Istanbul (UK: /ˌɪstænˈbʊl/, /-ˈbuːl/ or US: /-stɑːn-/ or /ˈɪstənbʊl/;[ Turkish: İstanbul [isˈtanbuɫ] (About this sound listen)), historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium, is the most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, straddling the Bosporus strait (which separates Europe and Asia) between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side. The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (coterminous with Istanbul Province), both hosting a population of around 15 million residents. Istanbul is one of the world's most populous cities and ranks as the world's 5th-largest city proper and the largest European city. Istanbul is viewed as a bridge between the East and West.
Founded under the name of Byzantion (Βυζάντιον) on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BCE, the city grew in size and influence, having become one of the most important cities in history. After its reestablishment as Constantinople in 330 CE, it served as an imperial capital for almost 16 centuries, during the Roman/Byzantine (330–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin (1204–1261), and the Ottoman (1453–1922) empires. It was instrumental in the advancement of Christianity during Roman and Byzantine times, before the Ottomans conquered the city in 1453 CE and transformed it into an Islamic stronghold and the seat of the Ottoman Caliphate.
Istanbul - Melting pot of cultures, meeting point of continents:
- 11.6 million visitors a year
- Where Europe and Asia kiss each other
- Last stop of the Orient Express - but only temporarily.
- Why do people get in line at/for Mehmet Efendi?
Istanbul is being transformed at full speed. The city has already shed the skin of its history and invented itself anew numerous times, and perhaps this is now taking place again. To comprehend Istanbul, one must understand its history. Whoever strolls through its quarters today will constantly catch an intimation of its history, a piece of skin which has been stripped off, tiny stones of a mosaic on which the inhabitants of Istanbul have been working for centuries and which will never be finished because they are constantly reinventing not only their city, but also themselves. The book deals with 111 mosaic stones from yesterday, today, and tomorrow - some of which glow in colorful splendor, while others emanate an uncanny fragrance.
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