Istanbul (TURKEY / ASIA)

 Istanbul is a coastal city, hedging between the Black Sea & Sea of Marmara. Τhe coastline in Istanbul stretches over 280 miles (450 kilometers). 

Ιt is the only city  in the world that is set on two continents – Europe & Asia. The Bosporus (the Strait of Istanbul) passes through the city, which is part of the continental boundary between Europe & Asia. The Bosporus Strait is the only passageway from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and the Sea of Marmara. It separates the Asian Turkey and European Turkey regions. The two sides of the Bosporus are known as the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. 

Istanbul (formerly Constantinople) is Turkey’s primary seaport and the largest city. It was the capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires as well. Even today, Istanbul is not the capital of Turkey, still is the largest city in Turkey, about three times bigger than Ankara, the capital of Turkey.

Its first name was Byzantium (from the name of legendary king Byzas) gave to it in 660 BC by Megarean colonists. Subsequently, it was called Constantinople (“City of Constantine”) after the Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. The city was officially renamed Istanbul instead of Constantinople in 1930.

Roman Emperor Constantine the Great built Constantinople on seven hills to make it match the famous seven hills of Rome. Interestingly, on each of the hills of Istanbul there are located imperial mosques and other historic landmarks that were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

There are about 3,313 mosques in Istanbul, more than in any other city in Turkey. The biggest one is Blue Mosque, an absolute must-see and it is the only one in Istanbul with six minarets, the maximum number allowed.

One of the most iconic sights of Istanbul, spectacular and enormous Hagia Sophia , was first an Orthodox cathedral built in 537, and much later, in 1453, in the times of the Ottoman empire, it was converted into a mosque. It was the biggest church in the world for 9 centuries, until the Cathedral of Seville was built in 1520, taking the first place. Hagia Sophia collapsed and was rebuilt three times throughout its history.

By long tradition, the waters washing the peninsula are called “the three seas”: they are the Golden Horn, the Bosporus, and the Sea of Marmara. The Golden Horn is a deep drowned valley about 4.5 miles (7 km) long. Early inhabitants saw it as being shaped like a deer horn, but modern Turks call it the Haliç (“Canal”). The Bosporus (İstanbul Boğazı) is the channel connecting the Black Sea (Karadeniz) to the Mediterranean  (Akdeniz) by way of the Sea of Marmara (Marmara Denizi) and the straits of the Dardanelles.

The great rivers of Russia and middle Europe  – the Danube, Dnieper and Dniester – make the Black Sea colder and less briny than the Mediterranean. The Black Sea waters thrust southward through the Bosporus, but beneath them the salty warm waters of the Mediterranean push northward as a powerful undercurrent running through the same channel.

The Grand Bazaar is the biggest old covered bazaar in the world, with over 3.000 shops. It is the oldest and biggest covered market in the world. The Grand Bazaar is located in the district of Fatih , inside the Walled city of Istanbul. Its history dates back to the winter of 1455/56. Today, the Grand Bazaar is a thriving shopping area and one of the major landmarks of the city. It has 61 covered streets and over 3,000 shops selling everything from carpets to souvenirs.

Originally named the Tower of Christ, the Galata Tower was built in 1348 at the apex of fortified walls and was used to house prisoners of war, later became an observatory, and today offers a 360-degree viewing gallery of the city.

Other interesting facts:

Istanbul has more than 60 hammams (Turkish baths).

Istanbul receives more snow than any other city in the Mediterranean Basin.

There are hundreds of water cisterns below the city of Istanbul. The largest and most famous is  Basilica Cistern, which dates back to the 6th century.

The Topkapi Palace, former residence of the Ottoman sultans, contains some of the holiest Islamic relics, including hairs from his beard and two of his teeth of prophet Muhammad.

Istanbul is home to an Archaelogical Museum , Legoland , Dolphinarium , Miniaturk (a miniature theme park), Akvaryum (Aquarium), and a Toy Museum.

In 1453, the Ottoman ruler Sultan Mehmed II from northwestern Turkey, conquered Istanbul and initiated the Ottoman Empire, which would last until 1922.