Istanbul Turkey

Global Treasures Hagia Sophia Istanbul, Turkey
$14.95
Hagia Sophia Situated on the shores of the Bosporus, Istanbul is the only city in the world that is located on two continents, Europe and Asia. Within it, a historic and religious symbol rises up into the sky: the Hagia Sophia, for nearly a 1000 years the main church of former Constantinople. Legend has it that Constantine, founder of the New Rome, had previously built a church of 'Holy Wisdom' here in the fourth century A.D. Thus, the name of this church derives from the Greek. Although the first church, as well as a later building, were destroyed by fire, the Emperor Justinian erected a larger church in the year 532 AD, the church known today as Hagia Sophia. Throughout the centuries, Hagia Sophia served both as a church and a mosque but, due to the Turkish leader, Atatuerk, it was transformed into a museum in 1935. As a result of Turkish influence and its function as a mosque, four minarets were constructed adding yet another architectural feature in addition to its magnificent dome. Global Treasures - History's Most Protected Monuments - Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live today, and what we pass on to future generations. our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration. Places as unique and diverse as the wilds of East Africa's Serengeti, the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the Baroque cathedrals of Latin America make up our world's heritage. Join us as we explore one of these protected monuments.

Rick Steves' Istanbul
$17.95
Rick Steve made an excellent decision to have guides Lale Surmen Aran and Tankut Aran write this book. They clearly know and love their city, know what is helpful and interesting to tourists, and wrote a very thorough, informative, and user-friendly guide.

I appreciated the format of the concise Sights and Experiences sections, followed by chapters offering more in-depth information on the self-guided walks and tours. This format was extremely useful as I planned my days and then toured the city. Simple, useful maps are included in each walk and tour section.

I would like to have seen the chapters on Turkish History and Culture and Understanding Islam at the beginning of the book rather than the end, as I think they are of great importance to westerners visiting this amazing city.

Another book I highly recommend to supplement this book is Istanbul's Bazaar Quarter: Backstreet Walking Tours. This book is written in the same spirit as the Old Town Back Streets Walk chapter in Rick Steve's book, but offers four separate walking tours, and goes into much more detail about the bazaar quarter and the people you will meet there. Istanbul's Bazaar Quarter: Backstreet Walking Tours

Rick Steve's Istanbul was my first Rick Steve guidebook, and overall I was very pleased. I highly recommend Istanbul, and I highly recommend this book.

Bazaar Istanbul: Music of Turkey
$10.98
This is an excellent collection of traditional Turkish music, combining instrumental pieces, as well as songs. It gives the right flavor of Middle Eastern music, voice, and instruments.

Istanbul, Turkey 13.5x40 Panoramic Photo
$22.95
Add this beautiful panoramic photo to your home or office. The photo measures 13.5" x 40", and is unframed. It comes from Blakeway Panoramas, and is guaranteed to accent any room!