In August 09 the ECNP was held in Istanbul. The days were long and it was perfect for a conference venue as there was plenty of time in the evening when the light was good for photography. It was also the month of Ramadan and once the fast ended suddenly whole of Istanbul came to life after sunset. I did most of my touring with two other psychiatrists working in London. Since time is limited at conferences I generally have a hit list of must sees. Right at the top of this particular list was the Hagia Sophia. The other two major attractions the blue mosque and the Topkapi palace are within a stone’s throw of the Hagia Sophia and can be covered in one day. Hagia Sophia is an amazing construction. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is the epitome of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest cathedral in the world for a 1000 years till the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1520. The space inside is awe inspiring in spite of teeming with tourists. Those into photographing night time architecture will enjoy this specially. Not sure whether its lit up all year through or whether we were lucky due to the holy month of Ramadan. The Blue mosque which is directly across the fountain in front of the Hagia Sophia is also quite grand. However once you have seen the Hagia Sophia nothing else in Istanbul compares. The Topkapi palace with its permanent displays of precious stones and religious Islamic items is also steeped in history and a relic to power o the Ottomans. An evening boat ride on the Bosphorus is also quite stunning as you pass some beautiful architecture on both coasts. For stunning views of the city and sun set make your way to the Galata Tower which is open till 8 pm. We also went to the Kapali Carsi, the world’s largest covered market and I bought some Turkish lights.
