ISTANBUL HISTORICAL BACKGROUND BYZANTINE MONUMENTS The Walls The Palace of Constantine Porphyrogenetos Yedikule Fortress Chora Museum The Hippodrome The Mosaic Museum Haghia Sophia The Basilica Cistern Haghia Irene Byzantine Churches Turned Into Mosques Küçük Ayasofya Camii Molla Zeyrek Camii Fethiye Camii Gül Camii The Valens' Aqueduct MOSQUES Süleymaniye Mosque The Blue Mosque The Prince's Mosque Fatih Mosque Beyazit Mosque Rüstem Pasha Mosque Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque Mihrimah Mosque The New Mosque Eyüp Mosque Yavuz selim Mosque Nuruosmaniye Mosque OTTOMAN PALACES Topkapi Palace Dolmabahçe Palace Ibrahim Pasha Palace Other Palaces FOUNTAINS OTTOMAN HOUSES OTHER MUSEUMS BAZAARS FORTRESSES THE BOSPHORUS THE GOLDEN HORN THE PRINCES' ISLANDS OTHER STROLLS Galata District Beyoglu District Ortaköy District BEST ADRESSES HAMMAMS PRIVATE HOSPITALS SHOPPING City of art and history synthesis, Istanbul is exceptionally situated on both sides of the Strait of the Bosphorus that separates Europe from Asia. In turn called Byzantium and Constantinople, and in spite of the proclamation of Ankara as the new capital, the old city of the sultans is still the biggest one, the biggest port, the economical financial and cultural center of the country. Istanbul ranks high in the World Heritage. The most prestigious places within the Byzantine walls, the historic centre (comprising the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque, the surroundings of both the Süleymaniye Mosque and Molla Zeyrek Mosque), have been listed as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO. Istanbul will fulfil the travelers eager for discoveries. İstanbul is a city where numerous events, fairs and festivals take place all around the year such as the İstanbul International Film Festival which takes place every year in April, the Tulip Festival in April-May, the International Art and Culture Festival or the International Music Festival which both take place in June-July. Map 1 / Click to enlarge Map 2 / Click to enlarge Map 3 / Click to enlarge Map 4 / Click to enlarge Copyright © 2002-2008 GUIDE MARTINE. All rights reserved.