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ABOUT
ISTANBUL
"There, God and human, nature and art are together, they have created such
a perfect place that it is valuable to
see." Lamartine’s famous poetic line
reveals his love for Istanbul,
describing the embracing of two
continents, with one arm reaching out to
Asia and the other to Europe.
 Istanbul,
once known as the capital of capital
cities, has many unique features. It is
the only city in the world to straddle
two continents, and the only one to have
been a capital during two consecutive
empires - Christian and Islamic. Once
capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul
still remains the commercial, historical
and cultural pulse of Turkey, and its
beauty lies in its ability to embrace
its contradictions. Ancient and modern,
religious and secular, Asia and Europe,
mystical and earthly all co-exist here.
Its variety is one of Istanbul’s
greatest attractions: The ancient
mosques, palaces, museums and bazaars
reflect its diverse history. The
thriving shopping area of Taksim buzzes
with life and entertainment. And the
serene beauty of the Bosphorus, Princes
Islands and parks bring a touch of peace
to the otherwise chaotic metropolis.
The Bosphorus
A stay in İstanbul is not complete
without a traditional and unforgettable
boat excursion up the Bosphorus, that
winding strait that separates Europe and
Asia. Its shores offer a delightful
mixture of past and present, grand
splendor and simple beauty. Modern
hotels stand next to yalı (shore-front
wooden villas), marble palaces abut
rustic stone fortresses, and elegant
compounds neighbor small fishing
villages. The best way to see the
Bosphorus is to board one of the
passenger boats that regularly zigzag
along the shores. You embark at Eminönü
and stop alternately on the Asian and
European sides of the strait. The
round-trip excursion, very reasonably
priced, takes about six hours. If you
wish a private voyage, there are
agencies that specialize in organizing
day or night mini-cruises.
During the journey you pass the
magnificent Dolmabahçe Palace; farther
along rise the green parks and imperial
pavilions of the Yıldız Palace. On the
coastal edge of the parks stands the
Çırağan Palace, refurbished in 1874 by
Sultan Abdülaziz, and now restored as a
grand hotel. For 300 meters along the
Bosphorus shore its ornate marble
facades reflect the swiftly moving
water. At Ortaköy, the next stop,
artists gather every Sunday to exhibit
their works in a streetside gallery. The
variety of people creates a lively
scene. Sample a tasty morsel from one of
the street vendors. In Ortaköy, there is
a church, a mosque and a synagogue that
have existed side by side for hundreds
of years - a tribute to Turkish
tolerance at the grass roots level.
Overshadowing İstanbul's traditional
architecture is one of the world's
largest suspension bridges, the
Bosphorus Bridge, linking Europe and
Asia.
The beautiful Beylerbeyi Palace lies
just past the bridge on the Asian side.
Behind the palace rises
 Çamlıca
Hill, the highest point in İstanbul. You
can also drive here to admire a
magnificent panorama of İstanbul as well
as the beautiful landscaped gardens. On
the opposite shore, the wooden Ottoman
villas of Arnavutköy create a contrast
with the luxurious modern apartments of
neighboring Bebek. A few kilometers
farther along stand the fortresses of
Rumeli Hisarı and Anadolu Hisarı facing
each other across the straits like
sentries guarding the city. The Göksu
Palace, sometimes known as Kücüksü
Palace graces the Asian shore next to
the Anadolu Hisarı. The second link
between the two continents, the Fatih
Sultan Mehmet Bridge straddles the
waterway just past these two fortresses.
From Duatepe Hill, on the European side,
you can admire the magnificent panorama
of the bridge and the Bosphorus. Below
Duatepe, the beautiful Emirgan Park
bursts with color when its tulips bloom
in the spring. On the Asian shore is
Kanlıca, a fishing village that is now a
favored suburb for wealthy İstanbulites.
Crowds gather in the restaurants and
cafes along its shores to sample its
famous yogurt. Shortly after Kanlıca and
Çubuklu is the Beykoz Korusu (İbrahim
Paşa Woods), a popular retreat. In the
cafes and restaurants there you can
enjoy the delightful scenery and clear,
fresh air. Back on the European side, at
Tarabya Bay, yachts seem to dance at
their moorings. The coastal road bustles
with taverns and fish restaurants from
Tarabya to the charming suburbs of
Sarıyer and Büyükdere. Sarıyer has one
of the largest fish markets in İstanbul
and is also famous for its delicious
varieties of milk puddings and börek
(pastries). On past Sarıyer, the narrow
strait widens and opens into the Black
Sea.
Golden Horn: This horn-shaped estuary
divides European Istanbul. One
 of
the best natural harbours in the world,
it was once the centre for the Byzantine
and Ottoman navies and commercial
shipping interests. Today, attractive
parks and promenades line the shores, a
picturesque scene especially as the sun
goes down over the water. At Fener and
Balat, neighbourhoods midway up the
Golden Horn, there are entire streets
filled with old wooden houses, churches,
and synagogues dating from Byzantine and
Ottoman times. The Orthodox Patriarchy
resides at Fener and a little further up
the Golden Horn at Eyup, are some
wonderful examples of Ottoman
architecture. Muslim pilgrims from all
over the world visit Eyup Camii and Tomb
of Eyup, the Prophet Mohammed’s standard
bearer, and it is one of the holiest
places in Islam. The area is a still a
popular burial place, and the hills
above the mosque are dotted with modern
gravestones interspersed with ornate
Ottoman stones. The Pierre Loti Cafe,
atop the hill overlooking the shrine and
the Golden Horn, is a wonderful place to
enjoy the tranquility of the view.
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