Istanbul, the Ancient Capital

In 2014, the excavations at the Yarımburgaz Cave revealed that the first settlements in Istanbul date a whopping 400 thousand years back, while the civilization has a history of 8,500 years at Istanbul. For thousands of years Istanbul was a scene of busy commerce, and is now a unique open-air museum with a rich history and culture.

THE CAPITAL OF THREE EMPIRES

Istanbul served as the capital of three of the longest-lasting and largest empires of the world, the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, and Ottoman Empire, for more than 1600 years, and is now considered the only center where more than 120 emperors and sultans ruled in due course. That is why in the centuries it served as the capital of Empires, it was also the focus of religions.

ZERO-MILE MARKER FOR THE WHOLE WORLD

The Milion at Sultanahmet is proof that Istanbul was the beginning of all routes worldwide, for thousands of years. A thousand years ago, the current function of Greenwich in the UK was assumed by Istanbul, with the Milion serving as the zero-mile marker. The monument was the ground zero for travelers, and specified distance to various locations worldwide.

WORLD HERITAGE LIST

In 1985, Istanbul was included in UNESCO World Heritage List, in 4 major sections containing various historical monuments. The first such section is the Archaeological Park which covers the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Hagia Irene, Little Hagia Sophia Mosque, and Topkapı Palace. The second is the Suleymaniye Conservation Site covering the Suleymaniye Mosque and its surroundings. The third is the Zeyrek Conservation Site with Zeyrek Mosque, while the fourth is the Historical Walls Conservation Site.

THE GREATEST CONVENTION CITY

Istanbul is also the 8th most important convention city of the world.It ranks top of the global list in terms of conventions with a participant count of 500 or more. These certainly contributed to Istanbul being named 2010 European Capital of Culture and 2012 World Capital of Sports.

THE CAPITAL OF TURKISH ECONOMY

Thanks to the dynamism of its economy, its vigorous financial sector, ever-growing weight in tourism, and the rising-star real estate sector, is shooting for the stars. Istanbul; Is the heart of higher education in Turkey, with 15 universities, The capital of economy and commerce in Turkey, And is also the site of the largest and oldest indoors bazaar of the world.

2 CONTINENTS - 1 CITY

A narrow straight –the Bosphorus– separates the continents of Asia and Europe, marking the site of the only city which is positioned on two continents. Istanbul is the bridge that connects Asia and Europe. It is also a center of direct flights to almost anywhere on the globe, thanks to two large airports, one on each continent.

09 Mart 2016 Çarşamba

Etiketler : English