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GERMAN CHANCELLOR VISITS MUSEUM AND MOSQUE IN ISTANBUL
ISTANBUL - German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Hagia Sophia museum and Sultanahmet Mosque in Istanbul on Tuesday.
30.03.2010 - Update : 30.03.2010
Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis and Culture & Tourism Minister Ertugrul Gunay accompanied Merkel.
Merkel arrived in Turkey on Monday for a two-day state visit.
Later in the day, she will visit German high school and German church. Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend a concert which will take place at German Consulate General in Istanbul, and then participate in Turkey-Germany Business Forum meeting at Ciragan Palace.
Merkel will depart from Turkey after completing her meetings.
-HAGIA SOPHIA-
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum in Istanbul. The building was a mosque from May 29, 1453 until 1934, then it was opened as a museum on February 1, 1935. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and to have "changed the history of architecture." It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1520. In 1453, Istanbul was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. The Islamic features — such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets outside — were added over the course of its history under the Ottomans. It remained as a mosque until 1935 when it was converted into a museum by the Republic of Turkey.
-SULTANAHMET MOSQUE-
The Sultanahmet Mosque is a historical mosque in Istanbul which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. It comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultanahmet Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
Merkel arrived in Turkey on Monday for a two-day state visit.
Later in the day, she will visit German high school and German church. Merkel and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will attend a concert which will take place at German Consulate General in Istanbul, and then participate in Turkey-Germany Business Forum meeting at Ciragan Palace.
Merkel will depart from Turkey after completing her meetings.
-HAGIA SOPHIA-
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, now a museum in Istanbul. The building was a mosque from May 29, 1453 until 1934, then it was opened as a museum on February 1, 1935. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and to have "changed the history of architecture." It was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years, until the completion of the Seville Cathedral in 1520. In 1453, Istanbul was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and Sultan Mehmed II ordered the building to be converted into a mosque. The Islamic features — such as the mihrab, the minbar, and the four minarets outside — were added over the course of its history under the Ottomans. It remained as a mosque until 1935 when it was converted into a museum by the Republic of Turkey.
-SULTANAHMET MOSQUE-
The Sultanahmet Mosque is a historical mosque in Istanbul which was the capital of the Ottoman Empire (from 1453 to 1923). The mosque is popularly known as the Blue Mosque for the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. It was built between 1609 and 1616, during the rule of Ahmed I. It comprises a tomb of the founder, a madrasah and a hospice. While still used as a mosque, the Sultanahmet Mosque has also become a popular tourist attraction. Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.
