i.travel
ISTANBUL
Now that there are direct flights from Genoa to Istanbul (for all stations east) there's no better time to consider going there for a short break, and here at Inlingua Genoa we'll even teach your some conversational Turkish to impress the locals.
Istanbul, still called The City by modern Greeks, is vast and fascinating: You will not of course want to miss the Topkapi Palace, one-time centre of the Ottoman Empire, but while there don't forget to visit the harem - there's an extra charge for it but that's good as it means most tour groups don't go there!
You will also naturally want to see Aya Sofia, where once the Byzantines celebrated the liturgy (in a church dating from 537), where the Crusaders stormed the main door, where Muslims bow their heads to Allah, and where Ataturk declared it a musuem in 1935. But there are many other fine mosques (and built as such, unlike Aya Sofia) as well - if you only go to one other it has to be the Blue Mosque- built 1603-1617 specifically to rival Aya Sofia.
A great place to relive an aspect of the Ottoman era is to go to the Military Museum in the afternoon where between 3 and 4 there is a free concert of Janissary music in full costume, while to recapture something of the glorious days of Byzantium head for the Chora church (now a museum) with its superb mosaics and paintings.
There are many places offering a dervish dancing show but the best is probably 'Dance of Colours' at the Firat culture Centre every evening at 7.30 with no obligation to eat there. There are many wonderful restaurants obviously, but for something special go to the Galata House Restaurant in the old British Jail, tastefully restored and where you can enjoy Georgian food to piano accompaniment. Another must is Pierre Loti's Cafe, up above the Eyup Sultan Mosque where you can chill out and enjoy the food and stunning views just as the great French writer used to do. If you feel like partying adfter, the Araf nightclub (5pm to 4am) offers cheap beer, a lively in-house gypsy band, and as the Irish say 'great craic'.
No visit to this part of the world is complete without a trip to an original Turkish bath (hamam) , the most atmospheric being Cemberlitas (built by the wife of Selim the Sot, who drowned in his bath at Topkapi - which he built -after drinking too much champagne - and not to be confused with Ibrahim the Mad who lost it after being locked up for four years) and the baths commissioned by Sultan Mehmet I - Cagaloglu.
Bazaars are another aspect of life here not to be missed - spend time in the Grand Bazaar enjoying the colours, the banter and the endless glasses of tea but do watch out for pickpockets.
There is something of Istanbul which reminds you of Venice - could it be the water? In any case you should take at least trip across or along the Bosphorus, especially at sunset - the standard crossing is Karakoy to Kadikoy where there are some great eating places there or along the quaint tram route to Uskudar. The other boat trip (maybe not at summer weekends though) has to be to the Princes Islands in the Sea of Marmara. There are 9 of them, but the best are perhaps Heybeliada and Buyukada (the biggest) where you take take a bike or carriage ride round the island. Ferries depart from Kabatas pier.
Buon viaggio!
