Istanbul - Kandilli Observatory, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern, 3/30/2006

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Most viewed - Istanbul - Kandilli Observatory, Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern, 3/30/2006

Blue Mosque - Fountain and Minaret504 viewsOne of the six minarets of the Blue Mosque towers over the fountain in the forecourt of the Mosque.

Monumental Gate493 viewsThe main gate to the courtyard of the Blue Mosque is described as "monumental but narrow."

Path of Totality487 viewsThis large map shows the path of totality of the 2006 eclipse across Turkey. Istanbul was not in the path, so the observatory saw only a partial eclipse.

Etiquette479 viewsVisitors are required to remove their shoes and carry them in a bag provided free of charge. Both men and women are expected to dress modestly (no short pants or skirts), and head coverings for women are mandatory.

Basilica Cistern465 viewsThis huge underground cistern was built in the reign of Justinian (527-565 AD) to provide a filtered water supply for the Imperial Palace and surrounding area.

Royal Loge460 viewsThe retiring rooms of the Royal Loge were the headquarters of the Grand Vizier during the suppression of the Janissary Corps in 1826.

Entertainment Value459 viewsThe Basilica Cistern has been featured in a number of movies, including the James Bond thriller From Russia With Love, in which Bond took advantage of its location under the Soviet Consulate to get access to a cryptographic machine. In reality, the Consulate is nowhere near the Cistern.

Kandilli Observatory Telescope456 viewsThis venerable 200 mm Zeiss refractor was located in the dome atop the Observatory. It was purchased in 1918, delivered in 1924, and became operational in 1935 with the completion of the observatory building.

Tiles456 viewsThe interior of the Blue Mosque is lined with over ceramic 20,000 tiles. These were made in Iznik, the former Nicaea, which was a major center for the production of fine tiles.

Upside-down Medusa Head453 viewsWhy is this head placed upside-down? Legend says that it was to ward off the evil power of the Medusa's gaze, which turned people to stone. Did people really think that a marble carving could have such powers? Or was there a more practical reason?

Sideways Medusa Head452 viewsIt is thought that this Medusa head was placed sideways because only that orientation made it the right height to support the column which it supported.

Illumination451 viewsFlash photography is not permitted in the Blue Mosque. Even though artificial lighting supplements the natural light admitted through the stained-glass windows, it was still too dim for our cameras inside the mosque, so many of our pictures came out blurry.

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