📓 Istanbul 📖 📸 🎥 📎

Safety/cleaning

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Attractions

Daytime Life

Nightlife

Evaluation of Istanbul

Istanbul is one of those cities that captures you from the very first moment, leaving you with a sense of wonder and nostalgia that is hard to describe.

Although it was only a stop of our MSC Sinfonia itinerary, I must say it truly stayed in my heart, and one day I will return to experience it more deeply. By the way, I invite you to read the article on MSC Sinfonia.

Walking through its streets feels like taking a journey through time and cultures: the hypnotic call of the Muezzin, echoing during prayer intertwines with the shouts of merchants at the Grand Bazaar, creating a soundtrack that follows you around every corner.

The intense scent of spices, the color of the fabrics, the showcases full of sweets and the thousand of lights that illuminate the city at sunset make every moment special.

Istanbul is a city where the ancient and the modern coexist in a fascinating balance. Just crossing the Bosphorus Bridge makes you realize you are in a truly unique place, suspended between two worlds, Europe and Asia.

Along its banks,  majestic palaces and slender minarets are reflected in the water, while boats incessantly cross the strait carrying with them the echoes of centuries of history, commerce and meetings of civilization.

Every neighborhood has its own soul: from the elegant charm of Sultanahmet, with the Blue Mosque and Santa Sofia towering in the sky to the lively alleys of Beyoğlu, to the cafes overlooking the sea where time seems to slow down.

Even if I had  only a few hours to visit, Istanbul left a deep mark on me. In that short time, I managed to immerse myself, even if just a little, in its magical atmosphere, wandering through the stalls of the Grand Bazaar and letting myself be carried away by the play of lights, sounds and scents that only a city like this can offer.

I wish I had more time to get lost in its streets, discover its lesser touristy neighborhoods, taste traditional dishes and listen to stories of those living there everyday.

Istanbul is not just a destination: it is a feeling that remains within you: it is the memory of a golden sunset on the Bosphorus, a cup of tea slowly sipped in a crowded square, a smile from a spice seller, or an impromptu conversation with someone eager to share their city.

I'm sure I'll return sooner or later because some places can't be discovered quickly, that deserve time, calm and a heart open to wonder.

In any case, the Grand Bazaar is unique and gigantic between negotiations and counterfeit articles, negotiations and smiles, I invite you to read my dedicated article.

In my VLOG dedicated to MSC Sinfonia I have collected all the emotions experienced in Istanbul and I hope that those who watch it can feel at least a bit of that magic that this city, more than many others, knows how to give.

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