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Istanbul Guide

St. Antoine Church Istanbul: A Hidden Gothic Gem on İstiklal Avenue

A Gothic Surprise on İstiklal Avenue İstiklal Avenue is Istanbul’s busiest and most cosmopolitan street. Millions of footsteps pass daily, yet most walkers never think to step into the courtyard behind number 325. A few meters in, they would discover one of Istanbul’s most striking places of worship: St. Antoine Church (Sant’Antonio di Padova). This…

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İlber Ortaylı’s Istanbul Route: Historic Peninsula Guide

Walking Istanbul Through a Historian’s Eyes Professor İlber Ortaylı is Turkey’s most recognized historian and Istanbul’s most passionate advocate. His recommended routes differ from typical tourist guides — they highlight the story beneath every stone rather than surface-level photo stops. This guide is an 8-stop Historic Peninsula walking route drawn from Ortaylı’s works and lectures.…

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Hagia Sophia Mosque: The Complete Visitor’s Guide

Few buildings on Earth tell a story as layered as the St. Sophia Mosque — known internationally as Hagia Sophia or Ayasofya in Turkish. Standing at the heart of Istanbul for nearly 1,500 years, it has served as a Byzantine cathedral, an Ottoman mosque, a museum, and once again a working mosque since 2020.

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