TURKEY - ISTANBUL: CHORA AND EYÜP

After nine days in Turkey, six of them in Istanbul, I must admit that Istanbul has surprised me. Istanbul is a really lively and warm city with an special charm. There are always a lot of people walking along its streets, which made me feel quite comfortable.

And the other 3 days we visited Cappadocia, a region of central Anatolia, where nature has created really amazing shapes. It's really worth walking between this strange shapes and enjoying the other secrets this region hides.

In our last day in Istanbul we came back to the Grand Bazaar, where we saw the lamps of the following picture. Before going to the Grand Bazaar, we began the day visiting the impressive mosaics of St Saviour in Chora. Afterwards, we went to Eyüp and came back to Eminönü, where we ate a fish sandwich.

Warm light of Lamps in a shop of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

Visits of the day:

• Theodosian Walls
• St. Saviour in Chora *
• Fener
• Eyüp Mosque *
• Golden Horn
• Grand Bazaar (revisited) *
• Eminönü (revisited) *
• Sultanahmet (revisited) *

*Strongly Recommended


Backstreets near Taksim

In Istanbul, especially out of tourist areas, many streets have a look like the one of the picture

Taksim in Police's Day

Taksim is a large square, a main transportation hub and a popular destination for both tourists and the native population of Istanbul. It serves as the main transfer point for the municipal bus system and It's the starting point for buses to the two Airports. İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue), a long pedestrian shopping street, starts in this square. 

Going through Sultanahmet

I took this photograph inside the tram when we were passing near Haghia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern in Sultanahmet. Steep streets are very common in Istanbul

Theodosian Walls

Extending for a distance of 6,5 km from the sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn, Theodosian walls protected Constantinople against invasions for more than a thousand years, until it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1453

Church of Saint Saviour in Chora

Like in other byzantine churches of Istanbul, it was added a minaret to this church. There is no good public transport to reach St Saviour in Chora, but It was worth visiting it to admire its mosaics

Domes of Chora, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful examples of a Byzantine church in Istanbul

Imposing rear view of Chora church

We took this picture while we were going to the main entrance of the church

Mosaic showing Christ and his ancestors, in the southern dome of the inner narthex

Figure of Christ from the Anastasis fresco in the parecclesion. Some of the very finest Byzantine mosaics and frescoes can be found in Chora

This mosaic of St. Paul, one of the two “Princes of the Apostles”, is extremely well-preserved

When I looked at this mosaic carefully I became astonished because I realized how difficult is to create this wonderful and fine mosaics

This mosaic is in the lunette over the doorway to the esonarthex and portrays Christ as “The Land of the Living”

Outer narthex in Chora

In the nave of Chora, the main body of the church, walls are covered with marble

Walking through Fener

From Chora we walked along some streets of the Fener district of Istanbul, which was home to most of the Greeks who remained in the city after the fall of Constantinople in 1453

Some children playing in the streets of Fener

One really cobbled and sloping street of Fener

One building of Fener with the Golden Horn in the background, on the right

Eyüp

Eyüp mosque in Istanbul is always really crowded because here is buried Eyüp Ensari, Mohammed's standard bearer

This child wanted to be photographed, so I was really pleased of making real his wish

In the courtyard of Eyüp Sultan Mosque, just after visiting the tomb of Eyüp Ensari

A child dress as a prince to celebrate a circumcision ceremony

Boats in the Golden Horn and in the background, the Eyüp Cemetery, where the Pierre Loti Café is

Golden Horn waters while we waited for the ferry which took us to Eminönu

From Eyüp to Eminönü in ferry

I really enjoy the views of Istanbul from the ferry while it sailed from Eyüp to Eminönü like, for example, this one of Sülemaniye Mosque under this such lovely day

Eminönü

Boats in Eminönu under the look of the New Mosque

Eminönu is a really lively area of Istanbul, especially in this point, where one of the entrance of the Spice Bazaar is

