
ENGLISH
During a trip to Antalya, we had the opportunity to stop in Istanbul for a few days, just enough time to visit the main tourist destinations.
The Basilica of Santa Sofia (literally Divine Wisdom) has been the largest church in the world for almost a century, passing through the attribution of the different religious functions (from Catholic to Orthodox to mosque and finally museum). One of the greatest examples of Byzantine architecture, it was one of the main churches of the Byzantine Empire. What we see today is the 3rd reconstruction of the church completely destroyed twice due to fires.
There were restoration works in progress, but we were able to see the famous mosaics, such as the Christ Pantocrator and the Emperor John II Comnenus with his wife Piroska.
The peculiarity of this building is the mystical light that is created inside the dome.
We then went to see the Basilica Cistern, built during the Eastern Roman Empire, which remained intact. There were two huge Medusa heads upside down at the base of two columns. And on the bottom of the water, although not seen in the photo, there were numerous huge fish swimming in half a meter of water. Very scary.
The Blue Mosque was the 3rd most visited place: it’s called in this way because it has a majority of blue tiles in the walls and dome, although perceptually it seemed to me that gold was the dominant color.
The mosque was huge, the square around it was huge too. Before entering, they had us take off our shoes and wear veils to cover our heads. As soon as you enter what strikes you is the stink of feet, understandable.
At the center of the mosque were people praying loudly on the ground. I have to admit that it took me a quick ride along one of the sides of the building to want to get out, because between smells and screams I couldn’t bear to stay there anymore.
Stop at the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest in the world, built in a closed and covered place, with all the same turns and shops that it’s easy to get lost. 4,000 shops among spices, sweets, fabrics, artisans, objects… Many people, many screams and confusion. Here too I managed to stay just a little…
The next day we went to Topkapi Palace, the palace of the Ottoman Sultan. Immense, full of gardens with different species of flowers, decorations, pomp, different styles, riggiole with typical Turkish decorations, carpets, wallpapers, artifacts, objects. It’s located on a promontory and the view from there was wonderful. While the rest of the building I can’t say I really enjoyed it. Too much confusion of styles and colors and ostentations.
Maybe that’s why I didn’t take pictures, except that you have flowers.
We stayed in the new part of the city, crossing the Galata Bridge which connects it to the old city.
And here, the scenario changed completely. From the bridge it almost looks like Manhattan. Skyscrapers, tower blocks, modernity… Not a very clean city, but it’s super modern and crowded. An absolutely cosmopolitan center: from the girls in shorts and crop tops to the women in burka, from the Indians to the people who knelt on the street to pray when, five times a day, from the megaphones scattered in every corner of the city, a scream rose to prayer as an antitheft.
I was very shocked and impressed with the environment I found. Both from the excessive modernity that stings with that culture, both for the absurdity of that religion, and for the surreality of coexistence in the street of totally opposite cultures.
The day ended at Starbucks, my home in the world.
I realized how much the life we ββare used to and the certainties we have are only a matter of territorial tradition, and that true freedom of choice will only exist when all the religions and cultures of the world would be teached us first and then let us decide which one want to belong.
A formative experience, but I confess that Istanbul hasn’t made a good impression on me.
xx Dasynka
ITALIANO

Durante un viaggio per Antalya, abbiamo avuto modo di fare scalo ad Istanbul per alcuni giorni, giusto il tempo di visitare le principali mete turistiche.
La basilica di Santa Sofia (letteralmente Divina Sapienza) Γ¨ stata la chiesa piΓΉ grande del mondo per quasi un secolo, passando attraverso l’attribuzione delle diverse funzioni religiose (da cattolica ad ortodossa a moschea infine museo). Uno dei piΓΉ grandi esempi dell’architettura bizantina, fu una delle principali chiese dell’Impero Bizantino. Quella che vediamo oggi Γ¨ la terza ricostruzione della chiesa distrutta completamente ben due volte a causa di incendi.
Vi erano lavori di restauro in corso, ma abbiamo potuto vedere i famoso mosaici, come il Cristo Pantocratore e l’imperatore Giovanni II Comneno con sua moglie Piroska.
La peculiaritΓ di questo edificio Γ¨ la luce mistica che si crea all’interno della cupola.
Siamo poi andati a vedere la Cisterna Basilica, costruita durante l’Impero Romano d’Oriente, rimasta intatta. C’erano due enormi teste di Medusa capovolte alla base di due colonne. E sul fondo dell’acqua, anche se non si vede in foto, c’erano numerosi enormi pesci che nuotavano in mezzo metro d’acqua. Molto inquietante.
La Moschea Blu Γ¨ stato il terzo luogo visitato: si chiama cosΓ¬ perchΓ¨ presenta una maggioranza di piastrelle blu nelle pareti e nella cupola, anche se percettivamente mi sembrava che fosse l’oro il colore dominante.
La moschea era enorme, enorme anche la piazza intorno. Prima di entrare ci hanno fatto togliere le scarpe e indossare veli per coprire la testa. Appena entrati quello che colpisce d’impatto Γ¨ la puzza di piedi, comprensibile.
