Interesting Facts About Istanbul and Turkey

Istanbul is a world city located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. The city, which has hosted different civilizations throughout all these ages, was also the last capital of the Ottoman Empire. We would like to share with you interesting information about Istanbul, which hosts millions of tourists every year.

Yeditepe Istanbul

One of the first things that come to mind when Istanbul is mentioned is undoubtedly Istanbuls Seven Hills. Istanbul’s description as Yedi Tepe dates back to the Roman period. These hills in the Historic Peninsula today; Sarayburnu, Nuruosmaniye, Beyazıt, Fatih, Yavuz Selim, Edirnekapı, and Koca Mustafa Pasha hills.

Bosphorus

Istanbul has been an important trade center throughout history due to its geopolitical location. The city that connects two continents is the only city in the world with this feature.

Bath Culture of Istanbul

There are 237 baths in Istanbul. Today, only 60 of these baths, most of which were built in the Ottoman period, are used. The most known ones; Cağaloğlu Bath, Historical Galatasaray Bath, and Çemberlitaş Bath.

Historical Tunnel Metro

The nostalgic Tunnel metro is the second oldest metro in the world and which is frequented by many tourists today. Tünel metro, which runs between Şişhane and Karaköy, was built in 1875, 12 years after the London subway.

Worlds Oldest Bazaar

The Grand Bazaar, which was started to be built in 1460 during the reign of Fatih Sultan Mehmet, is today located in Beyazıt on an area of 47,000 square meters with 22 gates, 61 streets, and around 4000 shops. The Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest bazaars in the world, hosts an average of over 90 million tourists a year.

Beyazit Tower

The Galata Tower built by the Genoese, the Maidens Tower, which has been the subject of legends in all its glory, and the Beyazıt Fire Tower built by Nevşehirli İbrahim Pasha are the most well-known towers.

Kamondo Stairs

The stairs of the Historic Peninsula, built on seven hills, add distinct beauty to the city. These buildings, which reflect the aesthetics of the period, are a frequent destination for tourists coming to the city. The most well-known are the Kamondo Stairs connecting Bankalar Street to Karaköy, Peri Çıkmazı connecting Çırağan Street to Yıldız, and 224-step Ehram Slope connecting Cevdet Paşa Street and Özlemli Street in Bebek district.