Istanbul Hotels

ABOUT ISTANBUL

Being in Istanbul, even for a day, is no doubt one of the most interesting experiences one can have.

Think about it, for one, you are in the only city in the world which is built upon two continents. A city where you can go from Europe to Asia or from Asia to Europe with one vehicle, without the hassle of having to deal with issues such as visas. Though most of Istanbul’s residents do this every day while going to work!

With its population of nearly 15 million, Istanbul is the largest city in Europe, and is among the top five in the world. It is as crowded as hell, and yet as serene as heaven. It was once known as New Rome with its seven hills just like Rome, yet it is actually a much older city. With a history of 300 thousand years, it is one of the oldest settlements of the world.

The foundations of Istanbul as we know it today were laid in 660 BC, as it was founded in the name of Byzantion. After it withstood numerous sieges and invasions, and was conquered several times for three hundred years, it began to make a name for itself as New Rome. During the 4^th century BC, it was reestablished by Roman Emperor Constantine I the Great, and named Constantinapolis. It served as capitals for the Roman (330-395), East-Roman (Byzantine) (395-1204 and 1261-1453), Latin (1204-1261), and Ottoman empires (1453-1922) for 16 centuries. Currently it is the largest and most important city of the Republic of Turkey.

Istanbul is also an important religious center. It is still one of the most important cities for two religions, as it has been during its history. It became one of the centers of Christianity when Constantine I the Great adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, and acquired a symbolic meaning for all Christians in the world with the construction of Hagia Sophia.

Following its conquest by the Ottomans in 1453, it became one of the most important Islamic cities. This importance increased even further when the Ottomans acquired the caliphate, causing Muslim pilgrims from Russia and the Balkans to stop by Istanbul during their trips to Mecca for centuries. Due to these properties, you are likely to come across the most ground breaking examples of both Christian and Muslim temple architecture. Both the Hagia Sophia, made by the greatest architects of their time between the years 532 and 537, Isidoros of Miletos (currently Milet in Western Anatolia) and Anthemios of Tralles (currently Aydın in Western Anatolia) by order of Roman Emperor Justinian I, and the Süleymaniye Mosque, made by the great architect of his time, Sinan, by order of Süleyman the Magnificent between the years 1551 and 1558 are in this city…

Istanbul also mustn’t be underestimated with regards to civil architecture. It is the best place to see numerous civil architecture examples from the Roman, Byzantine, Genoese and Ottoman nations.

Istanbul is a city where the old and the new, the archaic and the modern coexist. This can be explained by examples of two symbolic structures: the Topkapı Palace, which served the dynasty for 400 years, and was constructed in 13 years (construction began in the time of Fatih the Conqueror, and was completed in 1673), and the Dolmabahçe Palace, which is one of the first modern buildings of the empire, and among the richest palaces of the world.

Istanbul is also perhaps one of the richest cities of the world with regards to natural beauty. Here are some examples of this natural wealth which must be seen:

• The Golden Horn, which gets its name from the similarity of the glittering of its waters to a golden cornucopia.
• The Boğaziçi area, made up of historically and naturally rich districts on both sides of the Bosphorus which have developed a unique culture.
• With its history older than Byzantine, the “land of the blind” Kadıköy and its neighbor Üsküdar.
• The Princes’ Islands, named so because they were the primary destination of exile for courtiers during the Byzantine era. The Princes’ Islands, which are one of the most important locations in which three religions peacefully coexist, are a perfect choice to leave all the complications of the city behind and enjoy the natural beauty.

Istanbul has often been the subject of poetry, stories, novels, songs and movies. Among these are thousands of works created by Byzantine, Iranian, Arab-Muslim, Ottoman, and Republic artists for Istanbul, and certain districts of Istanbul, numerous new and old works from around the world about Istanbul, Eric Ambler’s novel Topkapı and the famous movie by Jules Dassin which is based on this novel

Facts about Istanbul:

• The first suspension bridge to connect two continents, the Bosphorous Bridge, is in Istanbul.
• The oldest, most colorful, and largest indoor bazaar, the Grand Bazaar, is in Istanbul.
• The Bulgarian church on the shore of the Golden Horn is the first and only church ever made of cast iron, and is in Istanbul!
• Many of the works of Mimar Sinan are located the Golden Horn, Üsküdar, Bayazıt, and the historical peninsula. Mimar Sinan is in Istanbul!
• The Galata Bridge, which was constructed during the time of Beyazıt II has Leonardo da Vinci’s dreams and designs. 350 years after this design, when its realization seemed technically impossible, the first Galata Bridge was built in 1845, during the reign of Sultan Abdülmecid. It is important to enjoy this location overlooking Istanbul while slowly walking from Karaköy to Eminönü. The Galata Bridge is in Istanbul.
• The smallest and second oldest (after the one in London) subway, Tünel (1875), is in Istanbul.
• Dedicated to the second anniversary of the German Emperor Wilhelm II’s arrival in Istanbul in 1898, the German Fountain was built in Germany and was brought to Istanbul in pieces. It was erected in its current location and an opening ceremony was done on Januart 1^st, 1901, making it the first monument in the Ottoman Empire, and Istanbul (and possibly in the world) which was opened in the 20^th century. The German Fountain decorates the Sultanahmet Square, the Hippodrome and with all its glory, it is in Istanbul.
• Istanbul has accommodated many willing and unwilling foreign guests during its long history. Among these are the Italian soldier and politician Garibaldi, the American writer Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, whose stay in Pera Palace has been transformed into a legendary story and Leon Trotsky, who spent a portion of his exile in Büyükada. Writers, actors, painters, photographers, in short, art and entertainment is in Pera. Pera is in Istanbul!

Istanbul’s many qualities which we mentioned (and those we couldn’t) are widely accepted. It’s important historical areas have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985, and it has been chosen as one of the 2010 European Capitals of Culture.

Istanbul is a global city: Here you can see people of any color and nationality from every country in the world, and hear all languages: You will certainly come across a friend, or make new ones… 

Governorship of Istanbul:http://english.istanbul.gov.tr/ 

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipiality:http://www.ibb.gov.tr/en-US/Pages/Home_Page.aspx