Most of Istanbul’s children do not realize that Hans Andersen, whose stories have opened the doors to a world of fantasy, visited Istanbul. The Danish writer describes his first sight of the city with a metaphor worthy of a storyteller, likening each mosque with its dome and minarets to Noah’s Ark. Istanbul is a city […]
Also called Mimar Koca Sinan (“Great Architect Sinan”) (b. April 15, 1489, Agirnaz, Kayseri – d. July 17, 1588, Istanbul), most celebrated of all Ottoman architects, whose ideas, perfected in the construction of mosques and other buildings, served as the basic themes for virtually all later Turkish religious and civic architecture. The son of Greek […]
The 17th-century Turkish poet Nef’i declared, ‘Is Edirne a city, or the rose garden of heaven?’ and in the 20th-century Professor Suheyl Unver, author of many books about cultural history, said that loving Edirne was a form of worship. The 17th-century writer Evliya Celebi declared his intention of counting all the public buildings in the […]
In the northern foothills of Mount Uludag, 15 km from Bursa, is the picturesque village of Cumalikizik. Set amongst chestnut and fig trees, the village is famous for its Ottoman period rural architecture. The village was originally established under the endowment of the second Ottoman Sultan Orhan Gazi (1324 – 1360), and settled by Turks […]
Once you have made the acquaintance of provincial Turkey, you will be hooked. You will fall asleep dreaming of Asia Minor’s hidden valleys and awaken to their call. Birgi is one such little-known delight – a quiet and dignified small town at the foot of Bozdag in western Turkey. Heir to a long series of […]
Whenever I decide to write an article about Safranbolu, which occupies such an important place in my life, something always seems to be missing. Even if I have decided on the title and the points which need to be emphasized, when it comes to setting it all down in writing I feel that I haven’t […]
The little town of Bademli about one hundred kilometers southeast of Izmir in western Turkey lies in a green valley in the northern foothills of the Aydin Mountains. The history of the region can be traced back to the Lydians, who were succeeded by the Persians and Hellenic Greeks. In the second century BC, it […]
600-700 The most antique fortifications of the island were built during this period. 640 The first real town-walls appear, built for defense purposes by Theodore Rshtouni with several other buildings, among which, most probably was a church. 915-921 After a long period devoid of references or news, it was during these years that architect Manuel, […]
921 On the insistence of the king Gagik, who wanted to see Akdamar rose as an autonomous, diocese, the Katholikòs Ghevorg nominates Yeghishe, the king’s nephew, archbishop of Akdamar. 927 After vain attempts of king Ashot Yerkat (of iron) Bagratouni and his rival Ashot Shapouhian to liberate the city of Dvin from the yoke of […]
Antalya is the heart of Turkish tourism, and Kaleici is the old town inside the city’s fortifications and consists of a maze of streets lined with old houses. When I got out of the car and headed for Kaleici I had planned to stay just a few hours, and could never have foreseen that I […]
