Istanbul Top: Topkap Palace Hagia Sophia Blue Mosque Center: Beyolu; Galata Tower; Maiden's Tower Bottom: Bosphorus Bridge connecting Europe and Asia with the skyline of Levent financial district. Logo Istanbul Location in Turkey Coordinates: 4101N 2858E / 41.017N 28.967E / 41.017; 28.967 Country  Turkey Region Marmara Province Istanbul Established  - Byzantium c. 660 BCnote 1  - Constantinople 330 AD  - Istanbul 1453 (Ottoman Turkish) 1923 (Modern Turkish) 1930 (internationally) Districts 39 Government  - Mayor Kadir Topba (AKP) Area  - Metronote 2 5343 km2 (2062.9 sq mi) Population (2010-12-31)1  - Urban 13255685 (1st Turkish) and (20th World)  - Urban density 2481/km2 (6425.8/sq mi) Time zone EET (UTC+2)  - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Postal code 34000 to 34850 Area code(s) (+90) 212 (European side) (+90) 216 (Asian side) Website Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality

Istanbul (Turkish: stanbul) historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople2 (see the names of Istanbul for further information) is the largest city in Turkey with a population of 13.1 million which is 17.8% of Turkey's population.3 Istanbul is also a megacity as well as the cultural economic and financial centre of Turkey. The city covers 39 districts of the Istanbul province.4 It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbour known as the Golden Horn in the northwest of the country. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) sides of the Bosphorus and is thereby the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. Istanbul is a designated alpha world city.

During its long history Istanbul has served as the capital of the Roman Empire (330395) the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire (3951204 and 12611453) the Latin Empire (12041261) and the Ottoman Empire (14531922). When the Republic of Turkey was proclaimed on 29 October 1923 Ankara which had previously served as the headquarters of the Turkish national movement during the Turkish War of Independence was chosen as the new Turkish State's capital. Istanbul was chosen as a joint European Capital of Culture for 2010 and the European Capital of Sports for 2012.5 The historic areas of the city were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.6 Contents 1 Toponymy 2 History 2.1 First settlements 2.2 Rise and fall of Constantinople 2.3 Turkish rule 3 Geography 3.1 Climate 4 Cityscape 4.1 Architecture 5 Administration 6 Demographics 6.1 Religion 7 Economy 8 Public services 8.1 Education 8.2 Healthcare 8.3 Utilities 9 Transportation 9.1 Airports 9.2 Navigation 9.3 Motorways 9.4 Railways 9.5 Trams 9.6 Funiculars 9.7 Light rail 9.8 Metro 9.9 Bus rapid transit 10 Culture and contemporary life 10.1 Fine arts 10.2 Turkish baths 10.3 Recreation 10.3.1 Shopping 10.3.2 Restaurants 10.3.3 Nightlife 10.4 Media 10.5 Sports 10.6 Twin towns: Sistership Cooperation and Goodwill agreements 10.6.1 Sister cities 10.6.2 Cooperation protocols 10.6.3 Goodwill protocols 11 Further reading 12 Notes 13 References 13.1 References 13.2 Bibliography 14 External links Toponymy Main article: Names of Istanbul

Byzantium (Greek: Byzntion) is the first known name of the city. Around 660 BCnote 1 Greek settlers from the city-state of Megara founded a Doric colony on the present-day Istanbul and named the new colony after their king Byzas.12 After Constantine I (Constantine the Great) made the city the new eastern capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD the city became widely known as Constantinopolis or Constantinople which as the Latinised form of "" (Knstantinopolis) means the "City of Constantine".13 He also attempted to promote the name Nea Roma ("New Rome") but this never caught on.14 Constantinople remained the official name of the city throughout the Byzantine period and the most common name used for it in the West until the establishment of the Republic of Turkey.

By the 19th century the city had acquired a number of names used by either foreigners or Turks. Europeans often used Stamboul alongside Constantinople to refer to the whole of the city but Turks used the former name only to describe the historic peninsula between the Golden Horn and the Sea of Marmara. Pera was used to describe the area between the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus but Turks also used the name Beyolu which is still in use today.15 However with the Turkish Postal Service Law of 28 March 1930 the Turkish authorities formally requested foreigners to adopt stanbul a name in existence since the 10th century16 as the sole name of the city within their own languages.17

Etymologically the name "stanbul" (Turkish pronunciation: istanbu colloquially stambu) derives from the Medieval Greek phrase " " is tim bolin or in the Aegean dialect " " is tam bolin (Modern Greek " " stim boli) which means "in the city" or "to the city".131618 In modern Turkish the name is written "stanbul" with a dotted as the Turkish alphabet distinguishes between a dotted and dotless I. Also while in English the stress is on the first syllable ("Is") in Turkish it is on the second syllable ("tan"). Like Rome Istanbul has been called "The City of Seven Hills" because the oldest part of the city is supposedly built on seven hills each of which bears a historic mosque.19 History First settlements Main article: Byzantium Byzantine remains of a column found at Byzantium's acropolis located today within the Topkap Palace complex.

Recent construction of the Marmaray tunnel unearthed a Neolithic settlement underneath Yenikap on Istanbul's peninsula. Dating back to the 7th millennium BC before the Bosphorus was even formed the discovery indicated that the peninsula was settled thousands of years earlier than previously thought.20 Thracian tribes established two settlementsLygos and Semistraon the Sarayburnu near where Topkap Palace now stands between the 13th and 11th centuries BC. On the Asian side artifacts have been found in Fikirtepe (present-day Kadky) that date back to the Chalcolithic period.21 The same location was the site of a Phoenician trading post at the beginning of the 1st millennium BC as well as the town of Chalcedon which was established by Greek settlers from Megara in 685 BCE.10

However the history of Istanbul generally begins around 660 BCEnote 1 when the settlers from Megara under the command of King Byzas established Byzantion (Latinised as Byzantium) on the European side of the Bosphorus. By the end of the century an acropolis was established at the former locations of Lygos and Semistra on the Sarayburnu.12 The city experienced a brief period of Persian rule at the turn of the 5th century BC but the Greeks recaptured it during the Greco-Persian Wars.22 Byzantium then continued as part of the Athenian League and its successor the Second Athenian Empire before ultimately gaining independence in 355 BCE.23 Long protected by the Roman Republic Byzantium officially became a part of the Roman Empire in AD 73.

Byzantium's decision to side with the usurper Pescennius Niger against Roman Emperor Septimus Severus cost it dearly; by the time it surrendered at the end of 195 two years of siege had left the city devastated.24 Still five years later Severus began to rebuild Byzantium and the city regainedand by some accounts surpassedits previous prosperity.25 Rise and fall of Constantinople Main article: Constantinople Further information: Fall of Constantinople Created in 1422 by Cristoforo Buondelmonti this is the oldest surviving map of Constantinople and the only one that predates the Ottoman conquest.

