Because Istanbul is in Turkey : embraces two Explore the beauty and charm of a city continents one arm stretching towards Asia, the other towards Europe. In between stretches the Bosphorus, a strait which gives access to the Sea of marmara, the Black Sea and the Golden Horn. Successive Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires have made Istanbul their capital. While it protects the treasures of its past with pride, it also looks towards the future.

The variety to be found in Istanbul is indeed magical. It seems as though its museums, churches, mosques, market places, palaces and natural beauties are inexhaustible making it possible not to feel that Istanbul is one of the most important cities in the world.

The innumerable attractions of its historic past and cultural heritage together with its modern hotels, specialty restaurants, night clubs, cabarets, historic bazaars and shops make Istanbul a very active centre.

The waters of the Bosphorus reflect the great splendor and true beauty of Istanbul in a synthesis of past and present. Here one may see new hotels cheek by jowl with old waterside mansions, stone castles juxtaposed with rustic palaces and modern complexes by the side of fishing villages. To take a trip along the magnificent Bosphorus observe its incredible beauty is to take an enchanted journeythrough time. Such a trip might begin in front of Dolmabahce Palace and continue past the green park of Yildiz Palace with its splendid pavilions.

Next comes Ortakoy where every Sunday the streets are like an open-air gallery full of artists exhibiting their works. One can also say that Ortakoy with its juxtaposition of church, mosque and synagogue gives a typical example of the age-old tolerance towards religion. Here, too, can be found the Bosphorus Bridge, a modern suspension bridge, one of the longest such bridges in the world, which joins Europe and Asia as it passes over the head of buildings more traditional in their architecture. After passing under the bridge one comes to Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian side behind which rises Camlica, the highest hill in the environs of Istanbul.

On the other shore the Ottoman wooden houses of Arnavutkoy followed by the modern luxury apartments of Bebek create a striking difference. A few kilometres further up the fortresses of Rumeli Hisar and Anadolu Hisar stand opposite each other like guardians of the city. On the shore near Anadolu Hisar is Goksu Palace. After passing thesefortresses a second bridge joining the two continents, that of Mehmet Conqueror, can be seen stradding the two shores. Next come Emirgan on the European side and on the Asian Kanlica and Cubuklu, leading to Beykoz famous for its woods. On the European side at Tarabya moored yachts seem to dance in consort the length of the bay. Fish restaurants and tavernas can be found along the road from Tarabya to Buyukdere and Sariyer, the farthest points from the city itself. A little further on from Sariyer the Straits open out into the Black Sea.