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| Peter Kwok | profile | all galleries >> Greece and Turkey 2015 >> Turkey >> Istanbul | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map |
| For almost 1600 years, it was the capital of two empires with rich histories from two cultures.
Located on the strategic Bosporus Strait, the Greek city of Byzantium became the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD when Constantine I moved here from Rome. For over 1100 years, Constantinople was the capital of the Greek speaking Eastern Roman Empire (aka Byzantine Empire). Greek (Eastern) Orthodox was the state religion, until the Ottoman Turk under Sultan Mehmed II conquered the city in 1453. Overnight, it became the Islamic city of Istanbul. Churches were converted into Mosques. After WWI, the secular Turkish Republic was established with its capital moved to Ankara. Many former churches were converted into museums. |
| For centuries, Constantinople/Istanbul was the most populous city in Europe until it was surpassed by London in the 19th century. Today, it is a city of 14 million that stretches from Europe to Asia across the Bosporus Strait. It is the economic and cultural center of Turkey.
We visited Istanbul about a week before the 2015 Turkish election. Everywhere we went, we saw campaign banners. |
 Green Crescent |
Blue Mosque |
Süleymaniye Mosque |
Hagia Sophia |
Bosporus Cruise |
Topkapi Palace |
Chora Church |
 Grand Bazzar |
 Obelisk of Theodosius |
 Galata Tower |
 Grand Bazzar |
Street of Istanbul |
 Modern Istanbul |
 Bridges over Golden Horn |
 Golden Horn |
 Asian Shore |
 Election Banners |
 New Mosque |
 Theodosian Wall |
 Valens Aqueduct |
 Basilica Cistern |
 Spice Market |
 Golden Horn |
 Istanbul Railway Terminal |
 Medusa Head Pillar |
 Our Hotel |
 Belly Dancing |
 Belly Dancing |
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