Turkey
Istanbul 3D
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Welcome to Turkey! Istanbul is a dazzling city where Europe and Asia meet, filled with domed mosques, a maze-like covered market, and busy ferries crisscrossing the sparkling Bosphorus strait.
Why is it famous?
Istanbul is the only city in the world that sits on two continents — part of it is in Europe and part of it is in Asia, split by a strait of water called the Bosphorus.
For over 1,500 years it was the capital of two enormous empires, the Byzantine Empire and later the Ottoman Empire, leaving it packed with stunning palaces and mosques.
A city with a long story
The city was founded almost 2,700 years ago and has been called by three different names throughout history: Byzantium, then Constantinople, and finally Istanbul.
Each empire that ruled the city added its own grand buildings, which is why Istanbul today is such a rich mix of Byzantine, Ottoman, and modern architecture all in one place.
Quick facts
- The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with thousands of shops under one roof.
- The Blue Mosque earned its nickname from the thousands of handmade blue tiles that decorate its inside walls.
- Ferries carry hundreds of thousands of passengers across the Bosphorus every single day, making it one of the busiest waterways on Earth.