Istanbul – Ancient Cultures and Modern Luxuries
The ancient city of Istanbul is located in the heart of Turkey and has the distinction of being the fifth largest city in the world. It has a long and storied history and has always been an important and historic place. You may recognize it by its ancient names of Byzantium or Constantinople. It was the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. Situated on the Bosphorus Strait, this city is the only one in the world that is actually part of two different continents at the same time.
One of the more romantic takeovers of Istanbul happened in the mid to late 300s when the Roman Emperor Constantine had a vision of the Christian cross in a dream. He decided that meant that he would conquer Byzantium and make it the central city of Rome. He went on to do just that, and once he owned Byzantium he renamed it Constantinople and used it as the seat of his government. The city grew enormous as a trading center and important cultural hub. Religion has always been an important aspect of the city. When the Greek Orthodox church broke away from the Roman Catholic church, Istanbul took on the role of the Greek Orthodox capital.
In modern age, Istanbul is a part of the Republic of Turkey and is a sprawling metropolitan city. Though it is not the capital city anymore, it is much larger than the capital and attracts many more tourists and businesses. The city grew so quickly in the last thirty years that many historic buildings and sites were torn down so housing and businesses could be built to accommodate the booming population. The city area eventually overtook many neighboring cities and incorporated them into the city proper.
Visitors today will find this bustling city to be a magical travel destination. Westerners will feel like they’ve stepped into another world as they experience traditional Turkish foods and customs that are very different from the Western way of life. At the same time, this is a modern city with all of the luxuries and comforts of the modern world. It has excellent public transportation that can take you anywhere you need to go in comfort and safety. The restaurants range from inexpensive diners serving American style food to more pricey eateries that will give you the true Turkish dining experience. This historically diverse city offers something new and unexpected around every corner because it has been the home to so many different cultures over the centuries.
Of course you can’t visit Istanbul without making a point to see the incredible historical sites in this city. This is one of the oldest cities in the world and there are more than 3000 years of history to explore. From archeological digs to established museums and other impressive ancient buildings that dot the city you will immediately be immersed in a fascinating world of yesterday right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of today
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