Istanbul

Hagia Sophia

Inside the Mosque, you find stunning ancient work that used to be Islamic, then Christian then Islamic again.
Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) 

Blue Mosque

A Peek inside the blue mosque. It was peaceful and serene. The intricate art work is incredible.

At the entrance of Ottoman palace stands this guard. This scene of a military man with a machine gun in the hand and Bosphorus in the background was an epitome of the current situation in Istanbul. 

A trip to Basilica Cistern is a must do.