We found ourselves in the Sultanahmet, the old section of Istanbul (Constantinople), full of amazing architecture going way back in time through many civilizations. In fact, Istanbul was first settled in 633 BC by the Dorics who founded the Byzantine empire. We pronounced Sultanahmet in the English way, putting the stress on the second syllable, but soon discovered that its name came from Sultan Ahmed I, who, at 14 years of age, commissioned the Blue Mosque (also known as the Sultanahmet) to be built, so that's why it's pronounced in Turkey with the emphasis on the third syllable. With a raft of attractions to visit, the question was where to start. We decided to go first to Topkapi Palace, a mega complex of buildings covering a hilltop on the peninsula overlooking the Bosphorus, which is the
... read more