TURKEY

The Turkish phrase ‘to live in a golden cage’ originated from this practice of confining the princes. - Topkapi Palace - The Sovereign Seat of the Ottomans - Travelure ©

Hagia Sophia can brag to have the world’s first photoshopped artwork - the Empress Zoe mosaic on its first floor. The empress married at least three times, and the face of the person on the left has been repainted at least thrice to depict her then-husband. - Hagia Sophia, Istanbul - A Byzantine Architecture Marvel - Travelure ©

Göbekli Tepe is the most ancient site of humans practising religion. Schmidt called it the first human-built holy place. The religion originated here. - Göbekli Tepe Turkey - World’s oldest temple? - Travelure ©

Straddling two continents, and between two seas, Istanbul enjoys a unique position. A European and an Asian side. A natural strait - Bosphorus - separates the two. Earlier going by the names Byzantium and Constantinople, it is home to over 15 million people. - Historic Areas of Istanbul - Travelure ©

In one room, over a dozen traditional chefs were at work. They were creating sheets of white flour, thinner than muslin. The room had a haze of flour. The rolling pins were a yard and a half long. These sheets were being sheared off the pins in delicate layers. And all this, happening on a table over 25 feet long! - Gaziantep Turkey - A UNESCO Gastronomy Creative City - Travelure ©