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Historical Part of Istanbul

The Blue Mosque or Sultanahmet Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) in the historical part of Istanbul is one of the most famous religious monuments in the world. Below you’ll find a fair impression of it. There are two versions available: a YouTube version (smaller in size) and a WVM version (bigger in size). The length of both […]

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The Sultanahmet Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii) was built between 1609 and 1617 and is also known as the Blue Mosque because of the blue tiles used to decorate the walls of its interior. The construction was commissioned by Sultan Ahmet I. The idea was to build a monument that would not only rival with the magnificent […]

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The Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) in Sultanahmet (the historical part of Istanbul) is among Istanbul’s most famous and fascinating monuments. Below you’ll find a fair impression of it. There are two versions available: a YouTube version (smaller in size) and a WVM version (bigger in size). The length of both movies is the same: 2:33 min. […]

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There has always been some mystique attached around the Harem. Below you’ll find a fair impression of the Harem in Topkapi Palace. There are two versions available: a YouTube version (smaller in size) and a WVM version (bigger in size). The length of both movies is the same: 2:17 min. Enjoy! YouTube Version Local Version

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The word Harem comes from Arabic and originally means forbidden. Contrary to what many (want to) believe, the Harem was not just an erotic hothouse. It was the private area of the sultan and his sons, hence forbidden for all other males, except the black eunuchs guarding the premises. Women on the other hand, had […]

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As mentioned in the first part, the First Courtyard was the most public one, and therefore not really considered as being part of the Topkapi Palace. But the deeper you go into the palace, the less accessible it was for the people of the Ottoman Empire. Where the Second Courtyard was already semi-public (see Topkapi […]

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