Once known as the famous Constantinople, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul is now a sprawling mega-city embracing two continents, one arm reaching out to Asia, the other to Europe. In the city’s heart, the Bosphorus Strait, course the waters of the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Golden Horn. The historical part of the city, Sultanahmet, contains the historical treasures of the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya. As you tour the walled area, famous for holding off invaders for centuries, explore and get lost down the twisting alleyways, imagining ... [read more]