When Constantine I defeated Licinius at the Battle of Chrysopolis in September 324 he effectively became the emperor of the whole of the Roman Empire.26 Just two months later Constantine laid out the plans for a new Christian city to replace Byzantium. Intended to replace Nicomedia as the eastern capital of the empire the city was named Nea Roma (New Rome); however most simply called it Constantinople ("the city of Constantine") a name that persisted into the 20th century.27 Six years later on 11 May 330 Constantinople was proclaimed the capital of an empire that eventually became known as the Byzantine Empire or Eastern Roman Empire.28 The establishment of Constantinople served as one of Constantine's most lasting accomplishments shifting Roman power eastward and becoming a center of Greek culture and Christianity.2829 Numerous churches were built across the city including the Hagia Sofia which remained the world's largest cathedral for a thousand years.30 The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople developed in the city and its leader is still one of the foremost figures in the Greek Orthodox Church. Constantinople's location also ensured its existence would stand the test of time; for many centuries its walls and seafront protected Europe against invaders from the east as well as from the advance of Islam.29 During most of the Middle Ages and the latter part of the Byzantine period Constantinople was the largest and wealthiest city on the European continent and during parts of this period the largest in the world.31 The Fall of Constantinople in 1453 signaled the end of the Byzantine Empire.note 3 Constantinople began to decline after the Fourth Crusade during which it was sacked and pillaged.33 The city subsequently became the center of the Latin Empire created by Catholic crusaders to replace the Orthodox Byzantine Empire which was divided into splinter states.34 However the Latin Empire was short-lived and the Byzantine Empire was restored weakened in 1261.35 Constantinople's churches defenses and basic services were in disrepair36 and its population had dwindled to forty thousand from nearly half a million during the 9th century.3738 Various economic and military policies instituted by Andronikos II such as the reduction of forces weakened the empire and left it more vulnerable to attack.39 In the mid-14th century the Ottoman Turks began a strategy by which they took smaller towns and cities over time cutting off Constantinople's supply routes and strangling it slowly.40 Finally on 29 May 1453 after an eight-week siege (during which the last Roman Emperor Constantine XI was killed) Sultan Mehmed II "the Conqueror" captured Constantinople and declared it the new capital of the Ottoman Empire.4142 Hours later the sultan rode to the Hagia Sofia and summoned an imam to proclaim the Islamic creed converting the grand cathedral into an imperial mosque.43 Turkish rule Main article: History of Istanbul The Ottoman sultans ruled from the Topkap Palace for centuries. Following the fall of Constantinople Mehmed II immediately set out to revitalize the city now also known as Istanbul. He invited and forcibly resettled many Muslims Jews and Christians from other parts of Anatolia into the city creating a cosmopolitan society that persisted through much of the Ottoman period.44 By the end of the century Istanbul had returned to a population of two hundred thousand making it the second-largest city in Europe.45 Meanwhile Mehmed II repaired the city's damaged infrastructure and began to build the Grand Bazaar. Also constructed during this period was Topkap Palace which served as the official residence of the sultan for four hundred years.46 The Ottomans quickly transformed Istanbul from a bastion of Christianity to a symbol of Islamic culture. Religious foundations were established to fund the construction of grand imperial mosques often adjoined by schools hospitals and public baths.46 Suleiman the Magnificent's reign from 1520 to 1566 was a period of especially great artistic and architectural achievements; chief architect Mimar Sinan designed the Sleymaniye Mosque and other grand buildings in the city while Ottoman arts of ceramics calligraphy and miniature flourished.47 The total population of Istanbul amounted to 570000 by the end of the 18th century.48 View of the Galata Bridge spanning the Golden Horn with the Galata Tower in the background ca. 1892-1893. A period of rebellion at the start of the 19th century led to the rise of the progressive Sultan Mahmud II and eventually the Tanzimat period which produced reforms that aligned the empire along Western European standards.4950 Bridges across the Golden Horn were constructed during this period51 and Istanbul was connected to the rest of the European railway network in the 1880s.52 The Tnel one of the world's oldest subterranean urban rail lines opened in 1875;53 other modern facilities such a stable water network electricity telephones and trams were gradually introduced to Istanbul over the following decades although later than to other European cities.54 The last Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI departing from the backdoor of the Dolmabahe Palace a year before the declaration of the Republic of Turkey. Still the modernization efforts were not enough to forestall the decline of the Ottoman regime. The early 20th century saw the Young Turk Revolution which disposed of Sultan Abdul Hamid II and a series of wars that plagued the ailing empire's capital.55 The last of these World War I resulted in the British French and Italian occupation of Istanbul. The final Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI was exiled in November 1922; the following year the occupation of Istanbul ended with the signing of the Treaty of Lausanne and the recognition of the Republic of Turkey which was declared by Mustafa Kemal Atatrk on 29 October 1923.56 In the early years of the republic Istanbul was overlooked in favor of the country's new capital Ankara. However starting from the late 1940s and early 1950s Istanbul underwent great structural change as new public squares (such as Taksim Square) boulevards and avenues were constructed throughout the city sometimes at the expense of historical buildings.57 In 1955 the Istanbul Pogrom targeted the city's ethnic Greek community. The pogrom greatly accelerated the emigration of the city's ethnic Greeks to Greece.58 The population of Istanbul began to rapidly increase in the 1970s as people from Anatolia migrated to the city to find employment in the many new factories that were built on the outskirts of the sprawling metropolis. This sudden sharp rise in the city's population caused a large demand for housing development and many previously outlying villages and forests became engulfed into the greater metropolitan area of Istanbul.59 As a capital of empires the city was not only an administrative but also a religious center. The Patriarchate of Eastern Christians has been headquartered here since its establishment and the largest early churches and monasteries of the Christian world rose in this city on top of the pagan temples. Within a century after the city was conquered it was enriched with mosques palaces schools baths and other architectural monuments that gave it a Turkish character while some of the existing churches in ruins were repaired altered and converted into mosques.Between the 16th century when the Ottoman sultans acquired themselves the title of the "Caliph of Islam" and 1924 the first year of the Republic Istanbul was also the headquarters of the Caliphate. More Jews settled in Istanbul than any other port and here they built themselves a new and happy life after they were rescued from Spain by the Turks in the 15th century. Istanbul has always been a city of tolerance where mosques churches and synagogues existed side by side. The city was adorned with a large number of dazzling and impressive works even during the period of decline of the Ottomans. During this time the influence of European art made itself felt in the new palaces while the northern slopes of the Golden Horn Galata and Beyoglu districts assumed a European character. Even when the Empire which was a party to World War I collapsed and the young Republic that replaced it moved the capital to Ankara Istanbul did not lose its significance. The haphazard development that began in the years following World War II and accelerated in the 1950's has unfortunately had a negative impact on the fabric of the old city and while old wooden houses disappeared rapidly concrete buildings proliferated. Istanbul experienced a population explosion due to immigration and within a very short period it expanded far beyond the historical city walls. The areas inside the walls were invaded by workshops mills and offices; even the new thoroughfares could not solve the traffic problems and the inadequacy of the infrastructure gave rise to a sea pollution problem starting with the Golden Horn. With the initiatives for saving the city in the 1980s Istanbul embarked on a process of restructuring on a scale unseen in its history.Thousands of buildings along the Golden Horn were demolished to make way for a green belt on its shores; parks and gardens were built on the land claimed by filling up the beaches of the Sea of Marmara. In order to prevent sea pollution drainage systems were completed and physical and biological wastewater treatment plants were erected; the use of natural gas for heating has considerably reduced air pollution. Efforts are continuing for the restoration of the Roman city walls and Beyoglu the main artery was rescued by building a newavenue. Improvements were made in ihe general cleaning maintenance garbage collection fields and these services are now at Western European standards. Ring roads cross the Bosphorus over two suspension bridges to connect the two continents. The European side has now a fast tramway system and a subway and comfort and speed has been ensured in sea transportation with the hydrofoil terminals built on the seashores. All industrial establishments on the historic peninsula have been moved to new facilities in the suburbs and the new international bus terminal has reduced traffic intensity. The old jail and the first large concrete building of the city were given over to tourism and converted into 5-star hotels. The city is growing dynamically and developing at full