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Hagia Sofia, Witness to history at the Crossroads
When we were first introduced, I was little more than a child visiting the city of Istanbul with her family. Majestic, imposing and resplendent, from that moment onward, Hagia Sophia entered my heart forever. How is it possible to feel so close to a monument? The more I look at her, the more I see myself reflected in her, I begin to appreciate this mix of cultures that represents every one of us. Every year I visit Hagia Sofia and every year I understand it more and more. What is now a mosque appeared to me as a universal monument. As a monument located in Turkey (Fatih Istanbul), but which…
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Istanbul Hammam Guide: Price, Procedure and Rules
A visit to a hammam is part of a trip to Istanbul. Before visiting one of the traditional Turkish baths, however, you might have many questions. How much does it cost? What does a visit to the hammam look like, and what are the rules and customs that I need to adhere to? Here are the answers to your most basic questions, along with a few insider tips, recommendations and online tickets. What do I need to know about visiting a hammam in Istanbul? A visit to a hammam starts with your registration. This takes place a few hours before the planned visit, ideally in the morning. This is required…
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7 Extraordinary Stories from Ancient Turkey
Was he betrayed by Amazon women warriors from Anciant Turkey ? Is it true that Julius Caesar was kidnapped? And where did the flame from the first Olympic Games come from? I will tell you seven true, extraordinary facts from Ancient Turkey 1. Pirates kidnapped Julius Caesar on the Aegean coast The young Gaius Julius Caesar was kidnapped before his great career as a field marshal for the Roman army. Sicilian pirates attacked his ship on his way to Rhodes. They kept him prisoner in a small cave along the Turkish Aegean coast. The pirates sent a ransom note to Rome. Caesar’s response to the ransom demands wounded the pirates.…
