wisdom. Hagia Sophia is a remarkable testament to the ingenuity of Eastern Roman architects, built to a unique design for the time. A new chapter in its history began when Mehmed II had it converted into a mosque and painted over the golden mosaics and frescoes with Islamic motifs and patterns. Some of them have since been uncovered again and have survived for centuries under layers of plaster. The emperor also added massive panes of beautifully crafted calligraphy. Hagia Sophia was converted into a museum in 1935 and remained so for many years. Its status as a place of worship returned in 2020. The cistern is from early Roman times and was built in the mid-500s on the site of a former basilica. More than 300 marble columns give the essentially underground water reservoir a magnificent, serene atmosphere. Two columns have the carved head of Medusa. The Yerebatan Sarnıcı is the largest of many cisterns that thrive beneath Istanbul—a vision imbued with cavernous splendour. Built in the 6th century during the reign of Emperor Justinian I, this cistern served as an incredible hub of water filtration systems for many empires. The amalgamation of light cascading on the water, the quivering reflections of the columns, and shoals of ghostly carp with classical music is an unworldly sight. The cistern has such an appeal that it has also served as a backdrop for Hollywood blockbusters, including the James Bond “From Russia with Love” film. We had an outside visit to the Blue Mosque, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque. The Blue Mosque is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque. It was constructed on a storied religious site between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. Another of the day’s highlights was an engrossing demonstration of how handmade Turkish rugs are produced. We bought one in the Marco Polo design, for the Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who traveled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295; we were told he himself said the design was the most beautiful he had ever seen. It will arrive in six to eight weeks and go in our family room. Shirley bought a 24-kt gold on silver ring with a large Brazilian peridot. We also took a walk to the Grand Bazaar.Meer informatie