Istanbul

Low angle view of the Enderun Library, or Library of Sultan Ahmed III, 1719, by Mimar Besir Aga, Topkapi Palace, 1459, Istanbul, Turkey. The library has the form of a Greek cross with a domed central hall and three rectangular bays. The fourth arm of the cross consists of the portico (porch), which can be approached by a flight of stairs on either side. Beneath the central arch of the portico is an elaborate drinking fountain (bottom right) with niches on each side. The building is set on a low basement to protect the precious books of the library against moisture. The historical areas of the city were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Picture by Manuel Cohen

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Ahmed Arcade Arcaded Bosphorus Byzantium Mehmed Mimar Neo-classical Sultans Topkapi

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