With its history going back to as early as 3000 BC, Istanbul has always been a charming city for emperors, merchants and just for ordinary citizens. Having ruled by the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire and finally by the Ottoman Empire for 470 years, Istanbul is the commercial and social center of the Republic of Turkey since 1923 and proudly carries the cultural, architectural and historical traces and remains of all these civilizations.
Thinking about the ages world history has gone through, it is amazing to realize that the conquest of one city has ended one age and started a new one. When the Ottoman Empire has conquered Istanbul, called Constantinople back then, with the perceptive and innovative techniques of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1453, the world entered the New Age. This fact can be considered sufficient to express the significance of the city for the whole world.
Istanbul is the only city in the world having sea running between the two sides and built on two continents, Asia and Europe, and with all the historical and architectural marvels garnishing the Bosphorus, it is not difficult to guess why millions of people from all around the world come and visit this beautiful city every year.
Istanbul offers endless sights to see, streets to walk and things to do; there are countless alternatives for every taste in this city. If you are new to Istanbul (click for videos), do not hesitate to do the cliché. Take daily tours and do whatever is recommended to first-comers; visit the Hagia Sophia Museum, a church built in 537 by the Byzantine Empire and transformed into a mosque after the conquest of the Ottoman Empire and a monument which is considered one of the Eight Wonders of the World, get fascinated by the grandness of the Blue Mosque, walk around the Hippodrome Square, the sporting and social center of old Byzantium, get lost in the Grand Bazaar and discover the life of the Ottoman Sultans while walking in the hallways of the Topkapi Palace.
Istanbul is an enchanting city one must see at least once in a lifetime. Come and discover this beautiful town, you won’t regret it...
