Istanbul Tours Travel
The only city in the world located on two continents is Istanbul, which has
been the capital of three great empires, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman for more
than 2,000 years. Istanbul is Turkey's most populated city, and its cultural and
financial center. Located on both sides of the Bosphorus, the narrow strait
between the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea, Istanbul bridges Asia and Europe both
literally and figuratively. Istanbul's population is variously estimated between
12 and 20 million people, making it also one of the largest cities in Europe.
History of Istanbul
Expanding the ancient Greek colony of Byzantium by the order of the Roman
Emperor Septimius Severus and after him Constantine the great, the imperial city
of Constantinople was for nearly a thousand years the last remaining outpost of
the Roman (later termed Eastern Roman or Byzantine) Empire before finally
conquered by the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II in May 29th, 1453, an event often
taken to mark the end of the Middle Ages. It was the nerve center for military
campaigns that were to enlarge the Ottoman Empire dramatically. By the mid
1500's, Istanbul, with a population of almost half a million, was a major
cultural, political, and commercial center. Ottoman rule continued until it was
defeated in WWI and Istanbul was occupied by the allies. When the Republic of
Turkey was founded in 1923 after the War of Independence, Mustafa Kemal
Ataturk,the founder of The Turkish Republic, moved the capital to the city of
Ankara. But Istanbul has continued to expand dramatically; today its population
is approximately 18 million and increases at an estimated 700,000 immigrants per
year. Industry has expanded even as tourism has grown. It continues to be a city
that creates its own history at the intersection where both Continents meet.
And while you are in Istanbul you must see the following ;
*The Blue mosque,
*Hagia Sophia,
*The Roman Hippodrome,
*Theodosius walls,
*Pierre Loti Hill,
*Grand Bazaar,
*Spice Bazaar,
*Basilica Cistern,
*Topkapi Palace,
*Suleiman's mosque,
*Galata Tower,
*The Bosphorus,
*European Fortress,
*Camlica Hill,