Istanbul was intentionally built on seven hills, mirroring Rome’s seven hills, as a strategic move by the Byzantine Empire to declare itself the ‘new Rome’ and distance itself from the declining Roman empire. The city walls encircled these seven hills, further emphasizing the comparison to Rome.
Hagia Sophia Mosque
Istanbul
This stunning architecture features 30 million gold tiles adorning its interior, along with a broad, flat dome that was considered a daring engineering achievement when it was built in the 6th century.
Basilica Cistern
Istanbul
Explore the magnificent underground reservoir beneath the streets of Sultanahmet, dating back to the 6th century. Known as the Sunken Palace, this is Istanbul’s largest cistern from the Byzantine era that remains intact.
Blue Mosque
Istanbul
Constructed between 1609 and 1616, this remarkable mosque features six minarets. It is known as the “Blue Mosque” for two reasons. The first explanation is that its interior is adorned with Blue İznik tiles. The second is that centuries ago, sailors passing by on the Marmara Sea noticed the blue hues of the sea mirroring on the mosque’s exterior.
Suleymaniye Mosque
Istanbul
The renowned architect Sinan constructed this grand edifice for one of the most prominent rulers of the Ottoman Empire. While less adorned than others, this mosque shares several similarities with the Hagia Sophia as they were both designed by the same architect.
