Istanbul, which was known as capital of the capital cities, and created huge peace geographies with reigning to first Roma, and then Eastern Roman (Byzantium) Empire and continents, and was the capital city of Ottoman Empire, is going to a modern future with preserving magnificence of history with proud. Variety in Istanbul is really charming the visitors. It is serving infinite nuances with its museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaar places and natural beauties. When you lean against backside at the coast of the strait, you feel Istanbul as "center of the world" and understand why people select this extraordinary place centuries before with watching the reflection of the red at sun set from the houses at the coast.

What is now called Asian Istanbul was probably inhabited by people as early as 3000 BC. Eventually, in the 7th century, Greek colonists led by King Byzas established the colony of Byzantium, the Greek name for a city on the Bosphorus. Byzas chose the spot after consulting an oracle of Delphi who told him to settle across from the "land of the blind ones." Indeed, Byzas concluded, earlier settlers must have been deprived of their sight to have overlooked this superb location at the mouth of the Bosphorus strait. This proved an auspicious decision by Byzas, as history has shown Istanbul's location important far beyond what these early Greek settlers might possibly have conceived. Byzas gave his name to the city: Byzantium.

In the early 100's BC, it became part of the Roman Empire and in 306 AD, Emperor Constantine the Great made Byzantium capital of the entire Roman Empire. From that point on, the city was known as Constantinople.

The mid 400's AD was a time of enormous upheaval in the empire. Barbarians conquered the western Roman Empire while the Eastern, also called the Byzantine Empire, kept Constantinople as its capital. In 532 during the reign of Justinian I, antigovernment riots destroyed the city. It was rebuilt, and outstanding structures such as Hagia Sophia stand as monuments to the heights Byzantine culture reached.

The attribute that made the city so desirable, its incomparable location for trade and transport between three continents, was also its nemesis. For the next several hundred years Persians, Arabs, nomadic peoples, and members of the Fourth Crusade (who for a time governed the city) attacked Constantinople.

Finally, weakened by almost constant battle, the Ottoman Turks lead by Sultan Mehmet II conquered Constantinople in 1453. Renamed Istanbul, it became the third and last capital of the Ottoman Empire. 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 born in 1923 after the War of Independence, Kemal Ataturk moved the capital to the city of Ankara. But Istanbul has continued to expand dramatically; today its population is approximately twelve 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.

There are many interesting museums, castles, palaces, mosques and churches. Some of the interesting districts of the city are: Haydarpasa, Uskudar, Eyup, Galata, Perapalas, Ortakoy, Bosphorus, Taksim, Eminonu and Sultanahmet

 

TOPKAPI PALACE
Topkapi was a palace of the Ottoman sultans; nowadays it is a museum. Jewellery, for example 81-carat Kasikci diamond and thrones decorated with jewels astonish visitors. In the kitchen there is an immeasurable collection of Chinese porcelain. Harem was the most important part of the sultans' family life and that section of the Palace is still the most impressive part. In addition to sultans four official wives a great number of mistresses lived in the Harem.

HAGIA SOPHIA
Hagia Sophia Church was constructed by Justinian in the 6th century and it was the centre of the Byzantine Empire for almost one thousand years. The church is a masterpiece of architecture not only for its size but also for its gold mosaics covering 1.6 hectares of walls, vaults and columns. Earthquakes have ruined its vaults, crusaders robbed its treasures and in the end of the Byzantine Empire it fell into disrepair due to the lack of money. When Turks conquered Constantinople the church was converted into a mosque and later in 1931 it was changed into a museum.

BLUE MOSQUE
Blue Mosque was built during 1600-1616 and it has six minarets. The mosque takes its name after its blue tile decorations. In summer nights beautiful Sound and Light Shows attract tourists.