Highlights – Istanbul, Turkey

I checked out most of the major tourist hotspots - Topkapi Palace, Aya Sophia, and Blue Mosque – each has its own story and all are on UNESCO World Heritage List (they have to be important, see pictures below). The one worth commenting on is Istanbul’s main feature the 1,400 year old Aya Sophia, built in the 6th century as a Byzantine church. In the 15th century structure was converted it to a mosque when Ottoman Empire captured the city and changed the name of the city from Constantinople to Istanbul. Today, the structure is major tourist revenue for the city, but nevertheless, quite impressive. Per the guide book it took 1000 skill labors and 10,000 unskilled labors 6 years to build. The structure is 56 meters (184 ft) and the dome is 30 meter in diameter with 30 million gold mosaic tiles covering the interior (something to impress the kids).

Aya Sophia