SOME FACTS ABOUT ISTANBUL
Istanbul was the capital of three significant empires: the Eastern Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Ottoman Empire.
Istanbul (ancient Byzantium), like Rome, was built on seven hills.
Istanbul is the only city in the world that is geographically located in both Europe and Asia.
Istanbul is one of the world’s largest cities, with a population of roughly 15 million people, or more than 177 countries.
In 1502, Istanbul was the world’s most populated metropolis, followed by London in 1840.
On the Bosphorus Strait, which connects Europe and Asia, there are currently 3 suspension bridges.
The Blue Mosque is Istanbul’s sole mosque with six minarets, the maximum number allowed in a mosque.
There are two international airports in the area, one on the Asian side and the other on the European side.
For almost 900 years, Hagia Sophia was the world’s largest church.
In 2010, Istanbul was designated as the European Cultural Capital.
The first traffic accident occurred in 1912 in the Sisli area, when an Italian Embassy driver struck a pedestrian and attempted to escape from the scene.
During the Ottoman Empire’s Middle Ages, Istanbul had around 1.400 public toilets, when there were none even in the palaces of France and other European capitals.
Istanbul is home to the most mosques in Turkey. It has around 3,113 mosques, including the historical Sultanahmet Mosque and the Süleymaniye Mosque.
Pierre Loti Hill got its name from the famous French novelist and traveler who lived in Istanbul and spent most of his time there.
The Crusaders took four bronze horses from Istanbul (Constantinople) in the 13th century, and they now decorate San Marco Cathedral in Venice.
Built-in 1875, Istanbul possesses the world’s third-oldest subway system. It’s 573 meters long and is located in Beyoglu’s Tunel neighborhood. The London subway opened in 1863, while the New York subway opened in 1868.
In Istanbul’s Pera Palas Hotel, Agatha Christie penned the renowned murder mystery thriller “Murder on the Orient Express.” From 1883 to 1977, the Orient Express train ran between Paris and Constantinople (Istanbul).
With over 3.000 shops, the Grand Bazaar is the world’s largest historic covered bazaar.
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