Istanbul is famously known as the “City on the Seven Hills” (Yedi Tepeli Şehir in Turkish), a title inherited from Byzantine Constantinople. Like ancient Rome, Constantinople was traditionally regarded as a city built on seven hills, reflecting its historical connection…
![Colorized frame from the oldest video of istanbul [1897] showing the old Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn, with wooden structures, boats on the water, pedestrians on the bridge, and the Historic Peninsula with domes and minarets in the background](https://cityofistanbul.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Panorama-Golden-Horn-Alexandre-Promio-1897-oldest-video-Istanbul-768x432.jpg)
This 1897 film shot by Alexandre Promio is generally accepted as the oldest surviving moving image footage of Istanbul that we know today.
Few stories capture the imagination of Istanbul as powerfully as the tale of Hezarfen Ahmet Çelebi (or Hezârfen Ahmed Çelebi), the man said to have flown across the Bosphorus in the 17th century. According to the legend, Hezarfen launched himself…
In late 2025, our sanctuary welcomed a new soul: Zeytin (which means Olive in English), a young pit bull whose life was almost cut short before it had a real chance to begin. Her story did not start with cruelty…
Ensuring sustainable food security depends on the strength of a nation’s agricultural sector and the long-term policies that guide it. In Turkey, agriculture remains one of the most strategic parts of the economy. Even though its share in national income…
Belgrade Forest (also known as the Belgrad Forest) is one of Istanbul’s oldest and most treasured natural refuges; a place where the city’s noise fades into birdsong, shifting wind, and the rustle of oak and chestnut trees. Watching this forest…
In April 2025, I wrote about Lady, a gentle dog my father had been caring for since 2016. When she was about to be taken away by the municipal teams in Silivri, my brother and I rushed to rescue her…
Cities around the world form formal partnerships known as sister cities or twin towns, long-term relationships designed to promote cultural exchange, cooperation, and mutual understanding. These agreements often grow out of shared history, economic interests, or a desire to strengthen…
The first cool winds of autumn have begun to move through the Belgrad Forest of Istanbul. The air is crisp, but the sunlight still carries the last warmth of summer – that golden, mellow light that filters gently through the…
When we brought Lady from Silivri to Bahçeköy last month, it felt like we were giving her a second chance at life. She had narrowly escaped a tragic fate after a neighbor reported her to the municipality. For a gentle…
As Istanbul begins to thaw from the chill of winter, Belgrad Forest (or the Belgrade Forest) awakens with a quiet, almost magical transformation. By April, this vast woodland, located just north of the city, erupts into a symphony of greens.…
Lady was a stray dog my father had been taking care of since 2016. He had built a kennel for her in the garden of his house in Silivri. Lady would spend the nights in that kennel and roam the…