5 Amazing Historical Sites in Istanbul, Turkey

Traveling has become a passion to most people who look into having a wonderful time away from the monotonous tasks. However, the choice of destination is very important and should be thought through well. One place which will certainly satisfy your thrill for travel is Istanbul in Turkey. This part of Turkey has a lot of attractive historical locations in addition to having wonderful accommodation options. The options include hotels, hostels and apartments while Istanbul apartment prices are varied and which is depends on your preference and budget. For instance, the hostels are ideally priced if you want to save on money while having great accommodation. Still, for extended stays, you can decide to book into a hotel or go for an apartment for a more personalized stay. When it comes to site seeing, some of the best historical places here include:

1. Basilica Cistern

This is an underground wonder which you have to make a point of visiting when in this location. It used to serve as a water storage chamber during the earlier times. It is located beneath the square known as stoa basilica which provides a unique underground experience. The basilica cistern is made of 36 beautiful marble columns in addition to the vaulted ceilings. The mysterious yet attractive aspect of this underground location is the presence of two columns which have an image depicting the famous head of medusa. Therefore, the location is amazing and worth visiting when in Istanbul.

2. Istanbul Archeology Museum

One can never talk of History without having a museum in mind. This is the location which harbors important memories and objects worth preserving. In respect to this, there is the archeology museum here which has millions of artifacts on display for the visitors. This museum is split into three parts namely the main museum, tiled kiosk museum and the ancient orient museum. Notably, it has some of the most remarkable pieces of history including the most treasured item which is the Alexander tomb.

 

3. Rumeli Fortress

This is another ideal historical destination which was built in 1412 by ottoman sultan. The fortress was mainly built to block the city’s supplies. The construction took about 4 months and was done by people amounting to 3000. It has great views from its towers which you are sure to enjoy.

4. Topkapi Palace

It is one of the most popular sites in Istanbul which is ideal for travelers to make a stop. The palace covers a whooping 700,000 meters squared. This area is occupied by courtyards, main palace and other locations. There is much to see in this place including the great ottoman architecture, and belongings of Prophet Mohamed which are an important part of the Muslim Culture. Audio tours are also available if you so wish.

5. Blue Mosque

The blue mosque is yet another iconic historic location which is very popular. It was built in a decade precisely from 1606 to 1610 by sultan Ahmet 1st and is famed for its grand and ornate interior. The name Blue Mosque is well complemented by the array of blue tiles used in its making.

Conclusively, cultural Heritage is an important aspect which is much appreciated and this area of turkey has ideally assured of this. By travelling to the named historical locations, there is much to see ranging from museums to palatial locations. Therefore, if you want to enjoy a wonderful vacation which incorporates learning with fun, then this is the ideal destination.

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6 Perfect Cultural Gifts to Take Home from China

China is a country that has a great history, culture and different tradition that makes it different from world. Depends on where you come from from, the cost of flight to China can be very costly which might balance it with the low cost of traveling in China after arriving.  If you decide to compare prices, keep in mind that flight are affordable and easy to find on www.fly.co.uk.  When you visit china you will surely find so many native cultural things there that you cannot find anywhere else in the world. You can take buy these things as souvenir and gift from China and here are 6 perfect cultural gifts to take home from China.

Silk from China

Silk : It was the China that gave silk to world and Silk from China is world famous for its amazing quality, magnificent colors and various varieties. In China also Silk from few specific places like Sichaun, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Dandong is more famous compare to other places and you cannot get this quality of silk from anywhere else in the world. So buying Silk from china is one of the best Chinese cultural gifts to take home from china.


Tea : This is another item that originated from China and loved by world. You can find hundreds of Tea Varieties in China that Chinese people consume at different time of the day for different reason. They consume it with meal, they use it for better health, they consume it for pleasure and they also use it as welcome drink. Chinese categorize tea in black tea, green tea, scented tea, brick tea and long tea. You can take buy some from all 5 categories and you can use it as you want.

Handicrafts : Just like tea and Silk Handicraft products from china are also world famous and it offer so many different handicraft products that amaze everyone. Some of these handicrafts look like living being and to create this kind of masterpiece, Chinese artisans give their entire dedication and lot of time. These handicrafts include paper ct, embroidery, woodblock picture, leather silhouette and you can buy some of these handicrafts as cultural gifts from china.

Paintings: China is one of the oldest countries that have artistic tradition and its paintings reflected the time, social condition and its changes as time changed. Painters from china mastered this art in an amazing way that they can create lively painting and you will feel as if everything is like real. You can also buy some of these paintings from china as a cultural gift that you can use at your home or you can give it to your loved ones.

Chinese Traditional Medicine

Antiques : China is one of the ancient countries in the world and it offer so many great antique products that you can legally buy from some authentic shops. These shops sell fascinating antique products to you in very affordable price and you can take some of the low cost antique souvenir from china to your home.

Chinese Traditional Medicine : Its traditional medicine is an essential part of culture of this fascinating country. Some of these medicines are famous to give energy, youth, health and enhanced sexual potential and if you want you can take some of these medicines with you as a gift from china.

These cultural gift items represent china and it's almost impossible to find these things anywhere else in the world with same quality. So when you will take these gift items for your loved one, they will surely love your gift. When you visit any county in Asia, there are many factor to consider.

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