Nestled in the heart of Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar, or Kapalıçarşı, is a living testament to the city’s rich history and cultural tapestry. As one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, it offers a sensory overload that enchants every visitor. From the moment you step through its ancient gates, you’re greeted with a dazzling array of [...]

One of the magnificent historical structures of Istanbul is the Basilica Cistern located southwest of Hagia Sophia. Built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinianus I (527-565), this large underground cistern was popularly known as the “Basilica Palace” due to the seemingly countless marble columns rising from the water. Since there was a Basilica on the site of the cistern before, it [...]

We know Dolmabahçe Palace for its ornate gates, its magnificent silhouette that fascinates those who see it from the shore, its symbol of luxury and extravagance in the last period of the Ottoman Empire, and of course, as the place where Atatürk passed away. However, this magnificent monument between Kabataş and Beşiktaş also has features that are little known today [...]

Having thousands of years of history, the Maiden’s Tower has been a symbol of love, passion, loneliness or inaccessibility, inspiring many artists, poets, painters, writers, musicians, directors and photographers throughout all this time. Did you know the history of the Maiden’s Tower, an indispensable part of Istanbul’s urban fabric and the favorite frame of photographers, and its story that has [...]

Heybeliada Heybeliada is the greenest island of the Prince Islands of Istanbul. Its old name is Halki, which means copper in Greek. It has four hills, the highest of which is close to 140 meters. Heybeli is the second island with the most crowded summer and winter population and the most frequent traffic. When you get off the pier, on [...]

Basilica Cistern is one of the greatest buildings in Historical Peninsula which located around Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque. Constructed for Justinianus I, the Byzantium Emperor (527-565), the Cistern is 140 m long, and 70 m wide, and shelters 336 columns, each of which is 9 m high. Since it is so huge and glorious, people call the building as [...]