Tag: history

  • How to Visit Hagia Sophia: What to See & What Not to Miss

    First, let’s make one thing clear. The first floor of Hagia Sophia, which is the main prayer area, is closed to visitors. Only Turkish citizens can enter this area. The upper floor, or gallery level, is open to visitors. You can also see the lower floor from the upper level. In our opinion, the view…

  • historyistanbul: Rumeli Fortress – Essential Self-Guided Tour Guide (2026)

    Rising dramatically above the European shore of the Bosphorus, Rumeli Fortress is one of Istanbul’s most impressive reminders of the city’s Ottoman past. Built by Sultan Mehmed II in 1452, the fortress was designed to control ships passing through the Bosphorus in preparation for the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople. Construction began in March and was…

  • Ebru(Paper Marbling): Where Color Meets Water and History🖌️

    History and Origins of Ebru Ebru is a decorative art made by transferring patterns created with specially prepared paints on water thickened with tragacanth onto paper.The exact time and place where the art of Ebru began is not definitivelyknown. However, there are some sources indicating that it was practiced in the 13th century in Turkestan,…

  • historyistanbul: Topkapı Sarayı (Topkapı Palace)

    Step into a world where history meets grandeur! The Ottoman Empire wasn’t just a massive empire, it was the empire of empires, with its borders sprawling across the globe and maintaining power for centuries. For 400 years, this dynasty ruled with magnificence, and at the heart of it all was the stunning Topkapi Palace, the…