Basilica Cistern

Mosques and Minarets

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April 21st 2007
The first and best thing I noticed about Istanbul when flying in, was that it’s not ‘just another European city’ and also perhaps not quite what I had imagined. It’s surrounded by water - clean looking water - and its skyline is punctured with the minarets of the many mosques located all over the city. I was impatient to get to our hotel and be able to explore the city further. Naturally, ... read more

Middle East » Turkey » Marmara » Istanbul

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Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopt... ... read more