GOASIAPLUS January 2017
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Sacred Sites<br />
The inside of<br />
Hagia Sofia<br />
that used to<br />
be a church<br />
then coverted<br />
into a mosque.<br />
Istanbul, Turkey<br />
Turkey has landed on one traveller's must-see list after<br />
another in recent years, as more people start to take<br />
note of the diverse wonders that this country offers.<br />
Its largest city, Istanbul holds many of the attractions<br />
that Turkey has become famous for, with one of them<br />
being the many historical and sacred sites that colour<br />
its landscape.<br />
Hagia Sophia, or Ayasofya in Turkish, is a church<br />
built during the Byzantine empire and has undergone<br />
many trials over the years. It's currently up to its<br />
third form, as the first and second incarnations were<br />
completely destroyed. Additionally, it has been revived<br />
in various ways, having been consecrated as a church<br />
in 537, then converted to a mosque in 1453, and finally<br />
finding peace as a museum in 1935. Many consider<br />
it a must-visit, thanks to its vast expanse, elaborate<br />
architecture - be sure to look out for the intricate<br />
mosaics - and religious significance.<br />
If you like the idea of setting foot inside a lavish<br />
palace to delve inside the lives of the Ottoman imperial<br />
family, don't miss out on Topkapi Palace. Between the<br />
15th and 19th centuries, it was occupied by the likes<br />
of sultans, eunuchs, and concubines. They divided their<br />
lives between the hundreds of rooms and chambers<br />
that make up this fortress, and at the peak of Topkapi<br />
Palace's grandeur, there were 4,000 people taking up<br />
residence here, with smaller establishments such as<br />
bakeries and mosques within its walls. However, luxury<br />
is not all there is to it. It also houses many specimens of<br />
Ottoman architecture, as well as relics integral to Islam,<br />
such as the Prophet Muhammed's cloak and sword.<br />
The grounds<br />
of Topkapi<br />
Palace featuring<br />
many buildings<br />
for different<br />
purposes of the<br />
imperial family.<br />
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