Istanbul
is the largest city in Turkey, largest city proper
and second largest metropolitan area in Europe, and
fourth largest city proper in the world with a
population of 12.6 million. Istanbul is also a
megacity. Istanbul is the cultural and financial
center of Turkey. The city covers 27 districts of
the Istanbul province. It is located on the
Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor
known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the
country. It extends both on the Europe (Thrace) and
on the Asia (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is
thereby the only metropolis in the world that is
situated on two continents.
In
its long history, Istanbul served as the capital
city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine)
Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire
(1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The
city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture
for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added
to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985
HAGIA SOPHIA
Hagia Sophia is a former patriarchal basilica, later
a mosque, now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. Famous
in particular for its massive dome, it is considered
the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was the
largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand
years, until the completion of the Seville Cathedral
in 1520. The current building was originally
constructed as a church between 532 and 537 A.D. on
the orders of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, and
was in fact the third Church of the Holy Wisdom to
occupy the site. It was the patriarchal church of
the Patriarch of Constantinople and the religious
focal point of the Eastern Orthodox Church for
nearly 1000 years.
In 1453, Constantinople was conquered by the Ottoman
Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to
be converted into a mosque. It remained as a mosque
until 1935, when it was converted into a museum by
the Republic of Turkey.
BLUE MOSQUE
In the 17th century, Sultan Ahmet I wished to build
an Islamic place of worship to rival the Hagia
Sophia, and the mosque named for him is the
impressive result. The two great architectural
achievements stand next to each other in Istanbul's
main square, and it is up to visitors to decide
which is more impressive.
The Blue Mosque is one of the most beautiful mosques
in the world and one of very few to have six
minarets. One of the most notable features of the
Blue Mosque is visible from far away: its six
minarets. This is very unique, as most mosques have
four, two or just one minaret. According to one
account, the Sultan directed his architect to make
gold (altin) minarets, which was misunderstood as
six (alti) minarets.
The interior's high ceiling is lined with about
20,000 blue tiles that give the mosque its popular
name. Fine examples of 16th-century Iznik design,
the tiles feature flowers, trees and abstract
patterns. The overall effect is one of the most
beautiful sights in Istanbul.
MINIATURK
The park contains 105 models done in 1/25th scale.
45 of the structures are from Istanbul, 45 are from
Anatolia, and 15 are from the Ottoman territories
that today lie outside of Turkey. Additional space
was reserved for potential future models. The
infrastructure was built taking into consideration
the needs of potential additions. Therefore,
Miniaturk will continue growing, modeling, in a
sense, planned urbanization.
Special attention was paid to include every
civilization that ruled in and around Anatolia and
left their marks. Miniaturk traces a 3000-year
history from Antiquity to Byzantium, from Seljuks to
the Ottoman Empire and into the present day.
Istanbul
is the largest city in Turkey, largest city proper
and second largest metropolitan area in Europe, and
fourth largest city proper in the world with a
population of 12.6 million. Istanbul is also a
megacity. Istanbul is the cultural and financial
center of Turkey. The city covers 27 districts of
the Istanbul province. It is located on the
Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor
known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the
country. It extends both on the Europe (Thrace) and
on the Asia (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is
thereby the only metropolis in the world that is
situated on two continents. 
In
its long history, Istanbul served as the capital
city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine)
Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire
(1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The
city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture
for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added
to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985
