About Istanbul
Istanbul is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, a bridge between Europe and Asia that has been the capital of three empires. It is a landscape of domes and minarets silhouetted against the sunset, echoing with the call to prayer and the cry of seagulls. The Bosphorus Strait flows through its heart like a grand, moving avenue, carrying tankers, ferries, and the weight of history in its dark blue currents.
From the sky, the Golden Horn acts as a natural harbor dividing the European side, while the Bosphorus separates the continents. The historic peninsula is a dense cluster of red roofs and grand monuments—the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque facing each other in eternal dialogue. Across the water, the Asian side sprawls into the Anatolian hills, greener and quieter. The city is a palimpsest, written over by Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans, each layer visible in its walls and cisterns.
The soul of Istanbul is found in "hüzün," a collective melancholy that author Orhan Pamuk described as central to the city's character. Yet, it is also vibrant and chaotic, filled with the smell of roasting chestnuts, the steam of tea glasses, and the haggle of the Grand Bazaar. It is a city of cats sleeping on ancient marble, of ferry rides across continents for the price of a coffee, and of a timeless beauty that survives every conquest.