Nothing but domes. Istanbul is the city of domes. Des coupoles, encore et encore.
Category: Istanbul 2010
The Bosphorus
Bosphorus cruise. European and Asian shores. Mansions and fishing villages. And heavy cargo ships moving through the channel. Une croisière sur le Bosphore entre l’Europe et l’Asie. Sur les rivages – des palais, des villages de pecheurs. Sur l’eau – des porte-conteneurs, des remorqueurs et … des navires de guerre.
Saint Saviour in Chora
An incredible set of mosaics of Byzantine vintage in this former Byzantine church somewhat off the beaten track in Istanbul.
The Ishtar gate,
Several brick and tile images of lions, aurochs, etc taken from the Ishtar Gate in Babylon are to be found in the Museum of the Ancient Orient in Istanbul. A small and superb museum -just the right size for a comfortable visit – no sensory overload and very interesting artefacts. More about the Ishtar gate…
The grand bazaar
How many stores – maybe 4000. How easy to get lost? Very!!
Dolmabahce Palace
A late Ottoman period palace on the shores of the Bosphorus. Almost looks like a European palace from outside. Too bad about the crane.
Haghia Sophia and the Underground Palace
Aya Sofya, Haghia Sofia. Saint Sophie. All the same place. Once the great church of the Byzantine Emperor, then the mosque of the Ottoman Empire, now a museum. Still impressive. And an underground cistern dating from Byzantine times – i.e. about 1500 years ago.
Istanbul
The Topkapi. Once the palace of the Ottoman Emperors – today a museum. Great position on some high ground overlooking the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. Topkapi : Autrefois le palais de la sublime Porte, aujourd’hui un musée. Position magnifique sur un promontoire dominant le Bosphore, la mer de Marmara et…
