Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, majestically spread out on the shores of the Bosphorus. This metropolis is the only one in the country, and throughout the world, located simultaneously in Europe and Asia. It is through Istanbul with a population of 14,657,434 that the geographical border between the two continents passes, and it is here that the waters of the two seas, the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, meet. The European part of the city, with many shopping and office centers, and the Asian quarters, where sleeping areas prevail, are connected by several bridges, the traffic on which never stops.
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Basic moments
Luxurious, stunning, charming, with a unique charm and attractiveness - this is not a complete list of epithets that Istanbul deserves, having managed to be the capital of four empires: Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman. Despite the fact that the modern capital of Turkey is the city of Ankara, Istanbul retains its special significance, but in a slightly different capacity, as a centuries-old center of world Orthodoxy and the place where the residence of the Archbishop of Constantinople - New Rome and the Ecumenical Patriarch is located.
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Today's Istanbul is not only the leading economic and cultural center of modern Turkey. According to the apt definition of one of the orientalists, this is a real pearl in the open air, which has no price. There are so many architectural sights in the city, and so many valuable artifacts are stored in museums that it can be argued that almost half of the historical and cultural heritage of the whole country is concentrated here. In addition to the monuments of ancient architecture - palaces and fortresses - the former Byzantine and Ottoman capital impresses with the beauty and luxury of Christian churches and Muslim mosques that have become famous throughout the world.
More than 6 million people - this is the annual official statistics of visiting Istanbul by travelers from different countries. This indicator speaks for itself: despite the complex processes in Turkish society and political instability, especially in recent times, the city on the Bosphorus is still attractive to tourists. In Turkey itself, he is called "The Most Beautiful" and there is no exaggeration in this nickname. Favorable geographical location at the crossroads of the most important trade routes, centuries-old stay in the status of the capital of several states and a mixture of cultures of different peoples - all these factors could not but affect the appearance of this beautiful and amazing city, whose name is Istanbul.
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Location and climate
Istanbul is truly unique in every way. In addition to being located on two continents at the same time (most in Europe, less in Asia), its geographical location is of strategic importance. From the south, Istanbul is washed by the Sea of Marmara, through which the routes from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean lead.
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The local climate also has its own characteristics. It is subtropical, but since the city is located on the border of the corresponding weather zone, the heavenly office often “sends” cold winds here from the north. This is the reason that hot weather - from 35 degrees and above - is extremely rare in the metropolis. However, summers are quite hot, with average temperatures varying between 19-28°C above zero.
During the summer months, Istanbul experiences periods of high humidity. In general, precipitation (mostly rain) occurs on 123 days a year. For 12 months, approximately 850-900 mm of precipitation falls. The city receives more than 2 thousand hours of sunshine per year, which is a very good indicator. As for winter, it is also characterized by humidity. There is no severe cold, but snow falls. The average temperature is from +3°C to +9°C. In spring and autumn, the weather is also quite comfortable, although it is prone to sudden temperature changes.
Sights of Istanbul
The undoubted decoration of Istanbul is, of course, the mosques, the splendor of which can conquer everyone. The most beautiful religious building is, of course, the Suleymaniye Mosque, built by the architect Sinan in 1550-1557. It can accommodate about 5 thousand believers. The complex of buildings of the mosque also includes a madrasah, where devout Muslims study their religion, libraries, observatories, Turkish hammam baths, and, of course, four high minarets.
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On the main square of Sultanahmet there is another world-famous religious building - the Blue Mosque, which differs from the others by the presence of not four, as is customary, but six minarets. This is one of the symbols of Istanbul, captivating with its grandeur, grace and interior decoration. It is decorated with exclusive ceramic tiles painted with blue and white paints. One of the walls is decorated with 260 stained-glass windows made by Venetian masters: the faithful turn to it during prayer. The floor in the mosque is covered with expensive unique handmade carpets.
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Hagia Sophia, or Hagia Sophia, is located just opposite the Blue Mosque. To come to Istanbul and not see it with your own eyes, the main religious symbol of Byzantine Constantinople? It's just impossible! A large army of tourists flock to admire the magnificent temple, which was originally Orthodox. Six centuries ago it was turned into a mosque. Today, Hagia Sophia is one of the most luxurious museums in the world, which can be put on a par with St. Peter's Basilica and the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
The main palace of the Ottoman Empire until the middle of the 19th century was the Topkapi Palace. It stands on the shores of Cape Seral, on the eastern side of Old Istanbul, overlooking the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The huge Topkapi palace complex covers an area of 70 hectares, once up to 40,000 people lived here. In 1462, Mehmet II began the construction of the palace, the rulers of the Ottoman Empire lived and ruled here for almost 400 years. It is in it that the actions of the popular television series "The Magnificent Age" take place, where Sultan Suleiman lives with his harem. Today, the Topkapi Palace is an excellent museum, in the halls of which are picturesquely placed what was the wealth and splendor of the Ottoman Empire. No palace in the world can boast such a fabulous location - on the cape, which is called the Palace, wedged between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, on one of the seven hills of Istanbul.
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The official residence of the Turkish sultans since 1853 was the Dolmabahce Palace - luxurious, pompous, built to compete with the abode of European monarchs. The construction was initiated by Sultan Abdulmecid, and his idea was fully successful: the new baroque palace gave the banks of the Bosphorus a special charm, which every visitor can be sure of. It is also known for the fact that the first President of Turkey, Mustafa Ataturk, died here in 1938. Its area is 4.5 hectares, the palace has 285 rooms. Currently, Dolmabahce is used as the Istanbul residence of the Prime Minister of the Republic.
On the Asian side of the Bosphorus is another famous palace - Beylerbey. It was built in the 60s of the XIX century as the summer residence of the Ottoman rulers. The order for the construction, which lasted four years, was given by Sultan Abdul-Aziz, who, ironically, spent the last four years of his life here since his removal in 1912. The palace has several halls, the most famous is the entrance, inside which there are pools and even a fountain. Magnificent lamps are striking in the interior, most of the plafonds of which were painted by our compatriot Aivazovsky.
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| Istanbul Turkey |
Once in the European part of Istanbul, very lively and noisy, be sure to visit the Rumelihisar fortress, which was built in 1452 at the behest of Sultan Mehmed Fatih on the picturesque shore of the strait. This place in the city is very calm and peaceful, and the fortress itself has the status of a museum. Its architectural ensemble is based on three main towers: Saruja Pasha, Khalil Pasha and Zaganos Pasha. Those who climb up will enjoy an impressive panorama of the Bosphorus and the Asian part of Istanbul.
Haydarpasa Station is one of the most beautiful historical buildings in the city. This monumental structure was built by the Anatolian Railways company in 1906-1909. The station was conceived as the western terminal for lines leading from Hijaz and Baghdad. The building is made in the neoclassical style, Helmut Kohn and Otto Ritter, architects from Germany, worked on it. For its intended purpose, Haydarpasa Station was used until 2012.