Istanbul For something entirely different, look to the Turkish capital: home to a minaret-flecked skyline, the distinctive muezzin call to prayer reverberates across its streets, where layers of history unfold at every turn. The enthralling meeting place of East and West and one of the final stages on the ancient Silk Road trading route, it’s a city that’s seen the Greeks, the Romans, the Venetians, the Byzantines and the Ottomans all leave their distinctive mark. Firmly on the must-visit list is the enchanting Hagia Sophia — a domed church-turned-mosque-turned- museum, whose cavernous interiors are decorated with
golden mosaics, attracting millions of tourists every year. Built in the sixth century, it’s widely regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful buildings. Elsewhere, the head-turning Topkapi Palace — perched in Istanbul’s old town — is an Ottoman palace that served as the residence for sultans from 1465 to 1830. Inside, exhibits, include Muslim relics, ancient manuscripts, robes and porcelain. Below the city streets, meanwhile, is the Basilica Cistern, sprawling across 2.4 acres, with hundreds of columns, atmospheric medusa-head pillars and soaring brick ceilings. A spectacular example of Byzantine architecture, the cistern has appeared in several movies.
