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Uniquely situated between the two continents of Europe and Asia, considered part of the Middle East, Turkey was part of the Roman Empire, then later taken over by the Ottoman Empire. The country’s history and central position on the map lends a rich depth of culture, trade and architecture.
A melded culture is particularly observed in the city of Istanbul, which was once called Byzantium, then Constantinople. It is here that its European identity is most prevalent, while interwoven with its Middle Eastern culture. Muslim mosques stand prominently while commingling with Christian churches and Jewish Synagogues.
Regions of Turkey
Marmara Region
Istanbul
Aegean + Mediterranean Turkey
Black Sea Turkey
Central Anatolia
Eastern + Southeast Anatolia
Hagia Sophia
The Hagia Sophia (meaning “Holy Wisdom” in Greek) has remained one of the most profound wonders of my study of architectural history and one that I always dreamed to visit in person. Fortunate to make this reverie a reality, I was struck with awe by its massive size, vast interior space covered by a 184-foot-high dome, antiquity (you…
Istanbul, Turkey
The vast city of Istanbul fascinated me with its complex Byzantine and Ottoman history. As the largest of Turkey’s cities, it is filled with architectural and cultural wonders worth visiting. They range from mosques, churches and palaces to museums, parks and bazaars. Magnificent monuments gain roots from the once Roman capitol of Constantinople, followed by the Muslim conquest by the Ottoman sultans who transformed…