We couldn't leave Istanbul without tasting one fish sandwich. It was tasty but I didn't like that the fish had bones

Eminönu is also crowded because it's the port from which ferries depart to many destinations and also for trips along the Bosphorus

The narrow streets around the Spice Bazaar shows the authentic spirit of old Istanbul. It's the quarter's shops and markets

Grand Bazaar

Zincirli Han is one of the prettiest hans in the bazaar. Here a piece of jewellery can be made to your own choice of design

Carpets and kilims from all over Turkey and Central Asia are on sale in the bazaar

Warm light of Lamps in a shop of the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul

One of the many streets of the Grand Bazaar, where it's really easy to get lost

Sultanahmet in the evening

Spectacular view of the Blue Mosque in the evening, with its six minarets looking at the sky of Istanbul

Haghia Sophia is even more beautiful at night. The best image to end our trip in Istanbul

Finally, clicking on the next link, you will find links to the posts of the other days we spent in Istanbul and Cappadocia and a summary of what we visited.

You can see more pictures of these days I spent in Istanbul and Cappadocia clicking on the links below:

- First day in Istanbul

- Second day in Istanbul

- The three days we spent in Cappadocia

- Third day in Istanbul

- Fourth day in Istanbul

- Last day in Istanbul

Finally, other great cities and countries I have already visited are:

• Barcelona
• Berlin
• New York and Washington
• London
• Dublin in Irleland
• Saint Petersburg
• Rome and The Vatican
• Paris
• Florence in Tuscany
• Lisboa in Portugal
• Madrid
• Venezia
• Dubrovnik in Croatia

• The Greek Islands and Athens
• Bruges, Ghent and Brussels in Belgium

• Helsinki and Lapland in Finland

• Tallinn in Estonia

• Tortuguero, Caribe, Arenal, Monteverde and San José in Costa Rica

• Marrakech in Morocco

TURKEY - ISTANBUL: BOSPHORUS AND SPICE BAZAAR

After nine days in Turkey, six of them in Istanbul, I must admit that Istanbul has surprised me. Istanbul is a really lively and warm city with an special charm. There are always a lot of people walking along its streets, which made me feel quite comfortable.

And the other 3 days we visited Cappadocia, a region of central Anatolia, where nature has created really amazing shapes. It's really worth walking between this strange shapes and enjoying the other secrets this region hides.

I really expected this day because we had planned that we spent the morning of our third day in Istanbul in Ortaköy and in a cruise up the Bosphorus. The views are truly fantastic! But before we visited Dolmabahçe Gardens.

Mosque of Ortaköy and behind the Bosphorus Bridge, which links Europe and Asia

Visits of the day:

• Dolmabahçe gardens *
• Ortaköy *
• Ortaköy Mosque *
• Cruise up to the Bosphorus *
• Beyazit and University of Istanbul
• Sülemaniye Mosque *
• Rüstem Pasa Mosque

* Strongly recommended

Dolmabahçe Gardens

 

Dolmabahçe Gardens in Istanbul are quite beautiful but small or, at least, the garden we could visit without buying a ticket. I thought that it would be larger. However, this mosque, the turkish flags and the Bosphorus make this small garden really interesting

Clock tower in Dolmabahçe Gardens in Istanbul

One of the gates of Dolmabahçe Palace. This gate is the entrance for tourists

The Imperial Gate of the Palace is the main entrance to the palace. It's very decorated

Ortaköy

This mosque is really beautiful, actually like a small palace and is, together with the Bosphorus bridge, one of the great landmark of Istanbul

A fisherman of Ortaköy with Haghia Sophia in the background. Ortaköy is actually a fishing district of Istanbul

From here left our cruise only few minutes later. Meanwhile we enjoyed the fantastic views of the Bosphorus from this lively place of Ortaköy

We took some photos before the departure of our cruise next to this mythical straits

Ortaköy streets are really peaceful and it's really pleasant to walk along between its colourful buildings

