China Suárez and Mauro Icardi in Türkiye: the best places to visit in Istanbul

"New home. Officially moved in," La China wrote on her Instagram account , which also included the location: " Istanbul, Turkey ." With this post, actress Eugenia "La China" Suárez and soccer player Mauro Icardi confirmed their move to a new home in Istanbul .

Ten years ago, this spectacular Turkish city sparked the interest of many through the Turkish soap operas that aired on Argentine screens (One Thousand and One Nights, Ezel, and Secrets, Nobody Is Innocent). Today, the soap operas of our time, featuring the twists and turns of characters like Wanda Nara, Icardi, and La China, take us, once again, to this fascinating destination.

Straddling two continents , Istanbul is a city of endless possibilities. You can visit it a thousand times and there's always something new to see and do, between the bustling streets, markets, bridges, and mosques; the iconic views of the Bosphorus Strait and the Golden Horn ; the captivating Istiklal pedestrian zone ; Taksim Square ; and the beautiful Galata Tower .

Here are some must-sees to see or see again.

Close to each other, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia are two must-see attractions in Istanbul.

The Blue Mosque dates back to 1617. It is the last great mosque of the classical Ottoman period and its name is Sultanahmet Mosque - because Sultan Ahmed ordered it to be built in 1609 - but it is known as the Blue Mosque because of the more than 20,000 Iznik tiles that decorate the dome and the upper part.

Opposite, separated by a garden, is Hagia Sophia (also known as Ayasofya or Hagia Sophia, meaning "divine wisdom"). It was a Catholic cathedral , a mosque for five centuries, and in 1935, it became a museum .

In 2020, Turkish President Erdogan converted it back into a mosque.

Another must-see is the Suleymaniye Mosque , the largest of all Istanbul's mosques. It was built between 1550 and 1557 and is considered one of the greatest achievements of Suleiman I, "The Magnificent."

In all cases, shoes must be removed to enter, and women must wear head coverings. If clothing is not appropriate for entry (tight jeans, bare shoulders), the venue will provide visitors with the necessary clothing to wear and enter.

A very interesting place to visit: an underground construction commissioned by Justinian I in the 6th century to conserve the water that would be used to supply his palace and other buildings in the event of attacks that destroyed the aqueduct.

The place is imposing and resembles an underground church with its 336 9-meter-high columns. Note: at the base of two columns is the head of Medusa.

This is the largest of the 60 cisterns built in the city.

Istanbul's bazaars are a must-see for the number of shops, the products they sell, the exchanges, and the experience.

The Grand Bazaar , built by order of Sultan Mehmed II in 1461, is a labyrinth of shops and covered and open-air walkways . Everything from sweets and soccer jerseys to jewelry and carpets is sold. All languages are spoken, and you must learn how to haggle.

It has 4,000 shops and 18 side gates. It is said that between 300,000 and 500,000 people pass through the place every day—depending on the season.

The Spice Bazaar (also called the Egyptian Market because spices were once brought from Egypt) is a tourist market with stalls selling teas, coffees, sweets, and every spice imaginable.

There are dried fruits, huge piles of walnuts, chestnuts and almonds, and lokum, the typical local sweets.

This former palace was the residence of Ottoman sultans, and now evokes centuries of imperial grandeur.

It has beautiful gardens, spectacular views of the Bosphorus and a very attractive history.

The museum displays everything from sacred relics to garments that reflect the luxury in which the Ottoman emperors lived.

There's much more to see in the city, but we'll end here with a visit linked to the duo of La China and Icardi, already established in Istanbul: the Turkish club Galatasaray , which is open to visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission includes visits to the museum and the stadium and costs US$12 per person.