Splendors of Istanbul: Houses and Palaces Along the Bosporus

Rating:
Summary: The pictures in this book will take your breath away!
Review: I bought this book after our first trip to Turkey, and we have been back since, having this beautiful book as a reference. No trip to Istanbul is complete without a boat trip up the Bosphorus. This book reinforces that fact, plus takes us inside buildings that one can only see from the water. The quality of the photos, descriptions and printing are first rate. The commentary is well written, with an excellent section on the history of the Bosphorus and its effect on the design of the houses and palaces. Design elements and details are beautifully illustrated. I enjoy just reliving the slow, beautiful trip up one of the world's most historic waterways. This book would also be a valuable resource for set designers looking to reproduce the opulant period interiors. If you read this book before a trip to Istanbul, you will have a much better appreciation and understanding of one of the most beautiful places in the world.