On the shores of the Bosphorus (Bosphorus), in two parts of the world at once – Asia and Europe, is an amazing city, one of the largest all over the world – Istanbul (Istanbul). In 2010 he was awarded the title of the cultural capital of Europe. Very complicated story the origin of its name.
Our impressions of this wonderful city you can read here Istanbul is the capital of Turkey, real!
In general, I must say that Istanbul is a Russified version. Turkish name -? stanbul, which should be called a city with 28 March 1930 by order of the ruling authorities. Before the same city was called Byzantium (Byzantium), later Constantinople (Constantinople) or New Rome (New Rome).
Working days of Istanbul.
How diverse the origin of the name of the city, as well diverse history of the city itself. The first settlements on the territory the current Istanbul date back to the 7th century BC, when here settled the Greek tribes, led by Byzant, who founded the city of Byzantium. The already successful construction of the city which contributed to its geographical position, it was large supplemented, beginning in 324 AD, by the Roman Emperor Constantine Great, after 74 AD. Byzantium fell under power the Romans. In 330, the city was named Constantinople and recognized capital of the Roman Empire and continued to be it after its collapse, but already the capital of the Byzantine Empire, until the beginning of the 13th century, when The Crusaders established the Latin Empire here. But already in 1453 the city was taken by the Turks and Constantinople became the capital of the Ottoman Empire and it was until 1923, until the capital functions of the city moved to Ankara. Istanbul has remained and remains commercial and industrial cultural and tourist center of the country.
What to see in Istanbul
From such a rich history of the formation and development of the city, Istanbul We got unique monuments of antiquity. And when will you think about what to see in Istanbul, first decide come there for a week, not for a couple of days.
– Basilica Cistern – a legacy of the Roman-Byzantine period. it surviving underground drinking water storage Constantinople in the form of a palace complex. – Hippodrome, where in its time, the chariot races now celebrated for the whole world were held and the construction of which began in 203 AD by the emperor Septimius North. Of the buildings of the religious ceremony should be noted: – Hagia Sophia – the famous monument of Byzantium architecture, now included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site – Church Christ Pantepopta of the 11th century, the floor of which, by the way, serves as a ceiling one of the underground reservoirs (cisterns). – Sultanahmet Mosque (or the Blue Mosque), combining Ottoman and Byzantine architecture styles – the current temple. – Suleymaniye Mosque, Beyazit Mosque, Fatih Mosque and many others. And also Sultansky Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahche Palace, Rumel Fortress, Maiden the tower and many other monuments of old – the cherished dream of many tourists from all over the world. And their, according to some, annually the city attend, about 6 million people.
Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque) in Istanbul.
Hagia Sophia (St. Sophia Cathedral) in Istanbul.
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