Walking in Istanbul - Mosques and Mosaics By Tony Maniscalco At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Any Turkey walking holiday should include either a stop-off, or an extended stay in the magnificent and captivating Istanbul. This ancient city holds close the secrets of its fascinating history and the opportunity to spend a few days on foot, exploring the myriad of back alleys and hidden laneways, is one that will never be forgotten.

Experiencing the city up close and personal in the way that only a walker can, will afford you more than just a fleeting glimpse of this incredibly complex city; you will be enveloped by the sights, the sounds and the vibrant atmosphere of your surroundings. With an unrivalled diversity of culture and history, Istanbul is the true handshake between the East and the West. A walking holiday in Turkey will see you fall under its spell, as you experience first-hand this complex and engaging city.

There is something magical about being woken up not by the screech of an alarm clock, but to the haunting tones of the Muezzin calling the faithful to prayer. Every day for hundreds of years this sound has echoed through the streets of Istanbul, and will continue for hundreds more. This is the only time of the day to experience the quieter side of the city as it begins to stir, and the perfect time to head out for a walk. Turkey’s history has been moulded by a rich blend of cultures and civilisations. Nowhere is this more evident than in the adornments and architecture of Istanbul’s many great churches and mosques that you can visit by foot, on a Turkey walking holiday.

St Saviours

Like many other churches in Istanbul, St Saviour’s is now a museum. The cloistered walls hold within them a breathtaking collection of intricate mosaics and frescoes that will be a highlight of your walking holiday in Turkey. The internal decoration of St Saviour’s is extremely complex and can be divided into three themes – the ancestors of Jesus, the events of his life and the events of the Virgin Mary’s life. But the unusual distribution of the scenes in an apparently haphazard method, is a mystery. The church was turned into a mosque in the early 16th century, and the mosaics and frescoes were plastered over. However, in the 1940’s the memory of this magnificent church was brought back to life with an extensive restoration.

Sultanahmet – the Blue Mosque

Slightly confusingly, the 17th century Blue Mosque is anything but, on the outside. But once inside the secret of its name is revealed in the stunning blue tile work which embellishes the walls of the upper levels. It is distinguished from other mosques of the city by its six soaring minarets, whereas they usually have only two or four. Designed by the famed architect Sedefkar Mehmet Aga, the Blue Mosque’s elegant silhouette pays tribute to the nearby Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) – another must-see on a Turkey walking holiday. Sultanahmet has a series of domes descending in size, and the effect of the domes cascading from the centrepiece on top is duplicated inside. You will immediately be entranced as you pass through the entrance arch, and the pure genius of ancient architecture is revealed.

Suleymaniye (the magnificent)

The largest mosque in Istanbul, Suleymaniye contains the tombs of a sultan and his wife, as well as the famous architect Mimar Sinan who designed it. Standing on the hilltop presiding eloquently over the harbour of the Golden Horn, this stunning example of Ottoman architecture was built in the 16th century for Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. Its delicate minarets and gentle curving dome add a distinctive silhouette to the city skyline. The mosque is entered by an exceedingly grand courtyard with four minarets around which you can walk. Turkey’s history tells us that this number of minarets was only allowable to mosques endowed to a Sultan. The main dome stretches up over 50 metres, and at the time that it was built, was the highest in the Ottoman Empire.

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