Istanbul - Secret capital of Turkey and former Constantinople

The world's only city, with its 1.538,77 sq. km and its population of 10,034,830 on two continents. It is not only the largest city but also cultural and economic centre of Turkey and was once under the name "Byzantion" by Greek colonists. With the outskirts live here almost twelve million people. Istanbul has a history dreitausendjährige and one of the oldest existing cities in the world. The city is divided into three areas, the old in the south of the city centre, the European side with the districts and Eminönü Fatih, the part north of the Golden Horn with the Beyoglu districts and Besiktas, the very European in character and the opposite on the Asian side lying Districts Üsküdar and Kadiköy. The seat of the patriarch of Constantinople is located in Istanbul and the residence of the archbishop of the Turkish-Orthodox community, the Armenian archbishop and the Turkish Chief Rabbi.

From a geographical perspective surrounds the southern Istanbul and the Bosporus by him in a Western (European part) and Eastern (Asian part) divided territory. The west left Bosporus Bay (Golden Horn) separates the European part lying in a southern peninsula with the historic Istanbul and the historic Galata in the northern city of subsequent parts. The Istanbul belonging to Prince's Islands (popular destination) is located in the south east of the city.

Geological Istanbul is considered near a grave breach s (African and Eurasian continental plates come together here) by the city regularly in larger intervals of earthquake. The next strong earthquake is by scientists for the year 2025 forecast. The climate is mild, moist maritime. The warmest season is reached in July and the coldest temperatures in January. The best time to travel to Istanbul to explore in the summer months because at that time reckon with weather resistant.

Istanbul city by Christian and Islamic religious buildings. The vast majority of the population, however, is committed to Islam. Other major religious minorities are the Greek Orthodox Christians and the Armenian Christians and the Sephardic Jews. Who through the streets of Istanbul migrates to reveal the many in the Ottoman tradition built wooden houses, which is typical of the city. Through the tremendous population growth that tradition could not be maintained, in recent decades, many highly built-up settlements (Gecekondus) was to absorb the increase.

For the cities of Istanbul travellers not only culture but also the possibility of a beach holiday aside to make appropriate places for this are Bakirköy, Sariyer and the Bosphorus and the city located outside the Prince's Islands, just to name a few. The island group gives the visitor an idyllic landscape with pine trees and pine forests, wooden summer mansions, horse-drawn carriages (motor vehicles are not allowed) and welcoming picturesque fishing restaurants. From Eminönü and Kartal are from the Prince's islands by ferry to reach. Sile a well-known Turkish seaside resort on the Black Sea (about 50km away from Istanbul) beckons with an offer of a nice holiday villages and hotels and its partially intact white sandy beaches.

At attractions and culture, the major city unzähliges offer. Well-known museums are the Topkapi Sarayi (ehm. Sultan's Palace), the Hagia Sophia (Church ehm.), the Chora Church, the Archaeological Museum and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art. In addition, many outbuildings of the many mosques have been converted into museums. For architecture lovers Istanbul offers a tremendous wealth of town planning, art and tourism major buildings. Some of them should be on the tour of Istanbul necessarily be visited, including the Hippodrome (At Meydani) from the 2nd Century, Constantine forum with the relic Constantine column, Seemauer on the Marmara Sea as well as several honorary columns and arches. Some churches and mosques have evolved over time almost unchanged survived and are now equipped museums. The Ottoman architecture is particularly well suited to the palaces and residences as well as the mosques and the large trading houses to see. Typical mosques from the Ottoman time, the early Mahmut Pasa Camii (oldest sustaining large mosque), Iskele Camii in Üsküdar and the Sultan Beyazit Camii to name just a few raised. Turkish bath (hamam) are found in Old Stambul the Cemberlitas Hamam, or hamam Galatasary in Beyoglu. The entire old city of Istanbul since 1985 belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A major problem, the World metropolis, however, the ever-growing waste problem and the pollution from industry and transport. Meanwhile, Istanbul to alternative energies such as natural gas and could even solutions to the waste problem and the traffic situation to improve. Unfortunately, the air pollution and water pollution still a concern of the current population of Istanbul. Nevertheless, Istanbul a vibrant cosmopolitan city with its own charm and a mix of different cultures Couleur absolutely worth a visit.