speed on an east-west axis along the shores of the Marmara. Geography Further information: Geography of Turkey and Geology of Turkey Satellite view of Istanbul and the Bosporus connecting the Black Sea at the north with the Sea of Marmara at the south. Istanbul is located in northwestern Turkey within the Marmara Region on a total area of 5343 square kilometers (2063 sq mi).note 2 The Bosphorus which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea divides the city into a European side comprising the historic and economic centers and an Asian Anatolian side; as such Istanbul is one of the two bi-continental cities in Turkey among with anakkale. The city is further divided by the Golden Horn a natural harbor bounding the peninsula where the former Byzantium and Constantinople were founded. In the late-19th century a wharf was constructed in Galata at the mouth of the Golden Horn replacing a sandy beach that once formed part of the inlet's coastline.64 The confluence of the Sea of Marmara the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn at the heart of present-day Istanbul has deterred attacking forces for thousands of years and still remains a prominent feature of the city's landscape. The historic peninsula is said to be built on seven hills each topped by an imperial mosque surrounded by 22 kilometers (14 mi) of city walls; the largest of these hills is the site of Topkap Palace on the Sarayburnu.65 Rising from the opposite side of the Golden Horn is another conical hill where the modern Beyolu district is situated. Because of the topography buildings were once constructed with the help of terraced retaining walls (some of which are still visible in older parts of the city) and roads in Beyolu were laid out in the form of steps.64 skdar on the Asian side exhibits similarly hilly characteristics with the terrain gradually extending down to the Bosphorus coast but the landscape in emsipaa and Ayazma is more abrupt akin to a promontory. The highest point in Istanbul is amlca Hill (also on the Asian side) with an altitude of 288 meters (945 ft).64 Faults in western Turkey are concentrated just southwest of Istanbul under the Sea of Marmara and northern Aegean Sea. Istanbul is situated near the North Anatolian Fault on the boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. This fault zone which runs from northern Anatolia to the Sea of Marmara has been responsible for several deadly earthquakes throughout the city's history. Among the most devastating of these seismic events was the 1509 earthquake which caused a tsunami that broke over the walls of the city destroyed over 100 mosques and killed more than 10000 people. More recently in 1999 an earthquake with its epicenter in nearby zmit left 17000 people dead including 1000 people in Istanbul's suburbs.66 Istanbulites remain concerned that an even more catastrophic seismic event may be in Istanbul's near future as thousands of structures recently built to accommodate the city's rapidly increasing population may not have been constructed properly.66 Seismologists say the risk of a 7.6-magnitude earthquake striking Istanbul by 2030 is greater than sixty percent.6768 Climate Levent financial district in winter. Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate according to the Kppen climate classification system69 although its climate becomes more oceanic toward the north.70 In summer the weather in Istanbul is hot and humid with the temperature in July and August averaging 23 C (73 F).71 Summers are relatively dry but rainfall is significant during that season. Extreme heat however is uncommon as temperatures rise above 32 C (90 F) on only five days per year on average.72 During winter it is cold wet and often snowy with the temperature in January and February averaging 4 C (39 F).71 Snowfalls tend to be heavy but the snowcover and temperatures below the freezing point rarely last more than a few days. Spring and autumn are mild but are unpredictable and often wet and can range from chilly to warm however the nights are chilly. Istanbul has a persistently high humidity which can exacerbate the moderate summer heat.71 The humidity is especially salient during the morning hours when humidity generally reaches eighty percent and fog is very common. The city receives fog an average of 228 days each year with the highest concentration of foggy days being in the winter months although it usually dissipates by noontime. Thunderstorms are uncommon occurring just 23 days each year but they occur most frequently in the summer and early autumn months.72 Istanbul has an annual average of 124 days with significant precipitation which together generate around 844 mm (33 in) of rain. The highest recorded temperature was 40.5 C (105 F) on 12 July 2000 and the lowest recorded temperature was 16.1 C (3 F) on 9 February 1927.73 Istanbul also tends to be a windy city having an average wind speed of 18 km/h (11 mph).72 Due to the city's huge size topography and maritime influences Istanbul exhibits a multitude of distinct microclimates. Climate data for Istanbul  Turkey Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Average high C (F) 8.7 (47.7) 9.1 (48.4) 11.2 (52.2) 16.5 (61.7) 21.4 (70.5) 26.0 (78.8) 28.4 (83.1) 28.5 (83.3) 25.0 (77) 20.1 (68.2) 15.3 (59.5) 11.1 (52) 18.8 (65.8) Average low C (F) 2.9 (37.2) 2.8 (37) 3.9 (39) 7.7 (45.9) 12.0 (53.6) 16.0 (60.8) 18.5 (65.3) 18.7 (65.7) 15.5 (59.9) 12.0 (53.6) 8.5 (47.3) 5.3 (41.5) 10.5 (50.9) Precipitation mm (inches) 98.4 (3.874) 80.2 (3.157) 69.9 (2.752) 45.8 (1.803) 36.1 (1.421) 34.0 (1.339) 38.8 (1.528) 47.8 (1.882) 61.4 (2.417) 96.9 (3.815) 110.7 (4.358) 123.9 (4.878) 843.9 (33.224) % Humidity 80 78 76 74 74 71 70 70 74 78 80 80 75 Avg. precipitation days 17.7 15.3 13.6 10.3 7.8 5.3 3.6 4.0 6.1 10.3 12.9 16.9 123.8 Sunshine hours 93 112 124 180 279 330 372 330 240 186 120 93 2459 Source: World Meteorological Organization74 Turkish State Meteorological Service75 BBC Weather76 and Climatetemp Info.77 Cityscape See also: List of urban centers in Istanbul Istanbul's districts extend far from the city center along the full length of the Bosphorus (with the Black Sea at top and the Sea of Marmara at bottom). Istanbul has thirty-nine districts administered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (MMI).62 The district of Fatih which includes the neighborhood and former district of Eminn is among the most central of these residing on the historic peninsula south of the Golden Horn. The district corresponds to what was until the Ottoman conquest the whole of the city across from which stood the Genoese citadel of Galata in the late Byzantine era. Those Genoese fortifications were largely demolished in the 19th century leaving only the Galata Tower to make way for northward expansion of the city.78 Galata is now a part of the Beyolu district which forms Istanbul's commercial and entertainment center and includes stiklal Avenue and Taksim Square.79 The waterfront yals on the Bosphorus are among the most noticeable traits of Istanbul's cityscape. Dolmabahe Palace the seat of government during the late Ottoman period is located in Beikta just north of Beyolu across from BJK nn Stadium home to Turkey's oldest football club.80 The former village of Ortaky is situated within Beikta and provides its name to the Ortaky Mosque along the Bosphorus near the First Bosphorus Bridge. Lining the shores of the Bosphorus north of there are yals luxurious chalet mansions originally built by 19th-century aristocrats and elites as summer homes.81 Today some are homes within the city's most exclusive neighborhoods including Bebek. Further inland between the Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet (Second Bosphorus) Bridge are Levent Maslak and Mecidiyeky Istanbul's primary economic centers. Officially part of the Beikta and ili districts they contain Istanbul's tallest buildings and the headquarters of Turkey's largest companies. Like Beyolu the districts of skdar and Kadky on the Asian side were originally separate cities Chrysopolis and Chalcedon respectively.10 During the Ottoman period they continued to remain outside the scope of urban Istanbul serving as tranquil outposts with seaside yals and gardens. However during the second half of the 20th century the Asian side experienced massive urban growth owning in part to the development of Badat Avenue into an upscale shopping hub similar to stiklal Avenue on the European side. The fact that these areas were largely empty until the 1960s also provided the chance for developing better infrastructure and tidier urban planning when compared with most other residential areas in the city. While now officially parts of Istanbul much of the Asian side of the Bosphorus which accounts for one third of the city's population functions as a suburb of the economic and commercial centers in European Istanbul. As a result of Istanbul's exponential growth during the 20th century a significant portion of the city's outskirts comprised gecekondus (a Turkish term meaning built overnight) referring to the illegally constructed squatter buildings run rampant outside the centers of the country's largest cities.82 At present some gecekondu areas are being gradually demolished and replaced by modern mass-housing compounds. Architecture Main article: Architecture of Istanbul Further information: Architecture of ancient Rome Byzantine architecture and Ottoman architecture Historic Areas of Istanbul* UNESCO World Heritage Site Country  Turkey Type Cultural Criteria I II III IV Reference 356 Region** Europe and North America Inscription history Inscription 1985  (9th Session) * Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. A mix of old and new as roads now travel through the arches of the 4th-century Valens Aqueduct. The Hagia Sophia from Byzantine times as it stands today with the minarets added by the Ottomans. Dolmabahe Palace an example of the Ottoman Baroque architecture. Istanbul is primarily known for its Byzantine and Ottoman architecture but its buildings reflect the various peoples and empires that have ruled its predecessors. Genoese Roman and even Greek forms of architecture remain visible in Istanbul alongside their Ottoman counterparts. Similarly while the Hagia Sophia and imperial mosques dominate much of the city's skyline the city is also home to a number of historic churches and synagogues. More than two thousand years following