An Ottoman gunpowder mill that produced gunpowder for the army for more than 200 years is today one of Istanbul’s more interesting cultural centres. Baruthane is also an excellent example of how historic buildings can be preserved while being given entirely new purposes.

Hidden inside Hagia Sophia, a Viking carved his name into the marble over 1,000 years ago. The story of Halvdan changes how we see Constantinople.

Is Turkish Odyssey worth your time? This three-volume work goes far beyond the guidebook - connecting history, culture and geography across Turkey in a way most travel books don’t.

Right behind the newly restored Sirkeci Post Office in Eminönü stands a statue of a hamal - a traditional porter. If you enjoy the blog, you can support it by buying me a virtual coffee Follow the blog on Instagram and YouTube Read also: Skip-the-Line Tickets in Istanbul: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi, Basilica Cistern & More The statue is a symbol of the Ottoman answer to what many years later became known as “delivery riders”. But not everything belongs to the past. Beneath the sta

Explore 8 columns in Istanbul - from the Column of the Goths in Gülhane to the remains of Arcadius’ monument in Fatih. A personal walk through the city, with map and video.