While Ankara is the capital, ISTANBUL (1 on
map) is the country's cultural, economic, and historic
center. It has been known by many names
including Byzantium and then Constantinople
before becoming Istanbul. Founded in 660 BC,
it was the capital of the Roman/Byzantine, Latin
and Ottoman empires for most of the time period
of 330 AD to 1923.
Today, Istanbul (Previous Page) is the world’s 7th
most populous city and is partially in Europe and
part in Asia. According to the World Trade Organization,
it ranks 6th as a world tourist destination.
The historic center of Istanbul is also listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
No matter which way you turn, you see
magnificent masonry construction. The
Haga Sophia (c. 537 AD) is my favorite
(Fig 3). Built in only six years, the
Masonry Design | 59
Masonry is the dominant construction type for
commercial and residential buildings in Turkey.
There are high-rise steel and concrete frame
buildings with glass curtain wall that can be found
in any large city in the world. But, Turkey still has
many low-rise buildings with concrete frame and
masonry infill.
Turkey is a wealthy country is terms of history
and monuments. It is also a country with large
earthquakes. Often, that is a bad combination.
Many magnificent monuments have been lost to
earthquakes. The challenge Turkey faces is to
conserve, preserve and restore their remaining
built heritage for future generations.
MAP OF TURKEY WITH SITES
WE’LL VISIT ARE CIRCLED