the departure of the Greeks few examples of Istanbul's Greek architecture have survived. Perhaps the most prominent relic of the Greek era is Maiden's (Leander's) Tower. Residing on an islet in the Bosphorus just off the coast of skdar Maiden's Tower was first built by the Greeks in 411 BC to guide ships within the strait. Since then however the tower has undergone a number of enlargements and restorations rendering its connection to the Greeks tenuous and today merely serves as an observation point.83 Examples of Roman architecture have proved themselves to be more durable. Obelisks from the Hippodrome of Constantinople modeled after the Circus Maximus in Rome are still visible in Sultanahmet Square.84 A section of the Valens Aqueduct constructed in the late 4th century to carry water to the city stands relatively intact over 970 meters (3200 ft) in the west of the Fatih district.85 Similarly the Walls of Constantinople which were erected in stages well into the Byzantine period are still visible along much of their original 4-mile (6.4 km) course from the Sea of Marmara to the Golden Horn.86 Finally the Column of Constantine erected in 330 AD to mark the new Roman capital still stands not far from the Hippodrome.85 Early Byzantine architecture followed the classical Roman model of domes and arches but further improved these architectural concepts as in the Church of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus. The oldest surviving Byzantine church in Istanbul (albeit partially in ruins) is the Stoudios (mrahor) Monastery which was built in 454.87 Other extant structures from the early Byzantine period include the Hagia Irene initially the first church in the new capital and the Prison of Anemas which was incorporated into the city walls. After the recapture of Constantinople in 1261 the Byzantines constructed two of their most important churches Chora Church and Pammakaristos Church. Across the Golden Horn the Genoese contributed Galata Tower then the highest point in the citadel of Galata. Still the pinnacle of Byzantine architecture and one of Istanbul's most iconic structures is the Hagia Sophia. Topped by a dome 31 meters (102 ft) in diameter88 the Hagia Sofia stood as the largest cathedral for more than a thousand years before being converted into a mosque and now a museum.3043 Among the oldest extant examples of Ottoman architecture in Istanbul are the Anadoluhisar and Rumelihisar fortresses which helped block sea traffic aimed at assisting the Byzantines during the Turkish siege of the city.89 Over the next four centuries the Ottomans continued to make an indelible impression on the skyline of Istanbul building towering mosques and ornate palaces. These grand imperial mosques include Sultan Ahmed Mosque (the Blue Mosque) Sleymaniye Mosque and Yeni Mosque all of which were built at the peak of the Ottoman Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries. In the following centuries and especially after the Tanzimat reforms Ottoman architecture was supplanted by European styles. In contrast to the traditional elements of Topkap Palace and the mosques on the historic peninsula Dolmabahe Palace Yldz Palace and Ortaky Mosque in Beikta and Beylerbeyi Palace across the Bosphorus in skdar are clearly of Neo-Baroque style. At the same time the areas around stiklal Avenue were filled with grandiose European embassies and rows of buildings in European (mostly Neoclassical and later Art Nouveau) style started to appear along the avenue. Istanbul was one of the major centers of the Art Nouveau movement in the late-19th and early-20th centuries with famous architects of this style building palaces and mansions in the city. Panoramic view of the Golden Horn in Istanbul as seen from the Galata Tower. The Galata Bridge can be seen in the centre of the picture. The Seraglio Point where the Topkap Palace is located is seen at the left tip of the historic peninsula; followed by (left to right) the Hagia Sophia theSultan Ahmed Mosque the Yeni Mosque near the Galata Bridge the Beyazt Tower rising high in the background and the Sleymaniye Mosque at far right among others. The Sea of Marmara and the Princes' Islands are seen in the background on the horizon. At the extreme left of the picture the district of Kadky (ancient Chalcedon) on the Asian side of the city can be seen. Behind the Galata Bridge towards the horizon the Column of Constantine (which was surrounded by iron bars for restoration) rises. Panorama of Istanbul under fog. With Galata Tower in the center. Bosphorus Bridge and the skyline of Istanbul with Levent financial district seen at the center of the frame and Maslak financial district seen at right. Administration This article or section is in the middle of an expansion or major restructuring. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If this article has not been edited in several days please remove this template. This article was last edited by XtoF (talk  contribs) 73 minutes ago. (Purge) See also: List of mayors of Istanbul Since 2004 Istanbul the capital of the Istanbul Province has been one of only two cities in Turkey whose city boundaries are equivalent to the boundaries of its province. The city is administered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (MMI) which oversees the thirty-nine districts of the city-province.note 2 The main decision-making body of the Municipality is the Municipal Council headed by the mayor; among its responsibilities are controlling the award of contracts setting the fare prices on public transport and regulating taxes.9091 All members of the council including the mayor are elected to five-year terms. The mayor of Istanbul has been Kadir Topba since first being elected in March 2004 and being re-elected in March 2009.92 The governor of Istanbul province is Hseyin Avni Mutlu.93 Istanbul is a home rule city and municipal elections are mainly partisan. The metropolitan model of governance has been used with the establishment of metropolitan administration in 1930. The metropolitan council is responsible for all authority when it comes to making city decisions.94 The metropolitan government structure consists of three main organs: (1) The Metropolitan Mayor (elected every five years) (2) The Metropolitan Council (decision making body with the mayor district Mayors and one fifth of the district municipal councillors) (3) The metropolitan executive committee. There are three types of local authorities: (1) municipalities (2) special provincial administrations (3) village administrations. Among the local authorities municipalities are gaining greater importance with the rise in urbanisation. The current Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality City Hall building in the Sarahane quarter of the Fatih district the construction of which began on 17 December 1953 and was completed and inaugurated on 26 May 1960 will soon be demolished and replaced by a new building designed by Istanbul-based Arolat Architects.95 Demographics See also: Demographics of Turkey Historical population of Istanbul Year Population Year Population 330 40000 1914 909978 400 200000 1927 680857 530 550000 1935 741148 545 350000 1940 793949 715 300000 1945 860558 950 400000 1950 983041 1200 250000 1955 1268771 1453 36000 1960 1466535 1477 70000 1965 1742978 1566 600000 1970 2132407 1690 750000-800000 1975 2547364 1817 500000 1980 2772708 1860 715000 1985 5475982 1885 873570 1990 6629431 1890 874000 2000 8803468 1897 1059000 2007 11372613 1901 942900 2010 13120596 The population of the metropolis more than tripled during the 25 years between 1980 and 2005. Roughly 70% of all Istanbulites live in the European section and around 30% in the Asian section. Due to high unemployment in the southeast of Turkey many people from that region migrated to Istanbul where they established themselves in the outskirts of the city. Migrants predominantly from eastern Anatolia arrive in Istanbul expecting improved living conditions and employment which usually end with little success. This results each year with new gecekondus at the outskirts of the city which are later developed into neighbourhoods and integrated into the greater metropolis. The city has a population of 11372613 residents according to the latest count as of 200796 and is one of the largest cities in the world today. The rate of population growth in the city is currently at 3.45% a year on average mainly due to the influx of people from the surrounding rural areas. Istanbul's population density of 2742 people per square mile (1700 per square km) far exceeds Turkey's 130 people per square mile (81 people per square km).97 During the early Middle Ages Istanbul was the largest city in the world and has been one of the world's largest and most important cities during much of its history (excepting the period of collapse of the Byzantine Empire before the Ottomans). Its geopolitical significance since ancient times brought representatives of ethnic groups from all over Europe Asia and Africa many of whom became assimilated with the local Greek and later Turkish populations. The following overview shows the numbers of inhabitants by yearcitation needed. Population tallies up to 1914 are estimated with variations of up to 50% depending upon researcher. The numbers from 1927 to 2000 are results of censuses. The numbers of 2005 and 2006 are based on computer simulation forecasts. The doubling of the population of Istanbul between 1980 and 1985 is due to a natural increase in population as well as the expansion of municipal limits. Religion Main article: Religion in Istanbul View of the Ottoman Neo-Baroque style Ortaky Mosque and the Bosphorus Bridge. The urban landscape of Istanbul is shaped by many communities. The religion with the largest community of followers is Islam. Religious minorities include Greek Orthodox Christians Armenian Christians Catholic Levantines and Sephardic Jews. According to the 2000 census there were 2691 active mosques 123 active churches and 26 active synagogues in Istanbul; as well as 109 Muslim cemeteries and 57 non-Muslim cemeteries. Some districts used to have sizeable populations of these ethnic groups such as the Kumkap district which had a sizeable Armenian population; the Balat district which had a sizeable Jewish population; the Fener district which had a sizeable Greek population; and some neighbourhoods in the Nianta and Beyolu districts that had sizeable