ISTANBUL: THE BRIDGE BETWEEN EUROPE AND ASIA

Istanbul is the only city in the world on two continents. And so its more than 30 districts, which could not be more different, are spread across Europe and Asian National Casino. Here, the Occident and the Orient come together, millennia of history contrast with modernity, pulsating metropolitan flair mixed with Anatolian culture. In short, hardly any other cosmopolitan city offers so many lively and fascinating impressions as the Bosphorus.
The districts on the European side offer more tourist attractions, but a ferry crossing to the Asian part of the city is always worthwhile to truly feel and compare the hustle and bustle and tranquility. On both sides of the Bosphorus, tradition and modernity mix. The entire splendor and diversity of Istanbul can be experienced almost everywhere, from the colorful bazaars to shopping centers and architecturally impressive buildings, or simply a stroll through the interesting neighborhoods.

Unfortunately, the diversity of what Istanbul has to offer is difficult to experience in just a few days. To make it easier, an overview of the different districts, neighborhoods and districts will help. Depending on interest, time and planning can discover the most individual ... facets of the city.

Via waterways and bridges, you can alternately get to the districts and neighborhoods of the always vibrant metropolis on the Bosphorus.

In general, Istanbul is divided into a total of three parts: Historical, Modern and Asian Istanbul, while the first two parts of the city are located on the European side.

EUROPEAN SIDE - THE OLDEST PARTS

In the Fatih district there are the Eminönü and Cağaloğlu neighborhoods to see. Eminönü is located in the Fatih district and lies to the east on the historic peninsula. Eminönü is the former commercial center of the Orient and today a confusing traffic center that everyone passes once. The city wall to the west of Fatih separates it from Eminönü by the Atatürk Bulvarı, an expressway that provides a second link to the north of the city via the Atatürk Bridge on the Golden Horn. The Atatürk Bulvarı is spanned by the Valens Aqueduct (Bozdoğan Kemeri), built in the 4th century, and connects Fatih and Eminönü.

Fatih has been famous for its madrasas and mosques since Mehmed the Conqueror and was a district of scholars and poets.

The main street of Fatih started in Philadelphion (Sehzadebasi) in the Middle Ages, and where the Fatih Mosque stands today was the second largest church of Byzantium, the Church of the Apostles with the tomb of Constantine the Great. Not far from Philadelphion stands the Markian Column (Kiztasi).

Orthodox churches in the district that were converted into mosques in the Ottoman centuries include the Jesus Pantokrator Church (Zeyrek Mosque) and the Pammakaristos Church (Fethiye Mosque). On the grounds of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Rum Patrikhanesi) is the Orthodox Church of Hagios Georgios (Saint George).

Neighborhoods of Fatih are (from north to south and east to west) Fener, Çarşamba, Aksaray, Cerrahpaşa, Topkapı, Şehremini, Koca Mustafa Paşa (formerly Psamathia) and Yedikule. Balat is the traditional Jewish neighborhood in Fatih. Karagümrük is located in the north of the city center and is still within the city wall, which dates back to the Byzantine period. A well-known landmark is the former Chora Church, and the headquarters of the State Ensemble of Turkish Classical Music in the Tekke of Jerrahi-Tariqa is also located in this district.