- Cappadocia – Landing on another Planet
- Istanbul in a day – Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern and Bosphorus
- Visit Istanbul: Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque
- Visit Grand Bazaar: An Extravaganza
- Turkey – Not complete without Belly Dancing
Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.Ray Bradbury
No visit to Istanbul(Read more) is complete without visiting the main landmarks with which this amazing city is identified – Hagia Sophia and Blue mosque – The top attractions in Istanbul.
No trip to Turkey cannot be deemed complete without a bout of Turkish Belly Dancing – Read more.
On our last day in Turkey we made our way to Hagia Sophia on a bright morning. This was just 500m from our hotel and we stuck to walking (Click here for more info on our walks in Istanbul)
Hagia Sophia -“Holy Wisdom” was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum. Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for Byzantine and for Ottoman Empires. Hagia Sophia is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world.It was built in the remarkably short time of about six years, being completed in 537 ce. Unusual for the period in which it was built.
The Hagia Sophia has a classical basilica plan. The main dome is carried on pendentives: four concave triangular sections of masonry. Just outside the entrance, stone cannonballs line the gravel path of the outer courtyard. These are the actual cannonballs used by Mehmet the Conqueror in his victorious 1453 battle for the city. All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marble, green and white with purple porphyry, and gold mosaics. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and domes. The Islamic calligraphic roundels suspended from the main dome since the 19th century remain in place and make for a fascinating religious contrast with the uncovered Christian mosaics.
Read more about my food journey in turkey – Click here.
Just across Hagia Sophia is the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmed Mosque). A popular tourist site, the Sultan Ahmed Mosque continues to function as a mosque today; men still kneel in prayer on the mosque’s lush red carpet after the call to prayer. The Blue Mosque, as it is popularly known, was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. It contains Ahmed’s tomb, a madrasah and a hospice.
The mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design and at night the mosque is bathed in blue as lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight secondary domes.
Prayer happens 5 times during every day and during this time the mosque is closed for non-worshippers for 90 minutes – so plan accordingly. There is no charge to enter the mosque but there are some dress codes. At the entrance remove your shoes and put it a plastic bag which will be handed free of charge and you can carry this plastic bag inside but no wearing the shoes which is in due respect to Muslim traditions. Also women are needed to cover their head – head coverings are available at the entrance free of charge. You don’t need to cover the face – just the hair. Also short clothes are not permitted – so skirts, shorts are a big no – you will need to cover them. Once inside avoid flash photography, remain quiet and respect people who are offering the prayers. Also on exit put the plastic bags in the bin and return the head scarfs.
It’s huge inside and quite peaceful. There are monitors keeping an close eye on the tourists to avoid them stepping into the prayers area-which has a defined boundary.
Explore our Istanbul exploration here – Click here
These 2 are definitely the top attractions in Istanbul and brings in millions of keen eyes from across the world.
If you have any feedback/query please feel to leave a comment and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
This is Aldrin and my partner Amoli. We bring you "Earths Pilgrim" - a unique insight into our travel escapades while leaving life in a cubicle. If you are looking for some inspiration to break the shackles of a regular life, then you are the right place. Read more about us- Click here.
What a beautiful banner photograph, really like it. I have yet to visit Istanbul but I love the mix of east meeting west. The city looks so vibrant and full of culture.
Thanks Mike…Its really a stunning city. Do visit it soon
Hagia-Sophia. Definitely on my bucket list. Have read in countless novels. A dream place for me.
Yes Karthik.. Its truly mesmerising
Looks amazing, Turkey is on my list to go to – Can’t wait to try the food too 😀
Yeah Amit… Turkish cuisine is all time Fav
We’ve not visited Istanbul yet – your post has given us ideas on what to see. The Blue Mosque is beautiful and your pics are great. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Thanks Mate.. Hope you get to visit soon
Great article! These two Mosques are such amazing structures, especially when you consider that the Hagia Sophia used to be the largest Cathedral in the world, thanks for sharing:)
Yeahh Thats true Jack…
Really good advice and great photos! Thanks for sharing:)
Thanks Helene
Your pictures are absolutely stunning. You portray the place so well and from so many angles. I would love to visit Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. You make me want to go now!
Thanks Natasha.. Hope you get to visit soon
Fantastic post and photos, looks so beautiful, cannot wait to visit again, thanks for sharing a great post on Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia. I’ve bookmarked this post
Thanks Mate