Levantine populations. Very few remain in these districts as they either emigrated or moved to other districts. In some quarters such as Kuzguncuk an Armenian church sits next to a synagogue and on the other side of the road a Greek Orthodox church is found beside a mosque. The seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople spiritual leader of the Greek Orthodox Church and first patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox communion is located in the Fener (Phanar) quarter. Also based in Istanbul are the archbishop of the Turkish-Orthodox community an Armenian archbishop and the Turkish Grand-Rabbi. A number of places reflect past movements of different communities into Istanbul most notably Arnavutky (Albanian village) Polonezky (Polish village) and Yenibosna (New Bosnia). The Muslims are by far the largest religious group in Istanbul. Among them the Sunnis form the most populous sect while a number of the local Muslims are Alevis. In 2007 there were 2944 active mosques in Istanbul.98 Istanbul was the final seat of the Islamic Caliphate between 1517 and 1924 when the Caliphate was dissolved and its powers were handed over to the Turkish Parliament. On 2 September 1925 the tekkes and tarikats were banned as their activities were deemed incompatible with the characteristics of the secular democratic Republic of Turkey; particularly with the secular education system and the laicist state's control over religious affairs through the Religious Affairs Directorate. Most followers of Sufism and other forms of Islamic mysticism practiced clandestinely afterwards and some of these sects still boast numerous followers. To avoid the still active prohibition these organisations represent themselves as "cultural associations." Inside the Church of St. George the seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate. The Armenian Patriarchate. The city has been the seat of the Ecumenical Patriarchate since the 4th century AD and continues to serve as the seat of some other Orthodox churches such as the Turkish Orthodox Church and the Armenian Patriarchate. The city was formerly also the seat of the Bulgarian Exarchate before its autocephaly was recognised by other Orthodox churches. The everyday life of the Christians particularly the Greeks and Armenians living in Istanbul changed significantly following the bitter conflicts between these ethnic groups and the Turks during the fall of the Ottoman Empire which began in the 1820s and continued for a century. The conflicts reached their culmination in the decade between 1912 and 1922; during the Balkan Wars the First World War and the Turkish War of Independence. The Christian population declined from 450000 to 240000 between 1914 and 1927.99 Today most of Turkey's remaining Greek and Armenian minorities live in or near Istanbul. The number of the local Turkish Armenians in Istanbul today amount to approximately 45000100 (not including the nearly 40000 Armenian workers in Turkey who came from Armenia after 1991 and mostly live and work in Istanbul);101 while the Greek community which amounted to 150000 citizens in 1924102 currently amounts to approximately 4000 citizens.100 There are also 60000 Istanbulite Greeks who currently live in Greece but continue to retain their Turkish citizenship.100 The Sephardic Jews have lived in the city for over 500 years. They fled the Iberian Peninsula during the Spanish Inquisition of 1492 when they were forced to convert to Christianity after the fall of the Moorish Kingdom of Andalucia. The Ottoman Sultan Bayezid II (14811512) sent a sizable fleet to Spain under the command of Kemal Reis to save the Sephardic Jews. At that point in the Caliphate's history it was a beacon of tolerance compared to most of Christendom. More than 200000 Jews fled first to Tangier Algiers Genova and Marseille later to Salonica and finally to Istanbul. The Sultan granted over 93000 of these Spanish Jews to take refuge in the Ottoman Empire. Another large group of Sephardic Jews came from southern Italy which was under Spanish control. The talyan Sinagogu (Italian Synagogue) in Galata is mostly frequented by the descendants of these Italian Jews in Istanbul where more than 20000 Sephardic Jews still remain today. There are about 20 synagogues the most important of them being the Neve Shalom Synagogue inaugurated in 1951 in the Beyolu district. Economy Main article: Economy of Istanbul Bankalar Caddesi was the street where the prominent financial institutions were located during the Ottoman period Apart from being the largest city and former political capital of the country Istanbul has always been the centre of Turkey's economic life because of its location as a junction of international land and sea trade routes. Istanbul is also Turkey's largest industrial centre. It employs approximately 20% of Turkey's industrial labour and contributes 38% of Turkey's industrial workspace. Istanbul and its surrounding province produce cotton fruit olive oil silk and tobacco. Food processing textile production oil products rubber metal ware leather chemicals pharmaceuticals electronics glass machinery automotive transport vehicles paper and paper products and alcoholic drinks are among the city's major industrial products. According to Forbes magazine Istanbul had a total of 35 billionaires as of March 2008 ranking fourth in the world.103 Maslak financial district Originally established as the Ottoman Stock Exchange (Dersaadet Tahvilat Borsas) in 1866 and reorganised to its current structure at the beginning of 1986 the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) is the sole securities market of Turkey.104 During the 19th century and early 20th century Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) in Galata was the financial centre of the Ottoman Empire where the headquarters of the Ottoman Central Bank (established as the Bank- Osman in 1856 and later reorganised as the Bank- Osman-i ahane in 1863)105 and the Ottoman Stock Exchange (1866) were located.106 Bankalar Caddesi continued to be Istanbul's main financial district until the 1990s when most Turkish banks began moving their headquarters to the modern central business districts of Levent and Maslak.106 In 1995 the Istanbul Stock Exchange moved to its current building in the stinye quarter.107 Levent financial district at night Today the city generates 55% of Turkey's trade and 45% of the country's wholesale trade and generates 21.2% of Turkey's gross national product. Istanbul contributes 40% of all taxes collected in Turkey and produces 27.5% of Turkey's national product. In 2005 the City of Istanbul had a GDP of $133 billion.108 In 2005 companies based in Istanbul made exports worth $41397000000 and imports worth $69883000000; which corresponded to 56.6% and 60.2% of Turkey's exports and imports respectively in that year.109 Istanbul is one of the most important tourism spots of Turkey. There are thousands of hotels and other tourist oriented industries in the city catering to both vacationers and visiting professionals. In 2006 a total of 23148669 tourists visited Turkey most of whom entered the country through the airports and seaports of Istanbul and Antalya.110 The total number of tourists who entered Turkey through Atatrk International Airport and Sabiha Gken International Airport in Istanbul reached 5346658 rising from 4849353 in 2005.111 Istanbul is also one of the world's major conference destinations and is an increasingly popular choice for the world's leading international associations.112 Public services Education Main article: Education in Turkey See also: List of universities in Istanbul List of schools in Istanbul and List of libraries in Istanbul Main entrance gate of Istanbul University on Beyazt Square. Beyazt Tower located within the campus is seen in the background. Istanbul holds some of the finest institutions of higher education in Turkey including more than 35 public and private universities. Most of the reputable universities are public but in recent years there has also been an upsurge in the number of private universities. Istanbul University founded in 1453 is the oldest Turkish educational institution in the city113 while Istanbul Technical University (1773) is the world's third-oldest technical university dedicated entirely to engineering sciences.114 Other prominent state universities in Istanbul include Boazii University Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts Yildiz Technical University and Marmara University. The major private universities in the city include Ko University Sabanc University Istanbul Bilgi University Istanbul Commerce University Baheehir University Yeditepe University Istanbul Kltr University and Kadir Has University. Almost all Turkish private high schools and universities in Istanbul teach in English German or French as the primary foreign language usually accompanied by a secondary foreign language. Main entrance of Galatasaray Lisesi The Robert College Among the best public schools of Turkey the Galatasaray Lisesi established in 1481 as Galata Saray Enderun-u Hmayunu (Galata Palace Imperial School) and later known as Galatasaray Mekteb-i Sultanisi (Galatasaray School of the Sultans) is the oldest Turkish high school in Istanbul and the second oldest Turkish educational institution in the city. stanbul Lisesi also commonly known as stanbul Erkek Lisesi (established in 1884) abbreviated EL is one of the oldest and internationally renowned public high schools of Turkey. Kuleli Military High School is the only military high school in Istanbul located in engelky district. Another important school in Turkey is Darafaka which has no similar world-wide providing children opportunities around the Turkey without receiving any money from any of them. This school was built in 1873 by Darafaka community. The primary person who came up with creating this school and community is Yusuf Ziya Pasha. Darafaka is located in Maslak. The Boazii University Anadolu Liseleri (Anatolian High Schools) were originally furnished for the Turkish children who returned home from foreign countries such as the skdar Anadolu Lisesi with German as the primary foreign language and technical instruction in German. Kadky Anadolu Lisesi which is also commonly known as Kadky Maarif College is one of the first six special Ministry of Education Colleges established in 1950s in big cities across Turkey. Those English-medium