Road Cycling in Istanbul
Back in 2012, I wrote an article titled “Road Cycling in Istanbul” for the website Cycling Passion. The article was predominantly in a Q&A format. Now, for 2024, I wanted to revisit and expand on that article. A lot has…
Hagia Sophia from the Sea
Hagia Sophia was completed in 537 AD, and it must have been a magnificent sight for the people of that era. Let’s try to imagine what a passenger aboard a ship approaching Constantinople might have experienced when seeing the Hagia…
Franz Liszt in Istanbul: The Sultan’s Court and a Pianist’s Legacy
In the mid-19th century, the Ottoman Empire was undergoing a period of transformative change known as the Tanzimat, or “Reorganization” era, which introduced sweeping efforts toward modernization and Westernization. Sultan Abdülmecid I, who reigned from 1839 to 1861, was a…
Did Napoleon Really Say, ‘If the Earth Were a Single State, Istanbul Would Be Its Capital’?
Thousands of websites, blogs, and social media posts cite the quote, “If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital,” attributing it to Napoleon Bonaparte. Despite its widespread popularity, no historical evidence exists that Napoleon ever said…
Bosphorus: Moments Before Sunrise
On a September morning, just before sunrise, I decided to take my bike out for an early ride along the Bosphorus. There’s something magical about the city at that hour – the calm before the day fully awakens, with only…
İstanbul vs İzmir: Why is İzmir Considered a Better Alternative to Living in Istanbul?
Why do people want to leave Istanbul and live in Izmir? In a previous article, I explained why, despite their desire, people find it hard to leave Istanbul, and even if they move to another city, they often return after…
How Big is Istanbul?
Istanbul, Turkey’s largest and most populous city, spans both Europe and Asia. Istanbul’s urban area covers approximately 2,576.85 km² (994.93 square miles), placing it among the world’s largest cities in terms of surface area. This expansive urban landscape is home…
Why Did Constantine Choose Byzantium (Later Constantinople and Istanbul) as His New Capital?
In 330 AD, Roman emperor Constantine the Great made a monumental decision that would shape the course of history: he chose the ancient city of Byzantium as the new capital of the Roman Empire, later renaming it Constantinople. This choice…
What to See in Istanbul in Just One Day
You’ve come to Istanbul for a meeting, work appointment, or vacation, and you only have one free day. Where should you go, and what can you see in just one day in Istanbul? Last September, I hosted a guest from…
What Makes Istanbul a City People Never Want to Leave?
There’s something I’ve observed in people living in Istanbul (and many others have observed it too): once someone settles in this city, they either can’t leave or find it very difficult to leave and even if they do, after some…
A Glimpse of Istanbul in the 1950s: Ortaköy, Bosphorus, and Historic Landmarks
A stunning photo from the 1950s showing Ortaköy and the Bosphorus: not only can you see these two locations, but you can also spot the Maiden’s Tower, the Historic Peninsula, Hagia Sophia, and Üsküdar in the picture. Another interesting feature…
Why Ankara, Not İstanbul, is the Capital of Turkey?
Istanbul, historically known as Byzantium and later as Constantinople, served as the capital of two powerful empires: the Byzantine Empire (Eastern Roman Empire) and the Ottoman Empire. For over a millennium, it was a political, cultural, and economic center that…