About Istanbul - I -

Istanbul.....

Where The History Has Been Written..

Historically known as Byzantium, the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province (municipality) had 17.81 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 22% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe (including the Asian side of the city) after London and Moscow. Istanbul is a megacity, as well as the cultural, economic, and financial centre of Turkey.

Sunset at Bosphorus

It is located on the Bosphorus. Strait and encompasses the natural harbour known as the Golden Horn, in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) sides of the Bosphorus, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Istanbul is a designated alpha world city.

During its long history, Istanbul has served as the capital of the;

 Roman Empire(330–395)

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire(395–1204 and 1261–1453),

Latin Empire(1204–1261),

Ottoman Empire(1453–1922).

When the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on 29 October 1923, Ankara, which had previously served as the headquarters of the Turkish national movement during the Turkish War of Independence, was chosen as the new Turkish State's capital. Istanbul was chosen as a joint European Capital of Culture for 2010 and the European Capital of Sports for 2012. Istanbul is currently bidding to host the 2020 Summer Olympics. The historic areas of the city were added to the UNESCO World Heritage Listin 1985. The city covers 39 districts of the Istanbul province.

to be contuniued.. :))