colleges were renamed as "Anadolu Lisesi" in subsequent decades. There are also many foreign high schools in Istanbul most of which were established in the 19th century to educate foreigners in Istanbul. Following the establishment of the Republic of Turkey most of these schools went under the administration of the Turkish Ministry of Education but some of them still have considerable foreign administration such as the Liceo Italiano Statale I.M.I. (zel talyan Lisesi) which is still regarded as an Italian state school by the government of Italy and continues to receive funding and teachers from Rome.115 Robert College established in 1863 and skdar American Academy established in 1876 are other remarkable foreign schools in the city among numerous others. Fen Liseleri (Science High School) were originally furnished for the Turkish children who wants to be scientist doctor or a job about the "Science" such as Atatrk Fen Lisesi Yaar Acar Fen Lisesi and 2 other science high schools. The Kuleli Military High School on the Bosphorus Istanbul has numerous libraries many of which contain vast collections of historic documents from the Roman Byzantine and Ottoman periods as well as from other civilisations of the past. The most important libraries in terms of historic document collections include the Topkap Palace Library Library of the Archaeological Museum Library of the Naval Museum Beyazt State Library Nuruosmaniye Library Sleymaniye Library Istanbul University Library Kprlzade Fazl Ahmed Paa Library Atatrk Library and elik Glersoy Library. Healthcare See also: List of hospitals in Istanbul The city has many public and private hospitals clinics and laboratories within its bounds and numerous medical research centers. Many of these facilities have high technology equipment which has contributed to the recent upsurge in "medical tourism" to Istanbul116 particularly from West European countries like the United Kingdom and Germany where governments send patients with lower income to the city for the inexpensive service of high-tech medical treatment and operations.117 Istanbul has particularly become a global destination for laser eye surgery and plastic surgery.116 The city also has an Army Veterans Hospital in the military medical centre. Pollution-related health problems increase especially in the winter when the combustion of heating fuels increase. The rising number of new cars in the city and the slow development of public transportation often cause urban smog conditions. Mandatory use of unleaded gas was scheduled to begin only in January 2006.118 Utilities Main article: Utilities in Istanbul Basilica Cistern. Istanbul's first water supply systems date back to the foundation of the city. The two greatest aqueducts from the Roman period are the Mazulkemer Aqueduct and the Valens Aqueduct. These were built to channel water from the Halkal area in the western edge of the city to the Beyazt district in the city centre which was called the Forum Tauri in the Roman period.119 After reaching the city centre the water was later collected in the city's numerous cisterns such as the famous Philoxenos (Binbirdirek) Cistern and the Basilica (Yerebatan) Cistern. Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent commissioned Mimar Sinan his engineer and architect-in-chief to improve the water needs of the city. Sinan constructed the Krkeme Water Supply System in 1555.119 In later years with the aim of responding to the ever-increasing public demand water from various springs was channeled to the public fountains by means of small supply lines; see German Fountain. Today Istanbul has a chlorinated and filtered water supply and a sewage disposal system managed by the government agency SK.120 There are also several private sector organisations distributing clean water. Electricity distribution services are covered by the state-owned TEK. The first electricity production plant in the city Silahtaraa Termik Santrali was established in 1914 and continued to supply electricity until 1983.121 The Ottoman Ministry of Post and Telegraph was established in the city on 23 October 1840.122 The first post office was the Postahane-i Amire near the courtyard of Yeni Mosque.122 In 1876 the first international mailing network between Istanbul and the lands beyond the vast Ottoman Empire was established.122 In 1901 the first money transfers were made through the post offices and the first cargo services became operational.122 Samuel Morse received his first ever patent for the telegraph in 1847 at the old Beylerbeyi Palace (the present Beylerbeyi Palace was built in 18611865 on the same location) in Istanbul which was issued by Sultan Abdlmecid who personally tested the new invention.123 Following this successful test installation works of the first telegraph line between Istanbul and Edirne began on 9 August 1847.124 In 1855 the Telegraph Administration was established.122 In July 1881 the first telephone circuit in Istanbul was established between the Ministry of Post and Telegraph in Soukeme and the Postahane-i Amire in Yenicami.124 On 23 May 1909 the first manual telephone exchange with a 50 line capacity was established in the Byk Postane (Grand Post Office) of Sirkeci.124 Transportation Main article: Public transport in Istanbul Airports Atatrk International Airport on the European side is the main airport of the city and one of the largest international hubs in the region. Istanbul has two international airports: The larger one is the Atatrk International Airport located in the Yeilky district on the European side about 24 kilometres (15 mi) west from the city centre. When it was first built the airport was situated at the western edge of the metropolitan area but now lies within the city bounds. The smaller one is the Sabiha Gken International Airport located in the Kurtky district on the Asian side close to the Istanbul Park GP Racing Circuit. It is situated approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of the Asian side and 45 kilometres (28 mi) east of the European city centre. Istanbul City Tours: http://www.privateistanbultours.com/istanbul-day-tours10.html Navigation Commuter ferries have been operating on the Bosphorus since 1837. Sea transport is vital for Istanbul as the city is practically surrounded by sea on all sides: the Sea of Marmara the Golden Horn the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Many Istanbulites live on the Asian side of the city but work on the European side (or vice-versa) and the city's famous commuter ferries form the backbone of the daily transition between the two parts of the city even more so than the two suspension bridges that span the Bosphorus. The commuter ferries along with the high speed catamaran Seabus (Deniz Otobs) also form the main connection between the city and the Princes' Islands. The first steam ferries appeared on the Bosphorus in 1837 and were operated by private sector companies.125 On 1 January 1851 the irket-i Hayriye (literally the Goodwill Company as the Istanbul Ferry Company was originally called) was established by the Ottoman state.125 The irket-i Hayriye continued to operate the city's landmark commuter ferries until the early years of the Republican period when they went under the direction of Trkiye Denizcilik letmeleri (Turkish State Maritime Lines).125 Since March 2006 Istanbul's traditional commuter ferries are operated by stanbul Deniz Otobsleri (Istanbul Sea Buses) which also operates the high speed catamaran Seabus.125 DO (stanbul Deniz Otobsleri Istanbul Sea Buses) was established in 1987 and operates the high speed catamaran Seabuses that run between the European and Asian parts of Istanbuland also connect the city with the Princes' Islands and other destinations in the Sea of Marmara. The Yenikap High Speed Car Ferry Port on the European side and the Pendik High Speed Car Ferry Port on the Asian side are where the high speed catamaran "car ferries" are based. The car ferries that operate between Yenikap (on the European side of Istanbul) and Bandrma reduce the driving time between Istanbul and zmir and other major destinations on Turkey's Aegean coast by several hours; while those that operate between Yenikap or Pendik (on the Asian side of Istanbul) and Yalova significantly reduce the driving time between Istanbul and Bursa or Antalya. The port of Istanbul is the most important one in the country. The old port on the Golden Horn serves primarily for personal navigation while Karaky port in Galata is used by the large cruise liners. Regular services as well as cruises from both Karaky and Eminn exist to several port cities in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Istanbul's main cargo port is located in the Harem district on the Asian side of the city. Istanbul also has several marinas of varying size for personal navigation the largest of which are the Ataky Marina on the European side and Kalam Marina on the Asian side. Motorways Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge spanning from Asia to Europe. The State Road D.100 and the European route E80 the Trans European Motorway (TEM) O-3 are the two main motorway connections between Europe and Turkey. The motorway network around Istanbul is well developed and is constantly being extended. Motorways lead east to Ankara and west to Edirne. There are also two express highways circling the city. The older one the O-1 is mostly used for inner city traffic; while the more recent one the O-2 is mostly used by intercity or intercontinental traffic. The Bosphorus Bridge on the O-1 and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge on the O-2 establish the motorway connection between the European and the Asian sides of the Bosphorus. The southern and northern shores of the Golden Horn an inlet of the Bosphorus on the European side of the city are connected through the Galata Bridge the Atatrk Bridge and the Hali Bridge; the latter also being a part of the O-1 motorway network. The Bosphorus Bridge one of the busiest bridges in the world. Bykdere Avenue is the main artery that runs through the central business districts of Levent and Maslak on the European side and is also accessible through a number of subway stations. At the point where the O-1 motorway junctions and tunnels between the quarters of Gayrettepe and Zincirlikuyu come together Bykdere Avenue connects with Barbaros Boulevard which descends towards the ferry port of