The quayside square is a lively and colourful place of Ortaköy

Cruise up the Bosphorus

Our cruise had just begun when we cross the Bosphorus bridge, which is quite high and long (with its 1074m is the world's ninth longest suspension bridge)

We were lucky because the day was lovely, perfect for a cruise along this strategic straits. The environment of the Bosphorus is really beautiful and revitalizing

The Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge was built next to the Fortress of Europe, on the left, because this is the narrowest point on the Bosphorus. This fortress with this bridge offers, like Ortaköy mosque and the Bosphorus bridge, a landmark of modernity and history in Istanbul

This fortress of Europe controlled a major Byzantine supply route and was essential for the invasion of Constantinople by the Ottomans. This fortress is in excellent condition and is a pleasant place for an afternoon outing with wonderful views of the Bosphorus

An overview of the first bridge built across the Bosphorus straits that divide Istanbul and separate Europe from Asia

Behind this colourful building appears the Fortress of Asia, situated also at the narrowest point of the Bosphorus but in the asian continent

Typical houses of the Bosphorus with their own quays

The peaceful environment of the Bosphorus contrasts with the lively and busy life of Istanbul

Beylerbeyi Palace, a little palace in the right bank of the Bosphorus

One last view of the Bosphorus bridge

Ortaköy Mosque

And after this peaceful and nice cruise, we visited the Ortaköy mosque, and I can say that is one of the most beautiful mosques of Istanbul. It's like a little palace

The dome of the amazing Ortaköy Mosque

Like in Haghia Sophia in Istanbul, I could see also in the Ortaköy mosque some calligraphic roundels

Beyazit and University of Istanbul

This Moorish-style gate leads to the Istanbul University

Beyazit Mosque just opposite the gateway which leads into Istanbul University. I like this picture because I think it shows the daily day of this district of Istanbul

Sülemaniye Mosque

Tomb of Süleyman inside the courtyard of Sülemaniye mosque

Sülemaniye mosque in Istanbul with one of its minarets. It was a pity that this mosque was closed because of restoration works since this mosque its impressive

View of the Golden Horn and the Galata bridge from the Sülemaniye mosque. In Istanbul, the sea can be seen from almost every point of the city

Rüstem Pasa Mosque

Raised above the busy shops and warehouses around the Spice Bazaar, the Rüstem Pasa mosque is the most magnificently tiled mosque in Istanbul

Tiles in Rüstem Pasa mosque

Inside the Rüstem Pasa Mosque there is few people and the environment was really peaceful and cozy with its faint light and red carpets. It's really worth entering this mosque

Spices shown in a shop of one of the crowded streets around the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul

Having dinner in Beyoglu

Finally, after an intense day, we went to a restaurant to have dinner in Beyoglu and I really enjoyed my meal: a huge chicken salad

We were enjoying a lot in Istanbul but, unfortunately, the next day would be the last one. Clicking on the next link, what we visited in our last day in Istanbul. Besides, clicking on the next link you will find all the interesting places in Istanbul and Cappadocia we visited during this trip.

You can see more pictures of these days I spent in Istanbul and Cappadocia clicking on the links below:

- First day in Istanbul

- Second day in Istanbul

- The three days we spent in Cappadocia

- Third day in Istanbul

- Fourth day in Istanbul

- Last day in Istanbul

Finally, other great cities I have already visited are:

• Barcelona
• Berlin
• New York and Washington
• London
• Dublin in Irleland
• Saint Petersburg
• Rome and The Vatican
• Paris
• Florence in Tuscany
• Lisboa in Portugal
• Madrid
• Venezia
• Dubrovnik in Croatia

• The Greek Islands and Athens
• Bruges, Ghent and Brussels in Belgium

• Helsinki and Lapland in Finland

• Tallinn in Estonia

• Tortuguero, Caribe, Arenal, Monteverde and San José in Costa Rica

• Marrakech in Morocco