Atlas Jet | Image Resource : tripsta.co.uk

Istanbul, the capital of modern day Turkey is unique in many aspects. It is a city which straddles two continents namely Europe and Asia. It is also a place steeped in history. It was the capital of the Great Byzantine Empire when it was called Constantinople. Later it was the capital of the Ottoman Empire and continues to do so in Modern Turkey. Being the seat of power of these two great empires, there are a number of places in Istanbul of great historical and tourist importance. Being ethnically diverse, Istanbul is a fine blend of many cultures.

 

The most important places to visit when in Istanbul are as follows: -

 

1. The Hagiasothia : -

 

Originally constructed during the time of Byzantine Emperors, it was a magnificent Eastern Orthodox Cathedral. During the time of the Ottomans, it was converted into a mosque in the year 1453. In the year 1935, it became a museum and is considered to be an epitome of Byzantine architecture. This masterpiece reflects the blended culture of both Christian and Islamic influence. Looking up at the dome, one can see the illustrations of Queen Mary on one side and inscriptions from the Quran on another.

 

2. Topkapi Palace : -

 

Once the harem of the Turkish sultans, it has now been converted into a museum. During the reign of the Sultans, it could house thousands of his concubines and was a beautiful palace constructed similar to European palaces but with intricate Islamic decorative features. From here one could have a stunning view of the River Bosporus which flows through the city.

 

3. Cultural and Theme Tours : -

 

A popular destination happens to be the house of Virgin Mary and the temples of Ephesus. The highlight of the tour is the temple of Artemis which was considered one of the seven wonders of the Ancient World.

 

War Memorial at Gallipoli | Image Resource : cwgc.org

 

4. War Memorial at Gallipoli : -

 

Tourists who wish to experience the somber battlefields of World War I, a visit to Gallipoli is a must. The graves of fallen soldiers and the imposing memorial built there bring to the mind the horrors of the First World War.

 

5. Historic Landmarks : -

 

As a city which was witness to two great Empires, there are a number of historic places worth of visit. Some of these are the Walls of Constantinople, Valens Aqueduck, Walls of Theodosius, the Forum of Theodosius, Bucaleon Palace, Yedikule (Castle of the Seven Towers) and Mahmood Turbesi.

Apart from the places mentioned above, there are number of places of worship both Christian and Islamic which a discerning tourist would like to cover.

 

For those who wish to have a comfortable and a safe journey to Istanbul. Then start booking your flights tickets immediately at Atlas jet. It came into operation in the year 2004. Its base airport is located at Istanbul in Turkey.

 

Some of the top sectors of Atlas Jet Airlines are Istanbul to Antalya, Adana to Istanbul, Antalya to Istanbul and Istanbul to Adana which operates 60, 54, 47 and 47 weekly flights respectively.

 

The top international sectors of Atlas Jet include Nicosia to Istanbul, Istanbul to Nicosia, Istanbul to Stockholm and Stockholm to Istanbul. They also have occasional flight flying from Istanbul to Madinah, Nizhnekamsk to Istanbul and Antalya to Karaganda flights.