| Istanbul is the largest and the most historical city in | | | | Museum of Oriental Antiquities, the Archaeological |
| Turkey. The name "Istanbul" comes from the Greek | | | | Museum and the Tiled Pavillion. |
| phrase "eis ten polin" used by Constantinople's | | | | 6. Hagia Eirene. It is one of the earliest Christian |
| inhabitants, and which meant "in the city". The city is | | | | churches in Istanbul. It is located in the outer courtyard |
| sometimes referred to as the "Soul of Turkey". Istanbul | | | | of Topkapi Palace. Today, it is now a museum that |
| is the only major city that lies on two continents, Asia | | | | serves mainly as a concert hall for classical music |
| & Europe. | | | | performances and musical festivals. |
| Here's a top ten of must-see attractions in Istanbul, | | | | 7. Galata Tower. It was called "Jesus Tower" by the |
| Turkey: | | | | Genoese and "Great Bastion" by the Byzantine. This is |
| 1. Topkapi Palace. Topkapi Palace, which means | | | | one of the city's most magnificent landmarks whose |
| "Cannongate Palace",is the old palace-city of the | | | | huge, cone-capped form dominates the skyline. It has a |
| sultans. Topkapi Palace was home to all the Ottoman | | | | modern restaurant and cafe on its upper floors. From |
| sultans for a period of nearly four centuries. This | | | | there you will behold a stunning view of Istanbul. |
| splendid palace is museum now. The Treasury of the | | | | 8. The Grand Bazaar. It is named "Kapalicarsi", or |
| Museum of Topkapi Palace is considered one of the | | | | "covered bazaar". It is made up of streets of various |
| most celebrated treasuries in the world. | | | | shops sheltered by roofs and domes. Inside the Grand |
| 2. Blue Mosque. It is called "Sultan Ahmet Mosque" | | | | Bazaar you can enjoy shopping and find great |
| which means "Mosque of Sultan Ahmet". It is famous | | | | bargains in 5,000 shops. |
| for the beautiful blue tiles and glasswork ornamenting | | | | 9. Suleymaniye Mosque. It is one of the most |
| its walls. | | | | marvelous of the imperial mosque complexes in the |
| 3. Dolmabahçe Palace. It is a palace in what is | | | | city. It is built 450 years ago by the architect, Mimar |
| called Turkish Renaissance style built by Abdul Mecid in | | | | Sinan for Suleyman the Magnificent , the most |
| 1854, which was the main residence of the Sultans until | | | | powerful Ottoman sultan. The interior, dominated by its |
| 1918 and is now a museum. The palace is lavishly | | | | great dome with minaret towers, is notable for its |
| decorated with luxurious furniture, crystals and carpets. | | | | impressive design. |
| 4. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya). One of Istanbul's illustrious | | | | 10. Old City walls of Istanbul. Old Constantinople was |
| landmark, the Hagia Sofia was a former church, | | | | surrounded by walls described as land walls and sea |
| mosque and now a museum. It is the most important | | | | walls. These walls were considered to be the largest |
| achievement of Byzantine architecture. | | | | fortress ever constructed in the Christian era. With |
| 5. Istanbul Archaeology Museum. It has one of the | | | | their numerous towers, large and small, they are a |
| world's richest collection of historical artifacts and | | | | magnificent sight. |
| treasures. It actually consists of three museums: the | | | | |