The Deesis Mosaic, depicting Christ Pantrocrator flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist, dating from the Restoration of Constantinople in 1261 at the end of Crusader occupation, Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

The Deesis Mosaic, depicting Christ Pantrocrator flanked by the Virgin Mary and St. John the Baptist, dating from the Restoration of Constantinople in 1261 at the end of Crusader occupation, Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia), UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Church of Santa Maria of Constantinople, Manduria, Taranto, Apulia, Italy

Church of Our Lady of Constantinople, Tricase, Lecce, Salento, Apulia, Italy

View of Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque), completed in 537 AD, with the Great Palace of Constantinople ruins in the foreground, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Obelisk of Theodosius, Ancient Egyptian Obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III, 1479 BC- 1425 BC), Hippodrome of Constantinople, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Eurpe

Obelisk of Theodosius, Ancient Egyptian Obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III, 1479 BC- 1425 BC, Hippodrome of Constantinople, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

View of Hagia Sophia (Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque), completed in 537 AD, with the Great Palace of Constantinople ruins in the foreground, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Cityscape of Beyoglu, a municipality and district on the European side, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Our Lady of Constantinople, Co-cathedral of Ruvo di Puglia, Ruvo di Puglia, Bari, Apulia, Italy

Obelisk of Theodosius (ancient Egyptian obelisk of Pharaoh Thutmose III) in the Hippodrome of Constantinople, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Muslim man washing his feet at the New Mosque, Eminonu Yeni Camii, Eminonu, Istanbul, Turkey

People selling food for pigeons at the New Mosque, Eminonu Yeni Camii, Eminonu, Istanbul, Turkey

Man making fresh coffee in a street, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey

Woman selling food for pigeons at the New Mosque, Eminonu Yeni Camii, Eminonu, Istanbul, Turkey

Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, Istiklal Caddesi, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey

Man making fresh coffee in a street, Beyoglu, Istanbul, Turkey

Colourful painted steps, Karakoy region, Istanbul, Turkey

Men washing their feet in preparation for prayers, at Suleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey

Exterior fresco depicting the siege of Constantinople, Moldovita Church of Annunciation, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Southern Bukovina, Moldova, Romania, Europe

Aerial view of city European part, Golden Horn, Istanbul, Turkey

Cargo ship with containers at Marmara Sea, Istanbul, Turkey

Basilica Cistern is a huge underground Roman water source held up with 336 marble columns, on some of them Medusa heads and decorations covering 9, 800 sq. meters, Istanbul, Turkey

Marmora sea late afternoon with ships sailing near Uskudar and Besektas, Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey, Istanbul, Sultanahmet, Orient Express sign beside cafe on station platform Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal or Sirkeci is a terminus main station of the Turkish State Railways or TCDD in Sirkeci, on the European part of Istanbul International, domestic and regional trains running westwards depart from this station which was inaugurated as the terminus of the Orient Express

Turkey, Istanbul, Colourful painted steps, Karakoy region.

Turkey, Istanbul, Passenger ferry in the Golden Horn, and Galata Tower.

Sultanahmet Haghia Sophia tomb of Enrico Dandolo the 41st Doge of Venice who sacked Constantinople in the 4th Crusade after being blinded by the Byzantines when he was ambassador there, Istanbul, Turkey