Search Results for: İstanbul

Flag of Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha

Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha, aka Hızır Reis, was born on Midilli Island at the beginning of the 1470s. The name Hayrettin was given him by Suleyman the Magnificent (Kanuni Sultan Süleyman) for services he had done. It means “good for religion.” After leaving business and commerce professions, Barbaros started sailing; in the 1520s, he organized raids to the Mediterranean shores and …

Where Does the Crescent and the Star Icon Come From?

The beautiful adornments of our red flag, the crescent and the star, are explained in many different ways. As famous poet Mehmet Akif addresses the Turkish red flag with the crescent and the star during the Turkish National Anthem, which is sung by the children with a lot of enthusiasm at ceremonies, many works today emphasize that the crescent and …

Turkish Pirates

Combining truth and legend, with black eye patches and black skull flags, pirates are the fearful nightmares of sailors. Nowadays, pirates depicted in movies are barbarian haramis who seize the ships for the booty, especially in the open seas, and kill people mercilessly. However, the term Pirate in the Ottoman evokes many different meanings. Would it surprise you if we …

Turkish Crash Course 101

English is taught even in kindergartens now in our country, however, there are not a lot of people who can speak English. In fact, we encounter many flaws in the education of our own language, let alone foreign language education. Turkish language that we describe as Istanbul Turkish found its most beautiful form with artists like Zeki Müren, but is …

Timing Rooms (Muvakkithane)

Although it is known in geography and astronomy education that Greenwich is the starter meridian, it was the Million Stone in Sultanahmet during the Roman Empire era. Later, Hagia Sophia served as the starting meridian to determine the time. While the information about time and astronomy changes day by day, the institutions we call timing rooms draw attention as the …

The Rock Candy Policy

I seem to hear that many who read the title smile and say, “Would it be candy’s policy?”. However, if the subject is Ottoman and Ancestry, each word carries a different meaning and is selected carefully. Especially, during the bairam days we remember the rock candy (akide şekeri), and now it has a nostalgic value. It will attract your attention …

The Ottoman Architecture Seen Around Balyan Family

In the 19th century, which was described as the most fervent period of the Ottoman for opening to the west, an Armenian family greatly influenced the architecture, which is still seen in present day.The Armenian architects called as the Balyan Family were held in high honor by the high state officials of the Ottoman in the 19th century. An enormous …

Most Beautiful Islands of Turkey

If you are tired of crowded cities, traffic intensity and rushing around, and you would like to find peace, you should definitely have a look at Turkey’s most beautiful islands. Islands in gorgeous resort areas such as the Aegean and Mediterranean offer relaxing holiday opportunities and an abundance of natural beauty.

Best Nightclubs in Turkey

In addition to enjoying historic centers and beautiful locations during the daytime, why not have fun at night? If you are a nighthawk, see our recommendations for nightclubs in Turkey.

15 Highlights of Turkey for Beginners

With thousands of years of history, Turkey is home to many interesting locations to visit. We accumulated 15 highlights of Turkey that come to mind when Turkey is mentioned.