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🇹🇷 Turkey: Istanbul
  • Leonardo Floridia
  • Leonardo Floridia

🇹🇷 Turkey: Istanbul

A short but fine adventure by Leonardo Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 9, 2024
  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Landed in Istanbul!

    August 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Landed on the Asian side of Istanbul! Officially my first time in Asia.

    Sabiha Gökçen Airport is quite far from the city center and serves as a hub for low-cost airlines, including Pegasus. A second airport, closer to the center in the European side, serves as a hub for Turkish Airlines and other non-low-cost carriers.

    Looking at the departure board, you realize how from this airport you can reach nearly any European, Asian and Middle-Eastern contry!    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The main street: İstiklal Caddesi

    August 9, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    İstiklal Caddesi is one of the main streets of the city, bustling with 3 million people every day (comparable to the entire population of Rome). Along this pedestrian street, you’ll find dozens of bars, restaurants, shops, and embassies.

    At the end of the street lies Taksim Square, which, with its mosque and kebab shops, serves as the city’s main square.

    The street is part of the Galata district, which is why you’ll see many banners supporting the Galatasaray football team.

    Along the street, there are also the Şişhane and Taksim metro stations (Metro Line 2).    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Taksim Square by day

    August 10, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Taksim Square is located at the end of İstiklal Caddesi and is the most important square in the city, full of shops and restaurants and with a huge mosque. The square is served by a metro station.

    At its center stands a Monument to Republic, sculpted by the Italian artist Pietro Canonica. The square was also festively decorated to celebrate 100 years of the Republic (1923/2023).    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The entrance of Dolmabahçe Palace

    August 10, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The Dolmabahçe Palace is an imperial palace built in European style in the mid-1800s, overlooking the Bosphorus.

    It is a blend of European architectural styles and served as the heart of the Ottoman Empire for many years. The palace features numerous halls and rooms, including the one where Atatürk, the father of the nation, passed away.

    We didn't enter because the guided tour would have taken too much time    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The delicious Turkish food

    August 10, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Tasting the culinary wonders of Turkish culture:

    - Lahmacun, a Turkish-style pizza topped with minced meat and spices.
    - Adana Kebab, hand-minced meat skewered and cooked over an open flame.
    - Cağ Kebab, a horizontally stacked marinated lamb kebab that rotates on a spit.
    - Freshly roasted sea bass and fish (usually cod) wrapped like a kebab.
    - Mozaik Pasta, a chocolate salami, known in Italy as Turkish salami.
    And much more!    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The Galata Tower

    August 10, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The Galata Tower is a watchtower built by the Genoese in the medieval period in Romanesque style.

    It stands about 66.9 meters tall and, at the time of its construction, was the tallest building in the city, allowing for the spotting of potential enemies.Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The Mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent

    August 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Suleiman the Magnificent, the greatest sultan of the Ottoman Empire, ordered the construction of this impressive mosque, which was completed in 1557.

    The most beautiful parts are undoubtedly the courtyard, with arches on three sides and a fountain at the center, as well as the decorations of the dome.

    Enormous, impressive, and beautiful.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar)

    August 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    The Egyptian Bazaar is the second largest and is dedicated to the sale of spices, the, dried fruits, and gold items.

    It consists of two L-shaped corridors covered by vaults decorated with the geometric patterns typical of Islamic art.

    It is called the Egyptian Bazaar because it was built with tax money collected from Egypt, which was an Ottoman colony at the time.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Sailing on the Bosphorus

    August 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    In addition to bridges, tunnels, and subways, it is possible to cross from the Asian side to the European side of Istanbul (and vice versa) by ferries that navigate the Bosphorus, the narrow sea channel that connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and, thus, to the Mediterranean.

    It is one of the busiest stretches of sea in the world with many ships (most of all Oil tankers and cargo ships that travel from Russia, Ukraine, and Romania to Europe and the rest of the world.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The thousands of cats of Istanbul

    August 11, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    In every corner of the city, there are encounter dozens of cats, pampered, fed, and petted by both locals and tourists.
    Very often they sleep also inside the shops, cafe and malls.

    The presence of cats can be traced back to the city's port and maritime nature, as historically, cats in Istanbul helped reduce rats and the associated public health issues.

    Moreover, as in many other Muslim countries, cats are considered pure animals because, according to legend, a cat saved the Prophet Muhammad from the bite of a venomous snake.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Inside the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The Grand Bazaar is the largest market in Istanbul, consisting of over 60 streets that intertwine, creating what is essentially a massive shopping center with various stores.

