Istanbul, Turkey

The legendary city of Constantinople, now known as Istanbul, was originally named after Emperor Constantine when the Romans made it their eastern capital in 324AD. A city has stood here for almost three millennia, ruled by various empires from the Greeks to the Ottomans.

Blessed with a magnificent natural setting on the Bosphorous Strait and encompassing a fabulous natural harbour known as the ‘Golden Horn’, Istanbul has long been a draw for travellers. Today, Turkey’s largest metropolis is a melting pot of cultures and is the only city in the world to straddle two continents – Europe and Asia.

It offers a dazzling wealth of culture and traditions, a rich variety of architecture and an intriguing blend of ancient and modern.