Istanbul Historical + Religious pictures

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See a hidden gem of Istanbul, an Ottoman house of prayer nearly 500 years old, with magnificent tiles, built in the middle of the market in the Fatih district.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

This 16th-century mosque is not only the largest active mosque in Istanbul, but also one of the city’s most symbolic.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

One of the most beautiful surviving Byzantine churches, with interiors laid out in fine mosaics and frescoes, has been converted into the impressive Kariye Museum.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Turkey’s largest city is both European and Asian and has been part of many empires. As a result, Istanbul is modern and traditional, familiar and exotic.

One of the most beautiful surviving Byzantine churches, with interiors laid out in fine mosaics and frescoes, has been converted into the impressive Kariye Museum.

See a hidden gem of Istanbul, an Ottoman house of prayer nearly 500 years old, with magnificent tiles, built in the middle of the market in the Fatih district.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

Walk across this historic bridge to spot famous Istanbul landmarks and watch the sunset from a bar full of Turkish men contemplating life while sharing a water pipe.

Walk across this historic bridge to spot famous Istanbul landmarks and watch the sunset from a bar full of Turkish men contemplating life while sharing a water pipe.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

Istanbul’s famous old Ottoman summer palace offers a grand view of the Bosphorus Strait and the Old City, as seen from the Asian side of this multi-continental city.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

See a hidden gem of Istanbul, an Ottoman house of prayer nearly 500 years old, with magnificent tiles, built in the middle of the market in the Fatih district.

See a hidden gem of Istanbul, an Ottoman house of prayer nearly 500 years old, with magnificent tiles, built in the middle of the market in the Fatih district.

The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

The “Sunken Palace” is one of the most striking remnants of Byzantine Constantinople and is the largest of hundreds of ancient underground reservoirs in Istanbul.

See a hidden gem of Istanbul, an Ottoman house of prayer nearly 500 years old, with magnificent tiles, built in the middle of the market in the Fatih district.

Enter the maze of shop-lined streets in one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world to browse hundreds of thousands of hand-crafted objects.

Once a church, then a Byzantine cathedral, later a mosque and now a monument, this iconic building is a national treasure.

Istanbul’s famous old Ottoman summer palace offers a grand view of the Bosphorus Strait and the Old City, as seen from the Asian side of this multi-continental city.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.

The nickname of this 17th-century structure refers to the brilliant color of its tiled interior.