欧亚风情:土耳其的两大建筑瑰宝

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In the heart of Istanbul lie two unmissable architectural landmarks of the Ottoman empire.

Hagia Sophia, an Orthodox church-turned-mosque-turned-museum, and the Blue Mosque, a magnificent tile-paneled mosque built in the 1600s by Ottoman architect Mehmet.

These buildings have endured so much history and served so many people, they stand as tangible evidence that art can bridge nearly any cultural divide.

The Hagia Sophia, a domed basilica oriented on the northwest-southeast axis, is an architectural marvel boasting a unique mix of Byzantine and Ottoman features.

It's most impressive feature is the central dome, which sits between two half domes.

After the dome collapsed in an earthquake in 557 it took five years to reconstruct.

For the next 900 years the Hagia Sophia was the center of Orthodox Christianity, until 1453 when it was conquered by Ottomans.

The structure was then turned into a mosque; minarets were added and crosses and other Christian symbols were defaced.

During the 500 years of the Ottoman empire, the building became the key mosque of the Muslim world.

But in 1935, the site was converted to a museum under the secular reforms of modern Turkey's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, attracting thousands of visitors each year.

Hagia Sophia was chosen as a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1985.

Abdil Bicer, tour guide, said, "Hagia Sophia temple was important for all people, Muslims, Christians, Byzantines and Ottomans. For example, for the Ottoman Turks Hagia Sophia was the most important mosque of the capital city Istanbul. Most of the sultans used to come here to pray Fridays, and the ceremony and throning of the new sultan was made in Hagia Sophia. So this shows us that even though it was built by Christian Byzantines, Hagia Sophia was the most important temple for the Ottomans for about 450 years."

Across the square and manicured gardens from Hagia Sophia lies another Istanbul landmark: the Blue Mosque.

Also known as the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, it is famed for its massive dome, minarets and thousands of hand-painted blue tiles.

Afife Batur, architect, said, "In the most significant point of the historic peninsula we can observe Hagia Sofia; which is a world famous masterpiece. On the other side we have the Blue Mosque, which represents the highest point of Ottoman architecture, culture and history, which had been evolving and developing for three to four centuries."

The Blue Mosque was built early in the 17th century on the order of Sultan Ahmed I, who was only 19 years old at the time.

It was built on the site of the Great Palace of Byzantium, opposite the Hagia Sophia, aiming to rival its grand architecture.

Unlike its neighbor the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque is still a working mosque.

Non-worshippers are required to use the north entrance, off the Hippodrome, but can observe people praying on the premises.