The vast majority of the Jewish community in Turkey (currently estimated at around 26.000 people) lives in Istanbul. This is only a fraction of the 500.000 Jews that once lived in Istanbul during the Ottoman Empire -- a time when Jews and Christians made up 40% of Istanbul's population. Read on for a short history about the Jewish community and an overview of notable synagogues … [Read more...]
Where to See the Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul?
The best place to witness the Whirling Dervishes is of course in Konya, where the Mevlevi order (tarikat) was founded in the 13th century. But also in Istanbul, you have plenty of opportunities to see the Dervishes whirl. And because of the many choices, visitors often ask me: "What is the best place to watch a Whirling Dervishes performance, and what is it really all … [Read more...]
Things You Did Not Know About Turkish Hamams
I always hear mixed reviews of historical hamams. Some love it, some hate it. So it is usually very risky to recommend one. The rule of thumb is that luxury hotel hamams are pricey but better serviced, while historical hamams are cheaper and lesser serviced. But there are of course exceptions. You have probably read tons of info about Turkish Hamams in your guidebooks. I will … [Read more...]