Istanbul – uniquely located historical city!

Perhaps no other city in the world enjoys the privilege of being a capital city for close to 16 centuries at a stretch. The reason for which it was coveted by several empires is its unique location, since it is the only metropolis to be situated on two continents. This is because since it is located on the Bosphorus Strait, one part of it overlooks Asia, and the other, Europe.

Having first become the capital of the founder of the Roman Empire, Constantine, in the 4th century, when it was named eponymously for him (Constantinople), Istanbul has a hoary history of having been the seat of several empires after that.

It then fell into the hands of the Byzantine Empire intermittently for the next eight centuries, during which it was the center of Greek Orthodoxy. It was during this time that one of its prime attractions to this day, the Hagia Sophia, was built.

Finally, it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire in 1453, a year of such magnitude to the modern world that it set off a series of events that changed the course of history. It ceased to be the capital of the Ottoman Empire only after the empire was liquidated after World War I.

Despite being soaked in the past, Istanbul is an amazingly modern city today. Its nearly 13 million citizens make it one of the biggest metropolises in the world. Its past has not been fully left behind, in the sense that the population has a healthy mix of Muslims, Christians and Jews.

As can be expected, most of Istanbul’s prime attractions date to the ancient and medieval period. The Topkapi Palace and Galata Tower are prime examples. The Church of St. George, Neve Shalom Synagogue, Mazulkemer Aquaduct and Valens Aquaduct, Basilica Cistern, Bedylerbevi Palace, Yeri Mosque, Bosphorus Bridge and innumerable other Greek and Roman structures offer a treat to the visitor!