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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 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…
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…
Orhan Veli’s poem “I Am Listening to Istanbul” (Turkish: İstanbul’u Dinliyorum), written in 1947, is one of the most iconic works in Turkish literature, capturing the essence of Istanbul through vivid imagery and a serene, introspective tone. It is also…
Istanbul has become famous worldwide as the “city of cats” in recent years. And it’s true; there are hundreds of thousands* of stray cats in Istanbul, and many of them live better, are better fed, and even receive healthcare at…
A nostalgic photo of Istanbul, likely from the 1980s, shows the Ülev passenger ferry departing from the Karaköy pier. The image evokes a sense of the city’s rich maritime history, with the ferry gliding through the waters of the Bosphorus,…