Istanbul, Turkey - Part I

Istanbul has thousands of year's history as the center of two important empires. As capital of the Byzantine empire it was Christian and known as Constantinople. In 1453 Constantinople was captured by Süleyman the Magnificent and renamed as Istanbul. The Ottoman's were Muslim and their legacy remains today with the tall spires of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofa. These pictures are taken in the Sultanahmat region of the city.

Blue Mosque
Blue Mosque

Sultanahmat Park
Sultanahmat Park

Park Views
Park Views

Aya Sofa

Aya Sofa was first a Christian church, then a Muslim Mosque. Today it is preserved as a museum that demonstrates the richness of Istanbul's mixed past.

Aya Sofa
Aya Sofa

Upstairs
Upstairs

Carved Doorway
Carved Doorway

Mosaic Portraits
Mosaic Portraits

Arabic Script
Arabic Script

Water Urn
Water Urn

Single Tower
Single Tower of Aya Sofa

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