this crossroads of the east and west is
a legendary City welcome to FISHIZONE
and today we're counting down our picks
for the top ten attractions in Istanbul
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for this list we're looking at
the must visit sights attractions and
monuments from in and around Turkey's
largest metropolis
10 spice bazaar
Istanbul is a city of dazzling
sights sounds and smells but in few
places is the statement more true than
in Mesilla just ISA the city's
world-famous spice market made up of
some 85 shops and dating back to the mid
1600s the spice bazaar is a literal
buffet for the senses everywhere you
look
brightly colored mounds of fragrant
spices await alongside other local
specialties like dried fruit herbs nuts
honey
and of course lucuma otherwise known as
Turkish Delight though a must visit for
any traveler the spice bazaar is no
tourist trap it is a working market
where you can find goods of unparalleled
quality there are trinkets and
tchotchkes to be bought but there are
really no better souvenirs than the
flavors on offer in this historic space
9 galata tower
 known as galata
cool a say in the turkish language this
beautiful medieval tower has been a
crowning gem of Istanbul skyline since
its completion in 1348 rising well above
its more modest structural peers in the
catechu accord the galata tower offers a
breathtaking 360 degree view of the city
perched at the watery intersection of
the Bosphorus Strait and it's golden
horn Inlet this iconic landmark is a
testament to the city's rich history
admission is reasonable at under $5 us
but try to visit during off-hours
as the towers iconic status can result
in very long tourist lines and a crowded
viewing Terrace
 8 Istanbul archaeology museums
given that Turkey is
considered by many to be the cradle of
civilization
or at least one of them this temples
archeology museums understandably have a
lot to offer home to over 1
artifacts they not only covered the
staggeringly rich history of the region
but also civilizations from across the
globe dating back millennia considering
the sheer size of the collection which
is spread across three buildings it's
hard to summarize the experience but
it's safe to say that the Istanbul
archaeology museums have something for
everyone a particular standout that is a
can't-miss attraction is the impressive
collection of sarcophagi
7 Ortakoy
assembles museums are of course a
great place to appreciate the rich
history of the country but one can just
as easily time travel by simply walking
around the city located on the European
shore along the Bosphorus Otis Thackeray
began as a humble village before being
developed under the Ottoman Empire due
to its highly desirable location over
the years it's played many roles in the
city's evolution but what Ortakoy has
consistently been an important part of
the city culturally religiously and
commercially today its residents hail
from the Jewish Muslim and Christian
faiths and the neighborhood center is
fittingly bordered by a mosque church
and synagogue stunning architecture tea
houses restaurants and shops Ortakoy has
got it all number
 6 Basilica cistern
there are some
structures that simply fill a visitor
with a quiet sense of awe the Basilica
cistern is just such a sight built back
in the 6th century when Istanbul was
still known as Constantinople yes no
that song is stuck in your head the
Basilica cistern is a testament to the
ingenuity of the Byzantine Empire the
fact that we can still explore it today
that is a testament to the quality of
their constructions the cistern served
as a water reservoir and filtration
system for various buildings from the
time of its construction into modern
times though it has since been retired
it's taken on a second life as a
must-visit attraction more than just a
functional structure it's also a work of
art
5 sulemani mosque
the
second largest of its kind in istanbul
the Suleymaniye mosque towers over its
surroundings an eye-catching landmark
even in a city renowned for its
architecture this stunning structure was
designed by the legendary chief builder
of the Ottoman Empire me Marcy nan and
was completed in 5th
eighteen 57 named for sultan Suleiman
who ruled from 1520 to 1566 and perched
atop the third of Istanbul seven
historic Hills the mosque is a mixture
of both Islamic and Byzantine
architecture which come together to
marvelous effect though it has weather
damage over the centuries the city has
always managed to return it to glory and
glory as it most certainly is
pictures barely do it justice
4 topkapi palace
speaking of our
inspiring structures the topkapi palace
is another living testament to istanbul
history that is sure to fill you with a
sense of wonder built in the 15th
century it was originally the primary
residence of the ruling Sultan's suffice
it to say it is a decadent and lavish
structure worthy of its past residence
though the building is historic at the
time of its construction and four
centuries after that it was referred to
as the new palace to distinguish it from
the old palace of esky satai it's also
known imposingly as the cannonball gate
when the Sultan's lived there each ruler
added their own touch to the palace in
the form of an expansion today you can
walk its storied halls as a museum
3 princes islands
 not every
visitor to Istanbul makes the trip to
the princes islands but that's a huge
mistake
no locally as ghazal adelaar or simply
add a lot this archipelago consists of
nine islands and makes for a perfect day
trip once a place of exile in the time
of the Byzantine Empire these islands
now collectively serve as an oasis of
calm to Istanbul residents and visitors
alike on the islands that are accessible
to the public
cars are prohibited with bikes and
horse-drawn carriages instead serving as
the main modes of transportation from
the pristine forests to the quaint homes
this experience is well worth the ferry
ride
2 the Blue Mosque
so named for
its beautiful hand-painted blue tiles
the Blue Mosque is a must-see for any
visitor officially known as the Sultan
Ahmed mosque and built over a seven-year
period spanning 1609 to 1616 this mosque
looks like something out of a glorious
dream it boasts six minarets in place of
the usual two or four
and it's surrounded by a belt of
greenery that adds to its overall
magnificence though its exterior makes
for a show-stopping sight one really
needs to go inside to appreciate both
the detail and grandeur of the
structures design the Blue Mosque is
thankfully open to visitors but it is
still an active place of worship so
please enjoy it respectfully
1 Aya Sofia
is Sofia conveniently located next to
the Blue Mosque the aya sofia is the
city's crowning jewel a grandiose
expression of both the wealth of the
Byzantine Empire and its architectural
prowess the aya sofia has stood since
the Year 537 it was the third Church
built on that spot but this structure
far surpassed its predecessors in terms
of ambition it first served as a
Cathedral later became an imperial
mosque under the Ottoman Empire and
finally in the present day a majestic
Museum historically architectural II and
just in terms of beauty the aya sofia is
rivaled by few structures the world over
and unrivaled in its own city do you
agree ?