PICTURES: ISTOCK
DESTINATIONS TURKEY
Capital
gains
Joanna Booth explores what
Istanbul, this year’s yyear’s European p
Capital of Culture, has to offer
Istanbul is bustling, and balanced
on the border of two continents,
in fact, this year’s European
Capital of Culture is at least half
Asian. The mighty Bosphorus
cuts Istanbul down the centre, so
the city straddles two landmasses.
Turkey’s largest city is a collision of
worlds – east meets west, ancient
meets modern. And with the
international spotlight firmly fixed
on the city this year, and a wide
range of cultural events planned,
its inhabitants will be prouder than
ever to show off its charms.
To find out more about these
special events, which include
film and literature festivals, ballet
competitions, special exhibitions
and performances, check out
en.istanbul2010.org. Alternatively,
Turkey specialist IAH Holidays
has set up a website containing
details of city tours as well as local
events and information called
istanbulcityofculture2010.com.
Agents can earn commission of
12%-15% on bookings depending on
the size of the order. (iah-holidays.
co.uk; 0871 855 2925).
SIGHTS
Civilisations have risen and fallen in
Istanbul, and the city has preserved
and reused the remnants of each with
admirable practicality.
The landmark Hagia
Sophia started life as a
Byzantine cathedral and for 1,000
years it was the largest in the world. In
www.travelweekly.co.uk
1453, when the city fell to the Ottoman
Turks, it was converted into the Aya
Sofya mosque and minarets were
added. In 1935 it was turned into a
museum, and now hordes flock to
marvel at its huge scale and ornate
interior, which has been specially
restored in preparation for the city’s
year as cultural capital.
Equally breathtaking is the Blue
Mosque, with its six minarets and
many curving domes. Its name refers
to the shade of the tiles inside, where
detailed mosaics cover every surface.
Recommend clients dedicate plenty
of time to see the Topkapi Palace,
where extra restorations have taken
place. This network of courtyards and
stately buildings was the home of the
Ottoman Sultans for nearly 400 years.
Special tours are offered of the Harem
– the inner sanctum containing the
private chambers of the royal family.
The Dolmabahçe Palace, a
European-style building further
up the Bosphorus, to which the
Sultans relocated in 1856, provides
an excellent contrast for those with a
strong historical interest.
Though the city’s skyline is a
thing of beauty, visitors should
look down too. The Yerebatan
Sarnici is a huge cistern, buried
beneath the centre of Sultanahmet,
and is a hauntingly beautiful sight. Its
vaulted arches are supported on 336
nine-metre-high stone columns. Bond
fans may recognise it from the 1963
film From Russia With Love, where Sean
Connery rows through it in a boat.
The Bosphorus,
or Istanbul strait,
divides European
and Asian Turkey
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information
on Turkey
and hotel
reviews go to
It’s not all about ancient history.
The Istanbul Modern art gallery
boasts a varied permanent collection
from Turkish artists, cutting-edge
temporary exhibits and a fabulous
cafe with views across the Bosphorus.
EXPERIENCES
In Istanbul you’re never far from water,
whether it be the Golden Horn, the Sea
of Marmara, or the Bosphorus itself.
Recommend clients make the most of
this with a Bosphorus cruise.
Countless boats go down this river,
some stopping often and taking all day
to make their way up and down, and
others just a couple of hours, stopping
briefly on the Asian side so cruisers
can make sure they’ve trodden on two
continents in one day. The views are
wonderful, and the trip demonstrates
how far the outskirts of the city stretch.
Sightseeing in Istanbul can be a
hectic exercise, and there’s no better
way to unwind than with a traditional
hamam. Clients can choose a highend
experience in one of the luxury
hotel spas, or go traditional in a local
bathhouse. Here, after relaxing in a
steam bath, clients are lathered up
and given a thorough scrub massage.
Afterwards, they can relax wrapped in
towels with a glass of Turkish tea.
Turkey is home to the Mevlevi sect,
more commonly known as whirling
dervishes. Their famous spinning
is a form of prayer and meditation,
and in Istanbul it is possible to see
mevlana shows in theatres.
For the genuine article, see an
January 29 2010| Travel Weekly | 43
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