I return to Sultanahmet for the interior of the two grand mosques in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia and Sultan Ahmed Mosque. Whether you are a visitor or a worshiper, once you’re in the mosques, the architectures encourage you to look up. It is a visual feast to look at and take photos of. However, what you really find above is personal. I find lights, literally.
Ayasofya, officially known as Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, offers a classic characteristic of places of worship—a grandiose gesture of religions. It works, for thousands of years. There are spotlights from the sun through windows on the domes. I have to kneel down to get the camera angle right straight to the light sources above. While taking the shots, I think to myself, “Hah! This place gets you to pay a homage to it one way or another”. It touches me nonetheless.
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Unfortunately, the Blue Mosque is under restoration. Its spectacularity still shines behind the scaffolds. And we still have to look up!
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It is true that you cannot miss this historic neighbourhood. I’m glad that I have a better preparation than the first stroll around the complex. You can see more when you look inside.
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