Al centro della moschea c’erano persone che pregavano a terra ad alta voce. Devo ammettere che mi Γ¨ bastato un giro veloce lungo uno dei lati dell’edificio per voler uscire fuori, perchΓ© tra odori e urla non sopportavo piΓΉ di restare lΓ¬.
Sosta al Gran Bazar, uno dei piΓΉ grandi al mondo, costruito in un luogo chiuso e coperto, con svolte e negozietti tutti uguali che Γ¨ semplice perdersi. 4.000 botteghe tra spezie, dolci, tessuti, artigiani, oggettisticaβ¦ Tanta gente, tante urla e confusione. Anche qui sono riuscita a stare pocoβ¦
Il giorno dopo siamo andati al Palazzo Topkapi, il palazzo del Sultano Ottomano. Immenso, pieno di giardini con diverse specie di fiori, decorazioni, sfarzi, stili diversi, riggiole dalle tipiche decorazioni turche, tappeti, carte da parati, manufatti, oggetti. Si trova su un promontorio e la vista da lì era meravigliosa. Mentre il resto del palazzo non posso dire che mi sia davvero piaciuto. Troppa confusione di stili e colori e ostentazioni.
SarΓ per questo che non ho scattato fotografie, se non che hai fiori.
Siamo stati nella parte nuova della cittΓ , attraversando il Ponte di Galata che la collega alla cittΓ vecchia.
E qui, lo scenario cambiava completamente. Dal ponte sembra quasi Manhattan. Grattacieli, palazzoni, modernitΓ β¦ Non Γ¨ una cittΓ molto pulita, ma Γ¨ super moderna ed affollata. Un centro assolutamente cosmopolita: dalle ragazze in shorts e crop top alle donna in burka, dagli indiani alle persone che si inginocchiavano per strada per pregare quando, cinque volte al giorno, dai megafoni sparsi in ogni angolo della cittΓ , si alzava un urlo alla preghiera come un antifurto.
Sono rimasta molto scioccata e colpita dall’ambiente che ho trovato. Sia dall’eccessiva modernitΓ che fa a pungi con quella cultura, sia per l’assurditΓ di quella religione, che per la surrealtΓ della coesistenza in strada di culture totalmente opposte.
La giornata Γ¨ terminata da Starbucks, la mia casa nel mondo.
Ho realizzato quanto la vita a cui siamo abituati e le certezze che abbiamo siano solo una questione di tradizione territoriale, e che la vera libertΓ di scelta esisterΓ solo quando ci insegneranno prima tutte le religioni e le culture del mondo e poi ci lasceranno decidere a quale voler appartenere.
Un’esperienza formativa, ma confesso che Istanbul non mi ha fatto una impressione.
xx Dasynka
The Basilica of St. Sofia. The mosaic of Christ Pantocrator. The mosaic of Emperor John II Comnenus and his wife Piroska. The Basilica of St. Sofia. The Basilica of St. Sofia. The Basilica Cistern. Heads of Medusa upside down at the base of one column. The Blue Mosque. The Blue Mosque. The Topkapi Palace. The Topkapi Palace. The Topkapi Palace. The Topkapi Palace. Glass lamps at souvenir shops. The Grand Bazaar. The day ended at Starbucks, my house in the world.
44 commenti
Amazing photos, Istambul is beautiful.
Thank you so! xx
Nice post, great city! Kisses
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Amazing photos!
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Very interesting place, full of history and charm. Wouldn’t mind to see Istanbul one day. You’re a great storyteller, you got me hooked from beginning to end.
Thanks for your words, they are very important to me π xx
wow! amazing
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Gorgeous photos hun…Its a lovely post dear…xoxo, Neha
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These photos from Istanbul are so impressive. I love them and I wish I was there! Thank you for sharing!
X
Miri
Thank you too xx
I an new to your blog and I will definitely come back.
Love love love your writing style. You are one of the few people who didn’t like Istanbul.
I can imagine that from the few things you described it wouldn’t be my favorite place on earth too.
Much love,
T.
You can’t imagine how your words and your attention make me feel good! Thank you so so much. And I understand that we have a similar way of approaching things π xx
I’ve never been but I’d love to, your pics are fabulous !
Thank you so! xx
Istanbul is a very beautiful city with its own spirit. I love the photography dear x
It’s always nice to read different opinions π xx
Amazing pictures. I have to visit this city soon as well.
Kisses from Berlin
Valentina
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Lovely π
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Amazing place!
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This city is absolutely incredible, thanks for sharing these amazing pics! I can’t wait to visit π
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Tamara xxx
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Beautiful images! π
XX,
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β₯
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Wow, great photos of Istanbul! Have fun! xo, Sophia from http://www.sistersandglitters.com
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Loved reading this, beautiful place! Please check out my new post.
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Wow, what gorgeous photos. You definitely captured the beauty of Istanbul!
Enclothed Cognition
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Great post, love it π
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Gorgeous pics doll! I loved visiting Istanbul xx
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Lovely post, thanks for sharing!!!
xxx
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I’m glad you like it! xx
Amazing post, great pictures as well, I love it. I have been to Turkey two times, to Kusadasi and Alanja, Istanmbul will be the next destination for me!!!
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http://www.supercarmission.com
Oh wow, so you like Turkey! It’s good have different opinions π xx