Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Istanbul is the crossroads of civilizations, where Europe meets Asia. It was once called Constantinople, named for the fourth-century Roman Emperor Constantine the Great. The city has been the capital of two grand empires. #2 Istanbul is a vast city with 15 million inhabitants. It is split into two parts by the Bosphorus Strait, which runs north to south through the middle of the city. The Old Town is the 3,000-year-old historical core of the city, surrounded by fragments of the original Byzantine wall. #3 On the first day, focus on the Sultanahmet district in the center of the Old Town. Take the self-guided Historic Core of Istanbul Walk to get your bearings, visiting the Hagia Sophia, the Underground Cistern, and the Blue Mosque. #4 If you must visit a tourist office, the first two are in the Old Town, the third and fourth are in the New District, and the last is at the airport.