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Istanbul Travel Guide
Sitting on the confluence of two continents, Europe and Asia, Istanbul has the glory of being one of the greatest cities of the world for two millennia. It was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Present day Istanbul is commercial and cultural nerve center of Turkey and also its largest city. It is located on either side of the Bosphorus strait, which joins the Black Sea with the Marmara Sea.
The city served as the capital of Eastern Roman Empire (or Byzantine Empire) from 395 AD. It was conquered by Mehmet II in 1453 and thereafter it was the place from where the Ottoman Empire flourished. The city was taken by allied forces after World War I. It is an important cosmopolitan city and a major tourism center of Turkey since the Turkish Republic was founded in 1923.
Imperial past has given Istanbul an enviable legacy of palaces, mosques, churches and market. The city uniquely offers characteristic air of the Middle East along with attributes of a modern European city. Grandeur of Topkapi Palace in Sultanahmet (Old City) continues to fascinate the visitors to Istanbul for centuries. The Palace was the heart of the Ottoman Empire. The Harem, Audience Chamber, Baghdat Pavilion, Revan Pavilion and Sofa Pavilion of the palace are celebrated for their rich architectural wealth and reflect the grandeur of this mighty empire. Presently, the palace functions as a museum.
Hagia Sophia, or the Church of the Divine Wisdom, is a well known landmark of Istanbul. A 6th Century structure located in Sultanahmet (Old City), architectural beauty of Hagia Sophia continues to impress and marvel its visitors till date. Originally built to be a church by Justinian of the Byzantine Empire, it was converted into a mosque by Mehmet II of the Ottoman Empire. Presently, it serves as a museum. Blue Mosque, named such because of the color of its tiles, is one of the most beautiful sites of Istanbul. Sitting nearby, Hippodrome, presently a park, was the political and sporting hub of the Byzantine Empire.
Istanbul is famed for the shopping opportunities it provides. Grand Bazaar is a huge market with more than 4000 shops selling a variety of items including carpets, tiles, pottery, apparel and many more. The city has a pulsating nightlife. Beyog lu, Nisantasi and Kadikoy are popular places to enjoy nightlife.
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Night falls on the flourishing and industrious San Gimignano, its 72 towers stand on the low roofs of the houses lit by the moon. This is not a luxury travel spot but is something you don't see every day. In the distance the clatter of hooves echoed tired in the Via Francigena. The hand of the blacksmith stops beating, the frame of the weaver becomes silent, the streets of the tank only a concert ... Read full Blog post
An Aerial fiesta in Clark Pampanga
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