Turkey is a surprising and wonderful country. The antique past, the Islamic present and universal future has closely intertwined in this oasis of history, the nature and culture. Turkey is famous with it surprising, rich, bright and picturesque nature.

   Turkey, covered with resorts, is one of the corners of our planet most attractive for rest. Warm Turkey remains that land where every tourist would like to come back again and again. The swimming season in Turkey begins in April and continues till the November, and it is whole half a year.
Istanbul embraces two continents with one arm reaching out to Asia and the other to Europe. Through the city’s heart, the Bosporus, course the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn.

   The former capital of three successive empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, Istanbul today honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to a modern future. In Istanbul you can find a variety of fascinating place of interest. The museums, churches, palaces, grand mosques, bazaars and sight of natural beauty seem innumerable.

   The main sight of a city – a cathedral of St. Sofia (Ajja-Sofija) where under the legend, Russian prince got acquainted with Christian belief, the biggest Christian temple of time (cathedral height – 55 m., diameter of a dome – 31 m.).

   This grandiose temple is built in 532-537 by Anfimiem from Trall and Isidorom from Miletus. In 1453 Sacred Sofia by a simple extension of minarets have transformed into a mosque, almost all magnificent mosaics of a cathedral have been covered (Islam forbids to represent people and animals), and since 1935 when the cathedral became a museum, their restoration is conducted. Sights of Sacred Sofia concern copper-plated "a crying column" (say that if to put a hand in its aperture and to think of desire it will necessarily come true), and also "a cold window" from which even in the hottest day the cool breeze blows. One of eight columns in northern wing is considered miracle – here, under the legend, there is sacred George.

   Mosque of Ahmedie (1609 – 1616, "a blue mosque"), constructed on a place of a palace of the Byzantian emperor which fragments of a mosaic are stored now in the Mosaic Museum. Walls of Ahmedie are covered by the tile of easy blue color reflecting solar beams that gives it special charm. In a mosque three parts – an external court yard, a courtyard and the central building with a dome in height of 43 m., in which 260 windows. The interior is laid out 21 thousand tile tiles. Majestic domes are decorated by jewelry and painted by Muslim prayers. The mosque has six minarets, therefore to the Big mosque in Mecca the seventh minaret that Islam relic still had not equal has been attached. Here Muslim holidays are celebrated, and from here pilgrims go to Mecca.

   The sultan palace of Topkapy is one of the largest sights of interest in Istanbul. It is constructed in 1466 by order of the sultan of the Mehmeda-conqueror. To the middle of XIX century in it there lived sultans while Mahmud II has not transferred the residence on coast of Bosporus. . In the Armory Museum the richest collection of the Turkish weapon is collected, the gift of the English queen – a gold gun here is stored. The storehouse of historical relics is in the former treasury and sultan rooms. Now here thrones, personal things and a collection of smart attires of the sultans. The harem in the left wing of palace constructions always causes genuine interest both in tourists, and at a Turk. Outwardly modest and simple building which was under construction during lifetime of several sultans, inside amazes with luxury and riches of furniture. Harems always were carefully protected, access there has been closed for everything, except the sultan and its faithful servants, and infringers were punished by death.

   Near to the house where the throne-room is located, there is a sultan library in which was to 24 thousand books and manuscripts. Necessarily it is necessary to visit the Tank Basils – the underground chamber on 336 columns, constructed still Justinianom (532) for water storage. Later this unique water basin supplied with water the big palace and a sultan palace of Topkapy, and is quite functional till now.