Byzantium, Constantinople, Carigrad or Istanbul, whatever name we use and at the same time we think of a city, the only city metropolis that spans on two continents, two worlds, the city that conveys reality and fantasy, the city of material and spiritual merging of past and present. It is a city like no other, it is a home to many cultures, the center of many empires over the centuries back, because in it contains a number of historical landmarks such as mosques, churches, synagogues, palaces, castles and towers. It is these buildings today are characteristic of the way of living in the past and today and which attracts the attention of large number of visitors from various reasons.
Situated on the Bosphorus flow at the border between the Golden Horn and the Marmara Sea, in the arms of Thrace and Anatolia, charms with its magnificent living diversity and range of lightning colors at night. Magnificent in many ways, Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and one of the largest metropolises in the world today, with a population of over 13,854,740 inhabitants. Furthermore, it is also a major commercial, financial, cultural and tourist center in Turkey and in the world. Istanbul covers an area of 1.830,92 km², and the province of Istanbul 5.196 km². Long ago, in the early middle ages it was the largest city in the world and one of the most important cities throughout its history.
Due to the proximity of the Anatolian line, the pressure on both tectonic plates of Africa and Eurasia, Istanbul throughout history has been exposed to several devastating earthquakes that destroyed a great part of the cultural and material heritage of the city and the region.
Istanbul is primarily based on trade and diverse tourist offer thanks to its rich history and great location since it was known to traders that passed on "silk road". For the first time the city is mentioned under the name Byzantium. In 667 bc Vizas colonist from Megara settled on the most beautiful place on the Bosphorus and created the tiny settlement which got its name after him. From there later arose the name for the whole Byzantine Eastern Roman empire. A short period the city is named as august antonia which was given by the name of the son of the emperor Septimius Severus. In 330, it was named Constantinople, named after the emperor Constantine i and that name carries for 16 centuries coup in turkey when it is called Istanbul. As the place for kings it was known under the name of Constantinople, Stinpoli ("walking in the city") and Istanbul during the ottoman empire. The Istanbul word means "the city" and that name is carried today. In 2001, Istanbul was elected for european capital of culture and historic areas of Istanbul were included in the list of world cultural and natural heritage of UNESCO. The epithet "museum town '' of course is due to the natural and anthropogenic heritage.
To visit Istanbul is not enough to say that someone knows the town. Introduction this metropolis can take months and even years. Every inch is hiding something new, mysterious and challenging to visit again. To be in Istanbul and not to smell the ocean air through the straits is impossible, to be in Istanbul and not feel tradition covered bazaar is also impossible. To pass through the streets of Istanbul and not take a glimpse into the mysteriousness of the great temples of the centuries that have passed is equal like going to Rome without having to see the Colosseum. Their number and grandeur is breathtaking to every visitor regardless of which part of the world they come and the stories hidden in them even for a moment causing a storm of images of the time created. The first Eyup Sultan Mosque through Constantinople walls, Dolmabahce Palace, Topkapi Saray, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the Blue Mosque, the mosque of Suleiman the Magnificent, covered bazaar, historic neighborhoods Beyoglu and Besiktas and many more that should not sound immodest to say that the each of them need to stand one day to capture the atmosphere of diverse architectural Istanbul. A St. Sophia is something which inevitably will feel exactly this blend of past, present and future, a blend of two civilizations, two religions and cultures. At day time the city is in constant rush and patter of many traders to which every day and every visitor is precious. At night again it turns into a city of dazzling fireflies, music and dance. It costs millions of fireflies in all colors around. Colourful scarves bodies of beautiful dancers that enchant the eyes of visitors with a taste of the famous yeni raki, turkish delight, baklava, simit, kebabs and seafood dishes.
Istanbul is a great educational center where the largest concentration of high quality public and private educational institutions at all levels of education can be found.
Istanbul is the capital of the tulip, one of the most gentle flowers that resembles a turban and it is usually associates with the netherlands. At the time of Suleiman the Magnificent in the 16th century, tulips were brought to the Netherlands, where in a short time become a national landmark. In april due to the magic beauty of the original Asian steppe tulip, Istanbul turns into magical spring town further directing you to visit the beautiful gardens which also represent a real attraction. It is to say that, even after a dozen visits, you know Istanbul. Each passing inch towards others, new and different from previous and yet merged into one whole blend of rainbow colors.
Oh Istanbul, no matter how many times you have visited, you want to visit again looking for something exotic but close!
Galata Bridge is located on the Golden Horn and is the fifth built bridge across the Bosphorus Strait. More than 5 times breached, and was last renewed in 1994. It is 490 meters long and 42 meters wide.
Covered Bazaar (Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets and 5,000 shops and attracts between 250 and 400 thousand visitors daily. Stalls are grouped by type of goods, with special areas for leather, gold jewelry and handmade and decorated ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices after it is recognized. According to the grouping of stalls, the type of offered goods is determined.
Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı)
The Bosphorus Strait is the strait that separates the European part of Turkey (Rumelia) from its Asian part (Anatolia), connecting the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. It is 30 kilometers long and wide from just 750 meters in the narrowest part to 3,700 meters at the widest part of the northern mouth. Depth varies between 36 and 124 meters.
Today the Topkapi Saray is a Museum but it was once headquarters of the administration of the Ottoman Empire. It was built during the reign of Sultan Mehmed II
St. Sofija Church or the Church of the Holy Wisdom, is a former Orthodox basilica, which throughout its history has been converted into a mosque and now a museum. Starting from the 4 th century until 1453 served as Byzantine cathedral of Constantinople. In the period from 1204 to 1261, it was converted into a Roman Catholic cathedral and as mosque building served from 1453 to 1931, when it was closed. From 1935 Hagia Sophia is a museum.
Sultan Akhmed Mosque or also known as the Blue Mosque is a Muslim temple built by the famous architect Mehmet Aga Sedefkar by order of Sultan Ahmet I in the period from 1609 to 161. Because of the colors, ranging from the color of the tiles until porcelain (blue, green and white), it is known as the Blue Mosque
Unavoidable moments with national specialties
Dolmabahce Palace is the first castle that was built during the reign of the Ottoman Empire. It was built on the orders of Sultan Abdul I in the 19th century. Until 1922 it served as the residence of the Sultan. Inside lived and Kemal Ataturk- the father of modern Turkey.
Tram and subway - planning and functional solution to the traffic in Istanbul
References:
http://www.istanbul.com/en/travel
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/turkey/istanbul
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g293974-Istanbul-Vacations.html
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/356
http://english.istanbul.gov.tr/
https://urbanfragment.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/panoramic-view-of-historical-peninsula-golden-horn-bosphorus-istanbul.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Blue_Mosque_Courtyard_Dusk_Wikimedia_Commons.jpg
Author:
MSc Julijana Petrovska
