Turkey - October 2008
ISTANBUL
Istanbul (called historically Byzantium and later Constantinople) is Turkey's largest city and is said to be the third largest city in the world. It served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330-395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395-1204) and 1261-1453), the Latin Empire (1204-1261) and the Ottoman Empire (1453-1922).

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
After the humiliating Peace of Zsitvatorok following the wars with Persia, Sultan Ahmed 1 decided to build this large mosque to placate Allah. It was built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine Emperors, facing the Hagia Sofia, which at that time was the most venerated mosque in Istanbul. Construction started in 1609 and the mosque was opened in 1617.


The Blue Mosque viewed from the Hagia Sofia

The Hagia Sofia

Inside the Hagia Sophia

Wall mozaics

The Bazaar
At the bazaar

Cappadocia
Goreme Open Air Museum

Cave dwellings

Inside St Basil's cave church

Uchisar

Cave dwellings


Devrent Valley


The "Camel" rock formation

Pasabagi Valley - Monks Valley





Hunters Valley


Goreme

People



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