Beikta. There it connects with the coastal highway that runs along the European shore of the Bosphorus from Eminn in the south to Saryer in the north. Railways Sirkeci Terminal was opened in 1890 as the final destination terminus of the Orient Express. In 1883 a Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers began a rail service between Paris and Istanbul using a steamship to ferry passengers from Varna to Constantinople. In 1889 a rail line was completed going directly from Istanbul to Bucharest making the whole journey via land possible. The route was known as the Orient Express made even more famous by the works of Agatha Christie and Graham Greene.126 Today the Sirkeci Terminal of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) which was originally opened in 1890 as the terminus of the Orient Express is the terminus of all the lines on the European side and the main connection node of the Turkish railway network with the rest of Europe. A view of the Haydarpaa Terminal from the Sea of Marmara. Currently international connections are provided by the line running between Istanbul and Thessaloniki Greece and the Bosphorus Express serving daily between Sirkeci and Bucharest Romania. Lines to Sofia Belgrade Budapest are established over the Bosphorus Express connection to Bucharest. Beyond the Bosphorus the Haydarpaa Terminal on the Asian side serves lines running several times daily to Ankara and less frequently to other destinations in Anatolia. The railway networks on the European and Asian sides are currently connected by the train ferry across the Bosphorus which will be replaced by an underwater tunnel connection with the completion of the Marmaray project scheduled for 2012. Marmaray (Bosphorus Rail Tunnel) will also connect the metro lines on the European and Asian parts of the city. Inaugurated in 1908 the Haydarpaa Terminal was originally opened as the terminus of the Istanbul-Konya-Baghdad and Istanbul-Damascus-Medina railways. Electric multiple unit TCDD E8000 running past the roman fortifications along the coast on the European side in the summer of 1979. Red was the original colour of the livery. A suburban railway line runs between the main train station of the European part the Sirkeci Terminal and the Halkal district towards the west of the city centre with 18 stations along its 30 km length. A single trip takes 48 minutes. Another suburban line runs on the Anatolian part from the main train station the Haydarpaa Terminal to Gebze at the eastern end of the city. The 44 km long line has 28 stations and the trip takes 65 minutes. 720000 passengers use the urban rail lines on the European side of the city every day.127 Trams Istanbul tram. Trams first entered service in Istanbul on 3 September 1869 at the Tophane Ortaky line.128 In 1871 the Azapkap Galata; Aksaray Yedikule; Aksaray Topkap; and Eminn Aksaray lines entered service.128 Other lines that entered service in the late 19th century included the Voyvoda Caddesi Kabristan Soka Tepeba Taksim Pangalt ili line; the Bayezid ehzadeba line; the Fatih Edirnekap Galatasaray Tnel line; and the Eminn Bahekap line.128 Since 1939 the trams of the city are operated by the ETT.128 On 12 August 1961 the historic red trams of Istanbul were removed from the city's European side; and on 14 November 1966 they were removed from the city's Asian side.128 Towards the end of 1990 replicas of these historic red trams were put in service along the stiklal Avenue between Taksim and Tnel which is a single 1.6 km-long (1640 m) line.128 On 1 November 2003 another nostalgic tram line (T3) was reopened on the Anatolian part of Istanbul between Kadky and Moda.129 It has 10 stations on a 2.6 km long route.129 The trip takes 21 minutes.129 A fast tram (T1) was put in service in 1992 on standard gauge track with modern cars connecting Sirkeci with Topkap. The line was extended on one end from Topkap to Zeytinburnu in March 1994 and on the other end from Sirkeci to Eminn in April 1996. On 30 January 2005 it was extended from Eminn to Fndkl crossing the Golden Horn through the Galata Bridge for the first time after 44 years. A final extension to Kabata was opened in June 2006. The line has 24 stations on a length of 14 km. Service was initially operated with 22 LRT vehicles built by ABB now reassigned to other lines; while stations were provided with temporary high platforms. These vehicles were replaced by 55 low-floor Bombardier Flexity Swift trams in 2003. An entire trip takes 42 minutes. The daily transport capacity is 155000 passengers. The amount of investment totaled US$110 million. In September 2006 a second tram line (T2) was added running west from Zeytinburnu to Baclar. Service on this line is operated with 14 ABB LRT cars. Stations have high platforms at the level of the car floor. Funiculars The historical Beyolu Tnel station Istanbul is served by two underground funicular railways of very different ages and styles. The older of these lines is the Tnel (1875). Inaugurated on 17 January 1875130 the Tnel is the second-oldest subterranean urban rail line in the world after the London Underground (1863) (arguably third in the world if one counts Brooklyn New York's abandoned Atlantic Avenue Tunnel) and the first subterranean urban rail line in continental Europe; though the first full subway line with multiple underground stations in continental Europe was the Line 1 of the Budapest Metro (1896). The Tnel is 573 m (1879.92 ft) long with an altitude difference of 60 m and no intermediate stations between Karaky and Tnel Square.130 It has been continuously in service since 1875.130 Two trains run on a single rail every 3.5 minutes and a trip takes 1.5 minutes.130 Making 64800 trips totaling 37066 kilometres a year the Tnel carries 15000 passengers per day.130 The Kabata-Taksim funicular A second funicular line the Kabata-Taksim Funicular entered service on 29 June 2006 connecting Kabata and Taksim.131 This system connects the Seabus station and the tram stop in Kabata to the metro station at Taksim Square.131 It is about 600 meters long and climbs approximately 60 meters in 110 seconds carrying 9000 passengers per day.131 Light rail Main article: Istanbul LRT The Istanbul LRT is a light rail transit system consisting of 2 lines. The first line (M1) began service on 3 September 1989 between Aksaray and Kartaltepe. The line was further developed step-by-step and reached Atatrk Airport on 20 December 2002. The other line (T4) was opened in 2007 between Edirnekap and Mescid-i Selam. There are 36 stations including 12 underground and 3 viaduct stations on the line's 32 km length. The lines are totally segregated from other traffic without level crossings and run underground for 10.4 km. Service is operated with LRT vehicles built by ABB in 1988. Metro Main article: Istanbul Metro Osmanbey subway station. Map of the Istanbul rail transit network. (Not including some of the Subway lines currently under construction). Construction works of the Istanbul Metro (M2) began in 1992 and the first completed section between Taksim and 4. Levent entered service on 16 September 2000.132 This section of the line is 8.5 km (5.3 mi) long and has 6 stations.132 In 2000 there were 8 Alstom-built 4-car train sets in service which ran every 5 minutes on average and transported 130000 passengers daily. On 30 January 2009 the first train sets built by Eurotem entered service.133 Eurotem will build a total of 92 new wagons for the M2 line.133134 As of 30 January 2009 a total of 34 train sets each with 4 cars were being used on the M2 line.134 A northern extension from 4. Levent to Maslak was opened on 30 January 2009.135 The southern extension of the M2 line from Taksim to Yenikap across the Golden Horn on a bridge and underground through the historic peninsula has thus far been completed up to the ihane station in Beyolu which also entered service on 30 January 2009.135 At Yenikap the M2 network will intersect with the extended light metro and suburban train lines and with the Marmaray tunnel. At present the M2 line has 10 stations in service on the European side of the city; while 6 new stations on the European side and 16 new stations on the Asian side are currently under construction. The trip between the ihane station in Beyolu and the Atatrk Oto Sanayi station in Maslak is 15.65 km (9.7 mi) long and takes 21 minutes.136137 The total length of the European side of the M2 line will reach 18.36 km (11.4 mi) when all 16 stations from Hacosman to Yenikap will be completed;132133138 not including the 936 metres long Golden Horn metro bridge139 the 0.6 km long Taksim-Kabata tunnel connection with the Seabus port131 the 0.6 km long Yenikap-Aksaray tunnel connection with the LRT network133 and the 13.6 km long Marmaray tunnel.140 On the Asian side construction of the 21.66 km (13.5 mi) long M2 line from Kadky to Kartal continues which will have a total of 16 stations.141 The Marmaray tunnel (Bosporus undersea railway tunnel) will connect the metro lines of the Asian and European parts of the city. According to the scheduled construction timeline the tunnel will enter service in 2013. Bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit (also known as metrobus or quality bus) is a useful public transportation system in Istanbul. Culture and contemporary life Fine arts See also: List of museums and monuments in Istanbul Istanbul Archaeology Museum is adjacent to the Topkap Palace. Sakp Sabanc Museum Istanbul is becoming increasingly colourful in terms of its rich social cultural and commercial activities. While world famous pop stars fill stadiums activities like opera ballet and theatre continue throughout the year. During seasonal festivals world famous orchestras chorale ensembles concerts and jazz legends can be found often playing to a full house. The Istanbul International Film Festival is one of the most important film festivals in Europe142 while the Istanbul Biennial is another major event of fine arts. Annually Istanbul hosts music and opera festivals. These festival are an outgrowth of Turkey's government policy starting in the early 1930s to introduce and instutionalize the teaching and performing of polyphonic music and opera. The policy was implemented using highly acclaimed musicologists performers composers etc. who were at risk in their native Germany. Among them were Paul Hindemith Licco Amar Carl Ebert and Ernst Praetorius. They are part of