things that surprised me about istanbul, turkiye! 🥰
hi guys im starting a new nerdy series of everything ive learnt on exchange! one of the best parts about going on exchange,, esp in europe is the FREE WALKING tour and collecting information like a random encyclopaedia HAHAHA
HISTORY
1️⃣ istanbul is not the capital ??? i thot it was but it is actually ANKARA 🇹🇷
- while istanbul is the largest and most influential city, ankara was chosen to be the capital because of its central location, making it easier to defend.
- also istanbul means “towards the city”
2️⃣ it went thru not one or two but THREE empires
greece roman ottoman, build on top of e/o 😅
- firstly it was under greece empire then roman empire
- it was the Constantinople, which was the capital of the byzantine (eastern roman) empire
- then came the ottomans in 1453!
3️⃣ hagia sophia 👀
- pronunced as (ayah sophia) which means “holy wisdom”
- was the biggest “church” of christianity for hundreds of years, and therefore u can still see the christian mosiacs in the ceiling
- it constructed in 6th century and stands for a thousand years until ottoman came in 1453. they didnt destroy it out of respect, but instead converted it into a mosque
- can u visit it ?? the first floor free for turks and muslims and the second floor is open to tourist!! at the price of 35euros iirc
4️⃣ The blue mosque 💙
its opposite the hagia sophia but was built wAYYY more recently
what was most interesting to me was the minarats (towers) and its function was basically to issue the ashan (traditional call to prayer) because there was a lack of loud speakers of microphones in the past!!
and the num of minaret corresponds to the importance of the mosques… public mosques had only 1 minaret and this mosque had 6!!! which caused controversy because the Grand Mosque in Mecca also had 6!
because the king didnt want to destroy the minaret (it was expensive to build), they donated money to build another minaret in mecca! the mosque subsequently acquired a few more donations and it now has 9!
also why isit the BLUE mosque?? it was initiallly the
sultan ahmad mosque but the interior is blue so people started calling it the blue mosque 😅🥲
5️⃣ egyptian obelisk standing middle of the square 🇪🇬
- it was built 3k years ago ??
- took 60 years to move from egypt to istanbul
- it was FINALLY erected 390ad, weighing 200 tonnes so they did take very long to erect it (by pure manual labour and pulling it up…)
6️⃣ world war and downfall of ottoman empire!
- ottoman empire was smth that i primarily wanted to learn about when i went to turkey!
- basically it started from a small warrior state (and the ruling ottoman family started conquering and expanding into territories)
- fun fact: the next sultan had to kill off all his brothers and brothers sons to prevent civil wars and
- they ruled for 600 years
- decided to ally w germany during ww1 and lost the war… allied powers then took over
7️⃣ modern day turkiye 🇹🇷
turkey is super young ??
- offical establishment of turkey in 1923
- and this man called ATATURK is a national hero who founded the country
Some challenges the new republic faced:
• Very low literacy rates
• A population exhausted by years of war
• Rebuilding the economy
• Integrating migrants from the Balkans and former Ottoman territories
It’s crazy to think that many foundations of modern Türkiye were built just a century ago!
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE:
i love this country and its rich culture and history!!! it alos sits in the middle of two continents but it feels so familiar but different frkm either side (i mean its central asia) but it is similar to the balkan states ans greece in terms of food
speaking of which the food there is AMAZING i’ve never eaten so much on a trip (10 dishes a day)
and istanbul is a HUGE city w many neighbourhoods to explore so highly reco!
During my time in Istanbul, I was amazed at how the city’s layers of history are visible in every corner, blending influences from ancient Greece, Rome, Byzantium, and the Ottoman Empire. One highlight was exploring the Egyptian Obelisk in the middle of the square—knowing it was moved from Egypt over 2000 years ago with sheer manual labor made me appreciate the dedication of past civilizations. Walking through the Sultanahmet area, opposite the majestic Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque stood out not only because of its stunning blue tiles but also its six minarets, which is rare and symbolically important. I loved learning how these minarets were used to call people to prayer before modern amplification technology existed. This blend of meaning and architectural beauty gives Istanbul's landmarks a deeper cultural significance. What truly made my experience special was mixing with locals and tasting the wonderful Turkish cuisine. The food scene is vibrant, with me enjoying up to ten different dishes daily! Each dish reflected the mix of Central Asian, Balkan, and Mediterranean flavors—something I hadn’t encountered on past travels. From savory kebabs to sweet baklava, the culinary diversity kept me eager to explore more neighborhoods. Another eye-opening fact was realizing that despite Istanbul’s global fame and size, it is not Turkey’s capital—Ankara holds that title due to its strategic central location. It shows how history and politics influence city status in unexpected ways. Moreover, Istanbul’s position spanning two continents—Europe and Asia—creates a unique cultural fusion. This duality feels both familiar and wonderfully distinct, an experience that continually surprised me as I explored its bustling markets, ancient mosques, and lively streets. From the stories of emperors and sultans to the public walking tours which helped me learn like a walking encyclopedia, Istanbul offers a thrilling mix of education and adventure for any traveler passionate about history and culture.
