Istanbul

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey and its cultural, economic and historic center. It is located in north-western part of Turkey, divided into European and Asian side by Bosphorus, which connects the Sea of Marmara and Black Sea. It is the only city in the world that sits on two continents. Istanbul is located in a transitional climatic zone, so it has three different climates.

Istanbul is a historic center of Turkey with Byzantine and Ottoman architecture, but you can find here also signs of Genoese and Roman architecture. Nothing from the classical Greek architecture has survived, but Roman architecture has left here the Obelisk in the Hippodrome of Constantinople in Sultanahmet Square or section of the Valens Aqueduct in Fatih district. The most famous structures of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia, is the result of Byzantine architecture. Hagia Sophia was for centuries the world´s largest cathedral, later it was turned into the mosque and now people can visit it as museum.

This city has changed the name many times. In the history, it was known as Byzantium and later became the capital city of the Roman Empire, renamed to Constantinople. It was one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the world at the time and meeting point for East and West. Under Latin rule, the city was later ruined and plundered in the 13th century and Constantinople would never recover from this destruction. In 15th century, Ottoman Empire took over the Constantinople and finished the Christian era of this city. The beginning of Muslim rule started and Hagia Sophia was turned into a Muslim temple. Istanbul (word means „the city“) was the common name in Turkish for this city even before the conquest in 1453.

With its rich history, Istanbul offers plenty of tourist places that attract visitors from many different countries. People love sightseeing in this city and one day is not enough to see everything what Istanbul has to offer.

The largest palace, Topkapi, includes various architectural styles. Istanbul is full of wonderful mosques, that were mostly built in the peak of Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th century: Fatih Mosque, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque, Yavuz Selim Mosque, Bayezid Mosque and New Mosque. Ottoman archicture was later influenced by European styles which may be seen in different structures in Beyoglu – theaters or churches and official buildings such as Dolmabahce Palace.

Istanbul has 39 districts and it is a home for over 14 million citizens. This multicultural city is a wonderful place to spend the holidays and many people have decided to buy a property in Istanbul and spend their lives here.