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History & Evolution
The first settlement in Istanbul’s history dates back to the 3rd Century BC. The city was a major trading and commercial centre during that time. The major turnaround in the history of Istanbul took place in the 4th century when it was named the capital of Roman Empire. The city was given a preference over Rome because Istanbul is surrounded by seven hills and had a harbor named Golden Horn. As soon as Istanbul became the capital city the construction of many temples, official buildings, palaces, hamams and hippodrome started in the region. It remained the capital of the Roman Empire (Byzantine) for a long period.

The city has seen many battles due to its importance. Istanbul was invaded by the Arabs in the 7th and 8th centuries & the Bulgars in the 9th and 10th. The city was finally conquered and became a part of Byzantium empire in 1261. In 1453 Istanbul became the capital city of Ottoman Empire. The reconstruction of the city took place and many buildings that were destroyed in the earlier wars were recreated. The period when Istanbul was ruled by Suleyman is considered as the most important period in the History of Ottoman Empire.

The empire started declining in the 18th century. World War I led to the occupation of Istanbul by allied forces. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk led the Turkish army for a war of freedom and the Turkey of Republic was formed in 1932. Although the capital of Turkey has now been moved to Ankara but Istanbul still is the cultural and commercial center of Turkey.

Site-Seeing
The city of Istanbul has a very eventful History. The city has numerous sites which have been included in United nations World heritage list. The city has several magnificent buildings. Istanbul is bestowed some of the world's most amazing beaches, monuments, palaces and museums.

Ayasofya Museum:
Aya Sophia is regarded as one of the world’s most important architectural monuments in the world. The Museum encloses a very large space and reflects a magnificent architecture. The monument dates back to 537 AD. The monument has faced the consequences of several wars and invasions.

It was repaired several times, it was once a church, later transformed into a mosque and finally a Museum. The antique marbles and mosaics are the most amazing feature of the Museum. The monument was built by Emperor Konstantinos I and is functional as a museum since 1935.

Location: Sultanahmet

Basilica Cistern :
Basilica Cistern is a giant underground cistern built by Justinian in 532 to provide water to the city in cases of siege. The most amazing feature of the Cistern is a wooden walkway winds between the pillars. The piped music and the majestic lighting add to the charm of the ambiance . The place has several magnificent statues of Medussa. One can experience fishes below their feet when visiting the interiors of Basilica Cistern. The place is visited by millions of tourists round the year. The Cisten covers a space of 2.4 acres and has a capacity of over 80,000 cubic meters.

Location: Yerebatan Cad., Sultanahmet

Hippodrome:
Hippodrome was the city's political and cultural center during the period of Byzantine. The place has witnesses several games in historic times. The place was also the center of many riots that shattered the city. The place now stands as a calm city park called the At Meydani (Horse Grounds). The other major attractions around the Hippodrome are the Blue Mosque and the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art.

The Hippodrome is also bestowed by popular monuments like the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and the spiral bronze base of a three-headed serpent sculpture. The place also has a temple like fountain built by Kaiser Wilhelm II. The Sunken Palace Cistern, is beneath the little park at the northern end of the Hippodrome. Other sites like the Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) and the Topkapi Palace are also located nearby.

Location: Adjacent to Cistern

Topkapi Palace:
The Topkapi palace was was once the official residence of the Ottoman Sultans in Istanbul. Numerous important state occasions and royal entertainments were held in the palace. The palace todays stands as the top tourist attraction of Istanbul today. The palace was constructed by Sultan Mehmed II in the 15th century. The palace houses four main courtyards and many smaller buildings. The palace has been serving as a museum since 1921 and has several artifacts of the imperial era.

The Topkapi Palace Museum is under the administration of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism in Istanbul. The palace is guarded by the Turkish military as it preserves the Ottoman architecture, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and murals, as well as a display of Ottoman treasure and jewelry. The Topkapi palace became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985 and it is visited by millions of visitors round the year.

Location: Seraglio Point