The sights of Istanbul in every season and every month have their own beauty and charm; It feels one way in summer and another way in winter. Now, if your trip is in January and we add the excitement of the New Year and the decorations of the streets, shops and entertainment centers to the other tourist attractions of Istanbul, it is impossible for you to forget this trip and its amazing sights.
The mood of Istanbul in January is completely different from the other months of the year, and the bride of Turkey welcomes more travelers from all over the world this month. New Year festivals and special weather of the city are the distinguishing point of traveling to Istanbul in January. What are your travel plans in January? If you are traveling to the city of coffee and baklava, don't miss this article from Alibaba!
A short guide to travel
The coastal city of Istanbul has very cold weather in January. Of course, the probability of snowfall is not very high; But in the early hours of the morning, fog can be seen in some parts of the city, especially near the Bosphorus canal. No matter how much you enjoy the cold weather, you have to surrender to the brutal cold of Istanbul!
Due to the extreme cold weather, it is better to go to those sightseeing places in Istanbul that have an indoor space. Most of the water activities except boating are closed in January. If you don't want to spend the last days of your trip with a sore throat and a fever of 40 degrees, it's better to take this advice seriously!
– Hagia Sophia Mosque
Each city is known by a special symbol. The city of Istanbul is also famous for the Hagia Sophia museum and mosque. If you take a tram to downtown Istanbul, you can see the dome and four minarets of Hagia Sophia.
At first glance, you will notice the differences between Hagia Sophia building and the traditional architecture of mosques. Hagia Sophia was originally a Byzantine church that was built at the request of Emperor Constantine. After the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans, this amazing building became the main mosque of the city.
Visiting Hagia Sophia will always be free until January 15, 2024. From this date onwards, by order of the Turkish government, foreign tourists must buy a ticket to visit Hagia Sophia.
St. Anthony of Padua Church, Istanbul
More than 100 years ago, a church was built for Italian Catholics on Istanbul's Esteghlal Street. The Italian architecture of St. Anthony of Padua Church separates it from other historical attractions in Istanbul. Without a doubt, you will also be amazed by the mosaics and old red bricks, tall and magnificent columns and statues of Christian leaders.
On the night of December 24, St. Anthony of Padua Church in Istanbul hosts large groups of Christians and tourists who gather for mass. The New Year ritual in this church will continue on the next day, December 25. In this ceremony, a religious ritual is performed with celebration and music. The authorities of St. Anthony's Church hold the New Year ceremony in four different languages such as Turkish, Italian, Polish and English.
– Topkapi Palace
After the historical conquest of Constantinople, the Ottoman kings ordered a palace to be built on the ruins of the Byzantine Empire. Topkapi Palace is one of the first buildings in Istanbul where the signature of the Ottomans can be seen in its construction. The peak of this palace's glory is in spring; The gardens around Topkapi come alive again in spring. Of course, watching this palace in January days still has its own grace.
Over time, many parts of Topkapi Palace have given way to the urban fabric. Now this palace with three courtyards, a harem with 400 rooms and 12 mansions has become a museum that more than two million people come to Istanbul to visit every year. You need more than five hours to visit different sections of Topkapi.
– Spice market
After receiving substantial taxes from the trading city of Egypt, the Ottoman kings built a bazaar in the city, now known as the Spice Bazaar. The spice market is one of the tourist attractions of Istanbul. This market has always been and will be attractive to Mediterranean culinary experts, foreign tourists and local people.
Even if you don't want to buy spices, nuts and sweets, don't miss watching the colorful world of the spice market. You should not rush to buy souvenirs from this market! For an economic purchase, it is better to speak with the sellers in Istanbul Turkish and with a professional accent.
Otherwise, you may buy the goods at a price many times more expensive. Remember that this market is not active in the first few days of the new year. January is the time for big auctions and significant discounts in all Istanbul markets. Be sure to spend time visiting other markets in Istanbul during your trip.
– Blue Mosque
A mosque with multiple domes and a waterfall with six minarets is probably one of the strangest mosques in Islamic architecture. The architects of the Blue Mosque or the Sultan Ahmed Mosque believed in their own style more than the principles of architecture. The combination of the blue patterned tiles and the cascading domes of the mosque has caused lights in the blue spectrum to be reflected in the space of the mosque. You won't find the mystical and special atmosphere of Sultan Ahmed Mosque in any of the historical mosques in Istanbul.
Maybe it was the luck of architect Sinan that the two words alti meaning six and altin meaning golden are very similar! The architect Sinan, who was supposed to design golden minarets for the mosque, mistakenly built six minarets for the blue mosque. Memar Sinan's luck still had a long way to go! At that time, only Masjid al-Haram was built with six minarets.
After the controversy among the elders, the architect Sinan was forced to go to Mecca and add another minaret to the Grand Mosque by the order of the king. With this, the number of minarets of Masjid al-Haram was more than any other mosque and it still maintained its record.
– Basilica reservoir
The name of the Basilica Reservoir is a little unfamiliar to the native people of Istanbul. The people of Istanbul know this tourist attraction as Yere Batan Cistern. Basilica actually means a place of worship. This cellar was first the basement of an important and very old church; Unfortunately, nothing remains of this church.
Turkish historians know the importance of the basilica reservoir in its history. Basilica Cistern is one of the remains of the Roman Empire in Turkey and belongs to more than 1500 years ago. Each of the marble columns of the basilica is 9 meters high. The construction of such a magnificent cellar with 336 columns has led to world fame and the production of several important films in this location.
During the visit of the basilica crypt, you will notice two columns with a different design. At the base of these two columns, the face of one of the legendary Gorgon sisters is made. The legendary and evil creature “Medusa” had the power to turn people into a stone body just by looking at them. Medusa was built by order of the Roman emperor for the beauty and strength of the Basilica Cistern. If you are looking for a legendary mystery in this decision, unfortunately I have to disappoint you!
Galata Tower
If you are a fan of Harry Potter stories, you are familiar with the Room of Requirement! The Room of Requirement was a part of Hogwarts School that did not have a fixed shape. This space was usually hidden and inaccessible; But it appeared in special forms and for people who desperately needed it. Galata Palace also functioned as a room of necessities for the Ottoman Empire.
This tower was originally built to monitor the movement of ships and protect the water borders of Istanbul. The Ottoman kings later turned Galata into a prison to keep enemies of the regime. A few years later, despite the calm in the city, Galata was once again transformed into a place to look out for.
Despite two big fires and various damages, this 9-story tower was well restored after the 19th century. Galata is now a museum to show the Ottoman era. There is a restaurant on the top floor of Galata Palace where you will have a beautiful view of Istanbul.
By traveling to Istanbul during the New Year holidays, you should be ready for the lively atmosphere of the city. In January, many tourists from European, American and Asian cities travel to Istanbul; Therefore, tourist attractions will not be so lonely. This crowding is not annoying at all. You can feel the vibrancy from traveling to Istanbul in January.
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