Istanbul.. The City on Seven Hills
Şubat 21, 2010 | Cities in the Mediterranean
Istanbul is one of the world’s greatest cities famous for its historical monuments and the beauty of its natural sites .
This exotic city is one of a kind in the world as it spreads over two continents namely Europe and Asia, separated by a narrow strait, the Bosphorus.
It is known to possess a history of over 2,500 years, throughout which it has served a crucial trade center on this strategic junction of the world.
Istanbul is located on seven hills with the historic quarters situated on a peninsula flanked on three sides by the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
The city has served as capital to three great empires namely the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires. The world has been ruled from this spot of the world by about 120 emperors and sultans (padişahs in Turkish) for over 1,600 years
The city walls surrounding Istanbul were rebuilt four times, extending in the west direction.
The city is adorned by magnificent historical sites and pieces including 5th century Roman city walls, great palaces of the sultans, museums and mosques and offers an elegant and majestic silhouette from all directions.
The Golden Horn which is a secure natural harbor is known to have contributed to the development of the city throughout its history.