Friday, June 02, 2006

Istanbul



View of the Bosphorous from our hotel balcony.



Mihrimah's Mosque, designed by Sinan: we were unable to enter this mosque because it was damaged by the most recent earthquake, but walked around. Nearby are the old Byzantine walls. The gate in the wall across the street from the mosque is the location where Mehmet and his troops first breached the wall in the final defeat of Byzantine Constantinople.



Rustam Pasha mosque: also by Sinan. Mihrimah was Suliman's daughter. Rustam Pasha was her husband. Suliman had Sinan design and build these mosques to honor them.

No comments: