Istanbul

İstanbul: A World City.

Mosques, churches, synagogues, palaces, city walls, museums, parks, seaside mansions and the Bosphorus with its mesmerizing beauty are associated with İstanbul, the queen of cities. The unique Haliç Bay (the Golden Horn), a horn-shaped bay which is one of the most beautiful natural harbors in the world is a port of this city. Small bays and woods, green slopes and all kinds of other scenic wonders of the world are an integral part of the city. The Bosphorus and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges remind one of a necklace… İstanbul is a city of synthesis, which in an atmosphere of tolerance, unites the culture, art and religion of the East and the West, at the crossing of two separate continents. It is the meeting point of Europe and Asia…

“There, God and human beings, nature and art, created such a perfect place on earth which is well worth seeing,” said the famous French author Lamartine about this unique city.

It is Turkey’s largest and most prominent city in terms of its population, location, economy, trade, wealth and culture. One third of the country’s manufacturing industry output and almost half of the income tax paid to the state come from this   city   and   its   environs.  It  is  the  country’s   largest

Rumelia Fortress - İSTANBUL

Topkapı Palace - İSTANBUL

export port, the starting point of Turkey’s waterways, the most important center from which airways connect Turkey to other countries of the world. The majority of the capital, banks, influential holdings and companies, educational and health institutions are located in this city.

The history of the city, qualified as the “Capital of Empires,” dates back to ancient times. The city was founded by the Megaras in 658 B.C. and was named Byzantium after their commander Byzas.

This historical peninsula, within city walls between the Marmara Sea and the Golden Horn, is like an open-air museum full of architectural monuments and art, bearing traces of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. The hills of the city are adorned with more than 500 mosques. Among these mosques, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque with its six minarets, built by Sultan Ahmet I in the 17^th century, is the symbol of İstanbul. The Süleymaniye Mosque, which is also one of the most beautiful and magnificent examples of architecture in İstanbul, was constructed by Mimar (Architect)
Sinan,   upon   the  order   of    Kanuni   Sultan    Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent) in the 16^th century. This mosque, in which architectural aesthetics reached its peak, is perched like a crown on the hills of the Golden Horn. The Mihrimah Sultan Mosque, dating back to the 16^th century, is the best illuminated mosque of İstanbul with a total of 161 stained glass windows.

Topkapı Palace, the residence of Sultans and political center of the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, is located on a hill dominating the Bosphorus, the Marmara Sea and the Golden Horn. Today, the palace is a museum, and the world famous Chinese porcelains, thrones ornamented with gold and precious stones, the garments of the Sultans, jewelry, handwritten books and holy artifacts that are on display are interesting for people of different cultures and religions coming from all around the world. Another magnificent palace is the Dolmabahçe Palace which was built by Sultan Abdülmecit. It is surrounded by 56 columns and is famous for its ceremonial hall, illuminated by a 4.5 ton chandelier. Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, passed away in this palace on November 10, 1938.

The most magnificent architectural work of the Byzantine era in the city is the Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) Museum. The original Ayasofya was built by Emperor Constantine as a basilica in the 4^th century but was destroyed by a fire. Emperor Justinian rebuilt it in the 6^th century. The dome is 55 m. high and 31 m. wide. It is the oldest and the fourth largest dome in the world after the domes of St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. The Kariye Museum also displays beautiful examples of Byzantine art with its mosaics and frescoes. These frescoes, which date backto the 14^th century, influenced and guided the European Renaissance. The Yerebatan Cistern, with its 336 columns, constructed by the Byzantines in the 6^th century to meet the water needs of the city, is also worth seeing.

Besides these places of interest, there are many more museums and monuments in İstanbul. Among these are the İstanbul Archaeological Museum, the Atatürk Museum, the Sadberk Hanım Museum, the Mosaic Museum, the Museum of Industry, the Jewish Museum, the Tower of Leander (Kız Kulesi), the Galata Tower, the Roumelia and Anatolia Fortresses and the İstanbul City Walls.g

Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge - İSTANBUL

The Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Bazaar), which dates back to the 15^th century and has 4,000 shops, is one of the places frequently visited by tourists. Jewelry, antiques, carpets, silver and copper souvenirs, leather and suede garments, woodcarvings and carvings with mother-of-pearl are available in this bazaar.

Furthermore, it is possible to find every type of spice at the Mısır Çarşısı (Egyptian Bazaar). The edifice which houses the bazaar was commissioned by Hatice Sultan in the 17^th century.

Selimiye Mosque - EDİRNE

İstanbul is also a modern center for shopping. Along with shopping malls, such as the Ataköy Galleria, Akmerkez, the Capitol, the Carousel and CarrefourSA, Profilo, Kule and Kule Çarşı; İstiklal, Rumeli and Bağdat Avenues are the most distinguished shopping areas of the city.

İstanbul is also among the prominent cultural centers in the world with its various music and cinema festivals, theaters, operas, ballets, concerts, international symposia, conferences and competitions. “The International Culture and Art Festival”, organized every year in June and July, hosts famous artists from all over the world.

The Bosphorus and the islands of İstanbul, which also host important international sports organizations, are ideal for sailing. The city, which also has an improved potential for yacht tourism, is an international yachting center. The Ataköy Marina at the European side, as well as, Kalamış and Fenerbahçe marinas at the Asian side provide cheap but high quality facilities for yachtsmen.

Kilyos and Şile are holiday resorts near İstanbul which are known for their beaches. Polonezköy (Polish Village) is a village where Polish immigrants came and settled in the 19^th century, it is surrounded by forests and a perfect choice for vacationers. The Belgrade Forest, which is a national park, is known as the “lungs” of İstanbul. The Atatürk Arboretum and the aqueducts built during the Ottoman period, which are located in this forest, are also worth seeing. There are expansive areas suitable for playing golf in Silivri and Kemer.

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