Hagia Sophia, the heart of Byzantium
In the 6th century, the Hagia Sophia Basilica marked a turning point in architecture: nobody was able to ignore or equal it for a thousand years.
The Blue Mosque, a vaulted blue sky
The Blue Mosque was built opposite Hagia Sophia to surpass it in grandeur. The magic, however, remains floating in its turquoise interior atmosphere.
Süleymaniye Mosque: a historical landmark
Süleymaniye Mosque, designed by the legendary Mimar Sinan, set a precedent for the famous, grand imperial mosques that would succeed it.
The New Mosque: the aspiration of successive sultanas
The New Mosque was constructed and reconstructed thanks to the initiative of two women, something unprecedented in Ottoman history. It also marked the end of the Sultanate of Women.
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, mosaics museum
The Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora is a sanctuary for mosaics and Byzantine frescoes. For some academics it is second only to Hagia Sofia.