TURKEY I
Istanbul (12 million inhabitants), the biggest town in Turkey, was our destiny in October/2000. Turkey was a surprise for us! Istanbul city, especially, is clean, very urban and cosmopolitan as any other big city in Europe, despites being the only city in the world located in two continents: Europe and Asia, divided by the Bosphorus strait, between the Black and the Marmara seas.
One of the most famous tourist attractions in Istanbul is the "Blue Mosque".
"The Blue Mosque" - Istanbul/Turkey, October/2000
The original name of the Blue Mosque is "Sultan Ahmet Camii" and it was built by this Sultan between 1606 and 1616. The stained-glass windows create luminous effects which reflects inside the whole Mosque. The "blue" of the Mosque's name comes from Iznik tiles which line the walls and its entire ceiling.
"The Blue Mosque" - Istanbul/Turkey, October/2000
"Aya Sofya" is named as the "Church of the Divine Wisdom". It was built by Emperor Justinian as an effort to restore the greatness of the Roman Empire. Its construction was concluded in 537 after Christ and reigned as the greatest church in Christendom until the conquest of Constantinople in 1453.
"Aya Sofya" - Istanbul/Turkey, October/2000
As for us, despites the "common understanding" that the Blue Mosque is the most beautiful religious monument of Istanbul, "Church of Sancta Sophia" (as the Aya Sofya is also known) was more gorgeous. Definitely, Sultan Ahmet Camii would not like to hear that - hehe!! The interior of "Aya Sofya" is full of mosaics (most of them in gold) which form figures of the Holy Family and etc. Definitely beautiful!!!
"Aya Sofya" - Istanbul/Turkey, October/2000