Exploring Incredible Istanbul
My most recent exploits took me all the way to Istanbul and it was quite
the adventure. Founded in 660 BC as Byzantium, in 330 AD it became
Constantinople when it was overtaken by the Roman emperor Constantine.
Under that name it was the capital of four empires, most notably the
Ottoman Empire from 1453 until 1922. In 1923 Turkey became a republic
and soon after, in 1930, the city was officially renamed Istanbul. It
sits strategically on one of the world's busiest waterways, the
Bosphorus, which runs between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara,
connecting the countries on the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, a very
rich route for commerce. And it's on a scenic boat trip around the
Bosphorus that I recommend starting any visit to Istanbul. Not only do
you get a chance to view the often staggering architecture of the many
mosques, castles and palaces, hotels and homes but you get a sense of
the unique perspective of a city that straddles the European and Asian
borders.
More:Exploring Incredible Istanbul | Jamal Hammadi
