The place where Europe and Africa meet, through a narrow straight of less than 15 km width, is more a strategic and sentimental point. Technically, Gibraltar belongs to Great Britain, it has scrupulous check-points and her majesty’s Royal Police patrolling. Otherwise, this tiny limb of land is not separated from the Iberic Peninsula, and authorities […]

Though the Western world fantasizes about the erotic and mysterious nature of a harem, in the Ottoman world it was rather an elaborate institution than a place for orgiastic love. The relationships inside the harem (which translates “the forbidden place”) were rather ceremonial, with a numerous staff, of about 10 servants per room. Polygamy is […]

Facing its Byzantine model, Agia Sofia, the Blue Mosque is a landmark of Istanbul. The Blue Mosque is the only mosque in Istanbul with 6 minarets. Since minarets (the towers of a mosque) are a rank sign, the sultan was criticized for choosing an equal number of minarets to that of the Ka’aba Mosque in […]