Istanbul: City of Two Continents

Standing astride two continents, surrounded by a garland of water, the past capital of two empires and of modern Turkey, and with visible history that stretches back nearly three millenia, Istanbul is, simply, unique.And stunning. It's historic centre is all that the tourist posters claim: an overwhelming record of Byzantine, Ottoman and republican history, of incomparable religious buildings, fine secular architecture, and bustling commerce. Little wonder that to many this brillian peninsular i...