Istanbul

The only city in the world built on two continents, Istanbul, formerly bearing the name of Constantinople, is the largest Turkish city with a population of nearly 14 million people, as well as the country’s cultural and financial center. Istanbul is also the place where the "East meets West” literally, that is the place where the European and Asian continents come together, separated only by the tiny Bosporus strait.

On the lively streets of Istanbul, one can observe miniskirts and high-heel shoes, as well as head scarves and religious sounds coming from the multiple mosques of Istanbul, such as the magnificent Hagia Sophia. As a major religious center, since it has been the heart of the Greek Orthodox Church as well as of the Islamic faith for many centuries, Istanbul is the guardian of one of the world's most important cultural heritages and home to some of the world's most affluent displays of art and wealth, such as the famous Blue Mosque, most of which were built in the name of Muslim faith. Moreover, many sites of the town were given the name of "Historic Areas of Istanbul" and in 1985 were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Istanbul has many attractions for visitors, especially for those interested in history and religion. The ancient city of Istanbul is a construction of civilization on civilization, it is an empire built on former empires and for this reason is one of the world’s top places of interest.