The city that represents a bridge between Europe and Asia is also the city that represents a premier in the European Capitals of Culture tradition: it’s the first city outside the European Union that gets this title. Istanbul is a populous and fascinating city and in 2010 it’s one of the three  European Capitals of Culture. It’s a once in a lifetime chance to see the best of the best of Istanbul.

Istanbul is not just the meltdown point of two continents but also of two religions: Muslims and Christians live here peacefully for hundreds of years. Therefore, expect to see along with the Ottoman mosques some beautiful Byzantine churches. Istanbul is a city that does not sleep – its 12 million inhabitants are always filling the streets.

Start your sightseeing in this amazing city with one of Istanbul’s most powerful symbols – Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the Blue Mosque), built between 1609 and 1616. It is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman and Byzantine church development. It has six minarets and the interior of the mosque is lined with 20,000 handmade ceramic tiles.

In the Uskudar district, you must see Istanbul’s most famous tower – Maiden Tower, a landmark for all the sailors that pass through the Bosphorus. The tower was built by the Genoa’s traders but its origin is tied to several legends. The tower can be visited everyday except Monday, but if you want to admire Istanbul’s scenery from a tower, you should consider visiting the Galata Tower, which is almost 67 meters high.

In the evenings, don’t miss the famous Turkish baths (hammmams) for a unique bathing experience and before you leave make sure you buy something from the Grand Bazaar, one of the world’s oldest markets.

An international conference for museum of cities, the Independent Movie Festival among other nine film festivals, hundreds of theater, literature, and educational events as well as many urban projects will take place in Istanbul this year. The atmosphere in the city promises to be more festive than ever and the locals will surely be as welcoming as always.

Image credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.

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