| What makes a city one of the most popular tourist | | | | Although it may not be considered one of the top |
| destinations in the world? Europe is a continent full of | | | | beach vacation spots in Europe, Istanbul's location on |
| cities that travelers flock to year round for several | | | | the Bosporus and close to the Black Sea as well as |
| reasons. Solo travelers, as well as families, are drawn | | | | the Mediterranean, makes it a city close to many of |
| to European cities because of the many things they | | | | the beautiful beaches Turkey has to offer. |
| have to offer. With their rich cultures, unique food, and | | | | There is plenty to do in Istanbul as well. From the |
| abundant history, European cities offer some of the | | | | Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman Empire to modern |
| top vacation spots in the world. | | | | Turkey, Istanbul is a testament to Turkey's vast history. |
| From one side of Europe to the other, and from Spain | | | | For example, the Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya in Turkish), |
| to Turkey, Europe has many places worth visiting. | | | | was originally a church built in 550 A.D. that was later |
| Barcelona, Spain is a big city mostly without the big city | | | | converted into a mosque by the Ottomans in 1453. |
| feel, meaning that it does not feel overcrowded or | | | | Currently, researchers are attempting to uncover old |
| suffocating like many other large cities. There is | | | | church paintings beneath the mosque's walls that were |
| unusual architecture in Barcelona as well as Gothic | | | | displayed in the original church. |
| architecture that is well worth seeing. One of the most | | | | Just across the street from the Hagia Sofia is the |
| famous structures in Barcelona is La Sagrada Familia. | | | | other famous mosque, the Blue Mosque. Built by Sultan |
| It is still under construction, but follows the guidelines | | | | Suleyman the Magnificent in the 1500s, it is one of the |
| that Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi initially set forth. | | | | biggest mosques in the world and entry is free. |
| Gaudi is most known for his famous architecture that | | | | Everyone is required to take their shoes off before |
| is scattered throughout the city, but he also designed | | | | entering and women need to be modestly dressed |
| furniture and landscaped around Barcelona. Building of | | | | and cover their heads to enter. The architecture and |
| La Sagrada Familia began in 1882 and has been | | | | fine details of the Blue Mosque are worth seeing. |
| funded by donations ever since. When the church is | | | | Barcelona and Istanbul are just two of many cities in |
| finished, it will have 18 towers and be an iconic building | | | | Europe that have a lot to offer travelers. Learn about |
| in the center of Barcelona. | | | | why Constantinople changed to Istanbul or why La |
| On the other side of Europe, Istanbul is a city also rich | | | | Sagrada Familia has been under construction for over |
| with culture. It straddles both east and west, with one | | | | 100 years by paying a visit to Barcelona. |
| side of the city in Asia and the other in Europe. | | | | |