    Like the Spice Bazaar, its walls and ceilings are adorned with geometric patterns typical of Islamic art. The streets are bustling with tourists as well as locals, busy selling spices, jewelry, clothing, and various goods, or enjoying tea from the traditional glasses.Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The Nuruosmaniye Mosque

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    The Nuruosmaniye Mosque is located near the Grand Bazaar and its style is a mix of European Baroque and Ottoman architecture.

    Completed in 1755, it is smaller compared to other mosques, but its white interior, with intricate decorations and stained glass windows is very beautiful.Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    The Blue Mosque: the most beautiful

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Although Istanbul is especially famous for Hagia Sophia (which is located just a few meters away), in my opinion, the most beautiful building by far is the Blue Mosque.

    Its name comes from the thousands of turquoise tiles embedded in the dome. The walls are also covered with tiles that are illuminated by the light coming through the windows.

    Truly stunning and a symbol of the past grandeur and wealth of the Ottoman sultans. Additionally, unlike Hagia Sophia, access is completely free.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    And the refreshing Turkish drinks

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 31 °C

    After walking through the hot Turkish streets in August, nothing is more relaxing than sitting in the shade with a refreshing drink.

    - Tea is the national drink. Everywhere you look, there are tea vendors and people sipping tea from the typical glass cups. The tradition of offering tea dates back to the Silk Road, when, after long journeys across the steppe, travelers were offered tea upon arrival at oases and villages.

    - We found again Ayran! I tried it for the first time in Kosovo, but this version has a completely different flavor—much less salty and more drinkable.

    - The "Churchill" is a Turkish lemonade-like beverage with a unique twist. It is a drink similar to the one sold in Naples or Catania, made with water, salt, and lemon. Good to recover after after walking and sweating.

    - Even though most Turks are non-drinkers, the national beer, Efes, is very good and refreshing as well.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Basilica Cistern

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 31 °C

    The Basilica Cistern is the largest underground cistern in Istanbul that is still accessible to visitors.
    Dating back to 532, it is built in Byzantine style, and its vast underground space is supported by hundreds of columns adorned with intricate decorations and capitals featuring various architectural styles.

    The ticket costs around €25 but it’s absolutely worth it. To avoid the long queue at the entrance, we bought our tickets online.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Hagia Sophia (Santa Sophia)

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 31 °C

    When visiting Istanbul, Hagia Sophia is a must.

    Originally built as a Byzantine Christian basilica, it has been converted multiple times depending on the religion of the Empire ruling on Istanbul.
    It was made a museum in 1935 by Atatürk, and reconverted into a mosque again in 2020.

    Because of its many changes in ownership, the church presents many Islamic symbols but also numerous Catholic frescoes and mosaics.

    There are two entrances: one leading to the lower section, reserved for Turks and Muslims, and another that allows access to the upper section only, intended for tourists.

    It is certainly beautiful, but in my opinion, not as impressive as other monuments in the city (like the Basilica Cistern or the Blue Mosque).
    The fact that you can't view it from the ground is a significant limitation and the EUR 25 entry fee recently introduced is very high.    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Turkish desserts: Baklava and Künefe

    August 12, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 29 °C

    Baklava is a rich, flaky pastry layered with nuts and sweetened with honey, while Künefe is a warm, cheesy dessert soaked in syrup, topped with cream/icecreem.

    Baklava is very popular also in Greece, North Macedonia and in the Balkans in general, in the areas that were under the Ottoman Empire.

    The Loku, also known as Turkish Delights, are very popular in the bazaars. They are cubes made of sugar with the addition of various colorants and flavors (quite basic, I did not really like them a lot).    Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Sunset over the Bosphorus

    August 13, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 28 °C

    The sun sets over the Bosphorus, casting its light on the water and the dozens of ships lined up, waiting for their turn to cross this narrow strait.

    From the bars at the Aqua Florya shopping mall (which also houses an aquarium I didn’t visit), it is possible to enjoy this stunning view while drinking a cocktail or a beer.Read more

  • Leonardo Floridia🇹🇷 Turkey: IstanbulLeonardo Floridia

    Istanbul public transportation network

    August 13, 2024 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    Istanbul has a complex public transportation network, enabling it to handle 831 million passengers annually.

    Additionally, the F2 Karaköy - Beyoğlu funicular is the second-oldest underground metro in Europe, after the London Underground.
    The tunnel allows for an easy traversal of the 65-meter elevation difference between the two stations.

    The view of the Bosphorus through the large window of the metro as it crosses the bridge is absolutely incredible.    Read more

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