A JOURNEY THROUGH A MAGNIFICENT HISTORY

History has always fascinated mankind over the ages. People even try to recreate history on the screens of television and movies to give people a taste of the bygone era and, of course, for entertainment. People relish these TV shows primarily for their deep interest in the history and cultural heritages of different countries.

There are quite a few such TV shows based on history that have become extremely popular across the globe. One such TV show is “The Magnificent Century’ which is a Turkish show based on the life of Sultan Suleiman, the Magnificent, who ruled for 45 years. It has also happened that after watching such TV shows, people were so enamoured and fascinated by the rich history and language that they ventured to visit those places in order to experience the same thing in real life that they did on the screen. One such family landed up in the fascinating city of Istanbul to celebrate the Christmas holidays and welcome the New Year, 2023.

Istanbul is a beautiful city with a blend of fascinating history, remarkable culture, and amazing beauty. It was known as Byzantium during ancient times. The city’s name was changed to Constantinople, and later “Istanbul” became the official name of the city upon the foundation of the Republic of Turkey. Sultan Suleiman I, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and Suleiman the Lawgiver, was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

His reign was a time of great artistic and architectural achievements. Istanbul offers glorious remnants of its long and illustrious history. The Hagia Sophia Mosque, Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar are some of the major attractions for tourists who love to explore history. The Hagia Sophia has remained one of Istanbul’s most cherished landmarks. The vast complex of the Topkapı Palace dazzles with opulent courtyards lined with intricately painted tilework.

The blue mosque is undoubtedly one of the finest achievements of Ottoman architecture. To wander amid the gardens sandwiched between the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia is a great joy for any nature-loving tourist.

The Basilica Cistern is one of Istanbul’s most surprising tourist attractions. This is a huge, palace-like underground hall that was once used to store the imperial water supply.

Tourists enjoy buying Turkish souvenirs and handicrafts from the incredible Grand Bazaar. The Galata Tower has been Istanbul’s tallest building for centuries. The most breathtaking views in Istanbul are all from the Bosphorus.

Istiklal Street is a modern shopping street with a plethora of restaurants and cafés. There is also a tramway that runs along its length right up to Taksim Square at the top of the hill. Sultanahmet is the most convenient place for tourists to stay because it contains all of the city’s major historical attractions. The Blue Mosque, Topkapıı Palace, and Hagia Sophia are within a five-minute walk, as is the Bosphorus.

A tram line runs through Sultanahmet, and the other public transport facilities easily connect the district with other tourist attractions. The city has an efficient and convenient system of public transport. The Istanbulkart is Istanbul’s public transport smart card, which can be used as a ticket to travel by buses, trams, suburban trains, metro, local ferries, etc. People use the card each time they use the public transportation system. The tickets can be easily bought at various vending machines at bus, railway and metro stations or by authorised sellers.

Indeed, it is an enthralling way to spend the Christmas holidays and to welcome the New Year 2023 by reminiscing about a magnificent history.