Istanbul has a timeless charm, mainly due to the important history behind it. Historically also known as Byzantium and Constantinople, it was the capital of many past empires. The remains of the ancient splendors are still visible today in the extraordinary architectural treasures perfectly preserved in the heart of the city, one above all Santa Sofia. Once a cathedral, later a mosque and finally a museum, this wonderful building that time has not managed to scratch continues to enchant visitors from all over the world with its grandeur and its precious mosaics.
What not to miss in Istanbul
1. Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is the emblem of this superposition: built in 537 at the behest of Justinian, this church was first a Christian cathedral of the Byzantine rite, then a Catholic cathedral, then again a mosque and, finally, from 1935, a museum at the
behest of Atatürk , father of modern Turkey. It was thanks to this last use that the Byzantine imprint, particularly evident in the wall decorations, came to light.
2. Archeology Museum

Overlooking the Bosphorus, behind the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace (Topkapi Sarayi) was the nerve center of Ottoman power for over 4 centuries, until the mid- 19th century. The location on the sea served not only to reaffirm the supremacy of the empire, but also to control the maritime traffic in transit between the Black and Mediterranean Seas.
3. Chora Church

No longer a church or a mosque, but a museum popular by those visitors who are ...