Hagia Sophia

The Hagia Sophia is located in Istanbul. It is important to both the Byzantine and the Ottoman empires. For 900 years the Hagia Sophia had been the center of Orthodox Christianity until 1453when the city was taken over by the Ottomans. It then became a jewel for the Muslim world. The dome is what mostly makes Hagia Sophia world famous. Due to many repairs the dome has lost its circular shape. The church has a rectangle shape with 40 arched windows that bring the light in. In 1935 the Hagia Sophia was converted in a museum of Turkish Republic by the orders of  Ataturk and has become one of the most significant monuments on Earth.

What is Pamukkall?

While doing my project I ran across this top-tourist attraction in Turkey called Pamukkall. Pamukkall is an unusual natural and historical site. The name translate to cotton castle. The white castles are formed by limestone-laden thermal springs which creates the formation of stalactites, potholes, and cataracts. The waters in the terraces are sediments of the springs with calcium bicarbonate . This water is famous for its benefits to the eyes and skin; and its curing properties to asthma. Hierapolis is situated on the back of the white terraces. Pamukkall looks like  heaven to me and it is now on my bucket list(:

The Blue Mosque

When I thought of Turkey, I thought that it was a dry, boring place. But I've  learned that it definitely isn't. One of the most popular tourist attractions is the Suhanahmet Mosque which translate to the Blue Mosque. The blue mosque is located in Istanbul, Turkey. The blue mosque was built near the Hagia Sophia. The construction began in 1609 and lasted seven years. Sultan Ahmet 1st wanted this mosque built and he often helped with the construction. He died a year after the completion and is buried outside the mosque.

Volcanic Island

Santorini is a major tourist attraction in Greece. This island is porbably what you imagine Greece to look like. On this island are the white buildings with blue tops. This island is located in the middle of the Aegean Sea. The name Santorini means Saint Irene. Santorini is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in the world and what remains today is a submerged volcano and a caldera. During the eruption theentire center of the circular island sank. One thing to do if you even visit this island is to visit the villiage of  Oia. It is the most famous of all the villages.It has a quite life and fantastic sunsets. And don't forget about all the beautiful beaches on this island too!