ISTANBUL

 

What is now called Asian Istanbul was probably inhabited by people as early as 3000 BC. Eventually, in the 7th century, Greek colonists led by King Byzas

The ancient Byzantine church, built by Justinian I between 532-537 AD after the Nika Riot, was later converted to a mosque with the addition of minarets in mid-15th century. The remarkable struct

Byzantine cistern from the 6th century built by Justinian I and is located to the south-west of Hagia Sophia. The water was brought from Belgrade Forest, 19 kilometers to the north of Istanbul, a

Scene of horse and chariot races and the center of Byzantine civic life. It was the place where the Nik Riot started in 532 AD. There are an Egyptian Obelisk, a stone obelisk and the Serpentine C

Built in the 15th century as a complex of 3,000 shops selling raw materials to be used in clothes manufacturing, the Covered Bazaar fulfills a viable commercial function to this day. The Bazaar's

Built in the 17th century next to the Golden Horn, the Spice Bazaar is the second largest covered bazaar in Istanbul. Originally housing shops selling medicine and spices, the Spice Bazaar contin

Topkapi was the first Ottoman palace to be built (1466-1478) in the newly conquered capital of the Empire by Fatih Sultan Mehmet II. Located on the spot where the foundations of the city were fir