Local Insight: Hagia Sophia’s massive dome, built in the 6th century, was the world’s largest for nearly a thousand years. Its revolutionary design used hidden arches and pendentives to create the illusion of a dome floating on light—a feat that defined Byzantine architecture and still awes visitors today.

Istanbul’s skyline is a dialogue across centuries. Stand in Sultanahmet Square and you’ll see the 6th-century Hagia Sophia, the 17th-century Blue Mosque, and the 4th-century Hippodrome all in one glance—a living museum of architectural ambition.

The Basilica Cistern’s two Medusa head columns are placed sideways and upside down. Locals say it was to neutralize her petrifying gaze, but historians believe it was simply practical Roman engineering—reusing available materials from older structures.

Istanbul’s architecture isn’t just about buildings—it’s about layers of life. In the Grand Bazaar, the same vaulted ceilings have sheltered traders for six centuries. On a Bosphorus cruise, you glide past wooden Ottoman yalıs and gleaming modern towers in a single view.