Constantinople

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrated the conversion of Istanbul's Hagia Sophia into a mosque by reciting a poem that refers to himself as a modern reincarnation of Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror who captured what was the world's largest cathedral in 1453.

The Suna and İnan Kıraç Foundation Istanbul Research Institute's latest exhibition presents a glimpse into Istanbul occupied by the British, French and Italian armed forces after World War I, as revealed through written accounts and images discovered in the archives.

Urban design practices and façade restorations carried out by the municipality in the Balat neighborhood of Istanbul's Fatih district have made neighborhoods on the shores of the Golden Horn a frequent destination for photographers.

The cargo ship MKK 1, travelling from Ukraine to Turkey, was grounded in Istanbul's Bosphorus Strait on Monday and traffic in the strait was suspended but no damage was reported, shipping agents Tribeca said.

Several tugs were among vessels sent to provide assistance to the ship, the coastguard authority said.

The most expensive one-way and roundtrip airline tickets were sold for the flights from Istanbul to Australia and the U.S., according to a report.

Türkiye celebrates the 99th anniversary of Republic Day on Oct. 29 with official ceremonies and a series of events held throughout the country, its representations abroad and Turkish Cyprus.

Celebrations began with state officials' visit to Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in the capital Ankara.

Since its 15th edition in 2017, the Istanbul Biennial has invited an artist to present a permanent artwork in the public space for each edition.

Turkish artist Ayşe Erkmen's new sculptural work, made for the 17th Istanbul Biennial, was unveiled on Oct. 24.

Istanbul is currently enjoying one of the business periods in tourist season this year and first-time visitors to the city are on the rise, says Müberra Eresin, the chair of the Hotel Association of Türkiye (TÜROB).

Gate 27, an international residency program that aims to facilitate the research and production processes of different practices and to provide a platform for interdisciplinary interaction, hosts artists from different countries and disciplines in the autumn-winter 2022 season.

Türkiye's first zoology museum will be reopened seven years later after being relocated due to earthquake risk.

In 2105, a demolition decision was taken for the museum, which was opened in Istanbul's Beyazıt districts in 1933.

Within the scope of the decision, the museum's collections were taken under protection in the warehouses of Istanbul University for seven years.