Istanbul embraces two continents Asia and Europe. Today Istanbul honors and preserves the legacy of its past while looking forward to its modern future. Its incomparable location made the city a desirable place by trade and transport between two continents.
Istanbul became part of the Roman Empire in the early 100’s BC.
The Emperor Constantine the Great made Byzantium Capital of the entire Roman Empire in 306AD, so the city was known as Constantinople. Enormous upheaval occurs around the mid 400’s AD, the Barbarians conquered the Byzantine Empire (Western Roman Empire).
In 532 anti government riots destroyed the city during the reign of Justinian I. The city was rebuilt and the outstanding buildings as Hagia Sophia survive to this revolt.
Around 1400s the city was renamed Istanbul, and was the centre for military campaigns that were to enlarge the Ottoman Empire dramatically. By the mid 1500’s Istanbul was a major cultural, political and commercial centre.
Istanbul has continued to expand, today their population is approximately 13 million and its industry such as its tourism has grown. It continues being a city which created its own history at intersection where both continents meet.
Museums, churches, places, great mosques, bazaars and sights of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. Indeed the variety of the city fascinates its visitors whether you contemplates the red evening light on the shores of the Bosphorus, you will understand, suddenly and profoundly why settlers chose to build on this remarkable site so many centuries ago, as the Princess Islands that are a popular summer resort for local people.
So Istanbul today is the most visited city in Turkey, and truly one of the most glorious cities in the world.