ISTANBUL BOWLING OPEN

Dedeman Hotel

25-01-2009 14:59:00
DEDEMAN HOTELS *****
A melting pot of many cultures and religions... A legendary city throughout history adorned with the most beautiful monuments of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires... A Bridge between Europe and Asia, and a center of global trade... With numerous national and international conferences, art and music festivals, exhibitons and trade shows, Istanbul is a cosmopolitan city of industry, culture and entertainment.

The list of cultural and historical sights is endless, but many of them are situated within the same area, which means that they can easily be combined into half or full day sightseeing tours. Those which should not be missed are the Topkapi Palace, the centre of the Ottoman Empire for centuries, with its fascinating Harem and magnificent collection of royal treasures. Nearby is the impressive Blue Mosque or "Sultan Ahmet" as it is known in Turkish, with its six minarets, the masterpiece created by the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. Facing it stands the Hagia Sophia, built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, with its incredible free-standing dome, which remains an architectural marvel even today - for almost a thousand years it was the largest enclosed space in the world.

A boat trip along the Bosphorus, passing between Ottoman palaces, fortresses and old wooden mansions is a must, and a visit to the Prince Islands, in the Sea of Marmara, also provides a pleasant contrast to the bustling city - no cars are allowed here so the only form of transport is the horse-drawn carriages which take you up to the 12th century monastery of St. George.

Istanbul is Turkey's main shopping centre, offering every type of shopping experience from bartering in the ancient Grand Bazaar, with its maze of over 4000 tiny shops all located under one roof, to browsing in modern, marble shopping malls amongst the latest designs and fashions. The most cosmopolitan of Turkey's cities, Istanbul has a wealth of restaurants and entertainment from the traditional to the modern.