November 18, 2014

Istanbul: History and Art on Display

One of the highlights of our trip to Istanbul was the 1,400-year-old Hagia Sophia, one of the world's most beautiful and beloved buildings, and a milestone in the history of architecture. Through the centuries it has had many incarnations - it was a Greek Orthodox basilica, an imperial mosque, and since 1935 a national museum.
We also visited the Istanbul Modern Art Museum, which sits on a beautiful spot on the shores of the Bosphorus. It was converted from a former 19th century cargo warehouse. There are permanent and temporary exhibits, a photography gallery, a cinema, restaurant, design store, library, and spaces for educational and social programs. It's the focal point of the contemporary Turkish art scene.
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