a music and opera directorate bound to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Pera Museum during the Rembrandt exhibition in 2006 Istanbul Modern frequently hosts the exhibitions of renowned Turkish and foreign artists. Pera Museum and Sakp Sabanc Museum have hosted the exhibitions of world famous artists and are among the most important private museums in the city. The Doanay Museum Turkeys first contemporary art museum is dedicated almost exclusively to the work of its founder Burhan Doanay. The Rahmi M. Ko Museum on the Golden Horn is an industrial museum that exhibits historic industrial equipment such as cars and locomotives from the 19th century and early 20th century as well as boats submarines aircraft and other similar vintage machines from past epochs. Istanbul Archaeology Museum established in 1881 is one of the largest museums of its kind in the world. The museum contains more than 1000000 archaeological pieces from the Mediterranean basin the Balkans Middle East North Africa and Central Asia. Istanbul Mosaic Museum contains the late Roman and early Byzantine floor mosaics and wall ornaments of the Great Palace of Constantinople. The nearby Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum displays a vast collection of items from various Islamic civilisations. Sadberk Hanm Museum contains a wide variety of artifacts dating from the earliest Anatolian civilisations to the Ottomans.143 Occasionally in November the Silahhane (Armory Hall) of Yldz Palace hosts the Istanbul Antiques Fair which brings together rare pieces of antiques from the Orient and Occident.144 The multi-storey Mecidiyeky Antikaclar ars145 (Mecidiyeky Antiques Bazaar) in the Mecidiyeky quarter of ili is the largest antiques market in the city while the ukurcuma neighbourhood of Beyolu has rows of antiques shops in its streets. The Grand Bazaar edificed between 14551461 by the order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror also has numerous antiques shops along with shops selling jewels carpets and other items of art and artisanship. Historic and rare books are found in the Sahaflar ars near Beyazt Square and it is one of the oldest book markets in the world and has continuously been active in the same location since the late Roman Byzantine and Ottoman periods. Live shows and concerts are hosted at a number of locations including historical sites such as the Hagia Irene Rumeli Fortress Yedikule Castle the courtyard of Topkap Palace and Glhane Park; as well as the Atatrk Cultural Center Cemal Reit Rey Concert Hall and other open air and modern theatre halls. Turkish baths The Hamam ordered by Roxelana and constructed by Mimar Sinan A significant culture has been developed around what is known as a Hamam the Turkish word for a Turkish Bath. It was a culture of leisure during the Ottoman period one of the finest example being the emberlita Hamam (1584) in Istanbul located on the emberlita (Column of Constantine) Square.146 Another fine example from the 17th Century is the Galatasaray Hamam located on the Beyolu district known for the quality of service and its cleanliness. In the Ottoman Empire many Hamams were also actually build adjacent to mosques as part of the "klliye" (complex). A very fine example to this is the Hamam of the Kl Ali Paa Mosque built by Mimar Sinan. Recreation The Princes' Islands are located to the southeast of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. Recently old beaches have reopened in the city. The most popular places for swimming in the city are in Bakrky Kkekmece Saryer and the Bosphorus. Outside the city are the Marmara Sea's Princes' Islands Silivri and Tuzla; as well as Kilyos and ile on the Black Sea. The Princes' Islands (Adalar) are a group of islands where motor transportation is prohibited located in the Marmara Sea south of the Kartal and Pendik districts. Pine and stone-pine wooden neoclassical and art nouveau-style Ottoman era summer mansions from the 19th century and early 20th century horse-drawn carriages and seafood restaurants make them a popular destination. They can be reached by commuter ferries or high-speed catamaran Seabus (Deniz otobs) from Eminn and Bostanc. Of the nine islands only five are settled. Bykada island where motor transportation is prohibited. ile is a distant and well-known Turkish seaside resort on the Black Sea 50 kilometres (31 mi) from Istanbul where unspoiled white sand beaches can be found. Kilyos is a small calm seaside resort not far from the northern European entrance of the Bosphorus at the Black Sea. The place has good swimming possibilities and has become popular in the recent years among the inhabitants of Istanbul as a place for excursions. Kilyos offers a beach park with seafood restaurants and night clubs being particularly active in the summer with many night parties and live concerts on the beach. Shopping See also: List of shopping malls in Istanbul The Grand Bazaar is the oldest and one of the largest covered markets in the world. The Kanyon Mall winner of the Cityscape Architectural Review Award Istanbul has numerous historic shopping centers such as the Grand Bazaar (1461) Mahmutpaa Bazaar (1462) and the Egyptian Bazaar (1660). The first modern shopping mall in Turkey was Galleria Ataky (1987) which was followed by dozens of others in the later decades such as Akmerkez (1993) which is the only mall to win both "Europe's Best" and "World's Best" awards by the ICSC; Metrocity (2003); Cevahir Mall (2005) which is the largest mall in Europe; and Kanyon Mall (2006) which won the 2006 Cityscape Architectural Review Award for its interesting design. stinye Park (2007) and City's Nianta (2008) are two new malls that target high-end consumers and are almost exclusively dedicated to world-famous fashion brands. Restaurants Fish restaurants in Kumkap. Along with the traditional Turkish restaurants many European and Far Eastern restaurants and numerous other cuisines are also thriving in the city. Most of the city's historic winehouses (meyhane in Turkish) and pubs are located in the areas around stiklal Avenue in Beyolu. The 19th century iek Pasaj (literally Flower Passage in Turkish or Cit de Pra in French) on stiklal Avenue which has many historic meyhanes pubs and restaurants was built by Hristaki Zorafos Efendi at the former site of the Naum Theatre and was inaugurated in 1876. The famous Nevizde Street which has rows of historic meyhanes next to each other is also in this area. Other historic pubs are found in the areas around Tnel Pasaj and the nearby Asmalmescit Soka. Some historic neighbourhoods around stiklal Avenue have recently been recreated with differing levels of success; such as Cezayir Soka near Galatasaray Lisesi that has rows of pubs cafs and restaurants playing live music.147 Istanbul is also famous for its historic seafood restaurants as an example Kumkap has a pedestrian-only area that is dedicated to fish restaurants. Some 30 fish restaurants are found there many of them among the best of the City. Also many of the most popular seafood restaurants are found along the shores of the Bosphorus and by the Marmara Sea shore towards the south of the city.148149 The largest of the Princes' Islands in the Sea of Marmara (namely Bykada Heybeliada Burgazada and Knalada) and Anadolu Kava near the northern entrance of the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea (close to Yoros Castle which was also known as the Genoese Castle due to Genoa's possession of it in the mid-15th century) also have many historic seafood restaurants. Nightlife The historic stiklal Avenue in Istanbul's cosmopolitan Beyolu district. There are many night clubs pubs restaurants and taverns with live music in the city. The night clubs restaurants and bars increase in number and move to open air spaces in the summer. The areas around Istiklal Avenue Nianta Bebek and Kadky offer all sorts of cafs restaurants pubs and clubs as well as art galleries theaters and cinemas. Babylon150 and Nu Pera in Beyolu are popular night clubs both in the summer and in the winter. The Nevizade district of Beyolu famous for its bars and meyhanes. The most popular open air summer time seaside night clubs are found on the Bosphorus such as Sortie151152 Reina153154 and Anjelique155 in the Ortaky district. Q Jazz Bar in Ortaky offers live jazz music in a stylish environment. Venues such as Istanbul Arena in Maslak and Kurueme Arena156 on the Bosphorus frequently host the live concerts of famous singers and bands from all corners of the world. Parkorman157 in Maslak hosted the Isle of MTV Party in 2002 and is a popular venue for live concerts and rave parties in the summer. Media The first Turkish newspaper Takvim-i Vekayi was printed on 1 August 1831 in the Bbli (Bb- li meaning The Sublime Porte) district. Bbli became the main centre for print media. Istanbul is also the printing capital of Turkey with a wide variety of domestic and foreign periodicals expressing diverse views and domestic newspapers are extremely competitive. Most nationwide newspapers are based in Istanbul with simultaneous Ankara and zmir editions.118 Major newspapers with their headquarters in Istanbul include Hrriyet Milliyet Sabah Radikal Cumhuriyet Zaman Trkiye Akam Bugn Star Dnya Tercman Gne Vatan Posta Takvim Vakit Yeni afak Fanatik and Turkish Daily News. There are also numerous local and national TV and radio stations located in Istanbul such as CNBC-e CNN Trk MTV Trkiye Fox Trkiye Fox Sports Trkiye NTV Samanyolu TV Kanal D ATV Show TV Star TV Cine5 SKY Trk TGRT Haber Kanal 7 Kanal Trk Flash TV and many others. In the city of Istanbul there are over a hundred FM-radio stations.158 Sports See also: List of sport facilities in Istanbul The Hippodrome was where during the Roman and Byzantine periods the chariot races took place. During the Roman and Byzantine periods the most important sporting events were the quadriga chariot races that were held at the Hippodrome of Constantinople which had a capacity to accommodate more than 100000 spectators.159 Today sports like football basketball and volleyball are very popular in the city. In addition to Beikta Galatasaray and Fenerbahe which field teams in multiple sports several other clubs have also excelled in particular team sports; such as Efes Pilsen Fenerbahe lker Galatasaray Cafe Crown and Beikta Cola Turka in basketball; or Eczacba Vakfbank and Fenerbahe in volleyball. The Trk Telekom Arena Galatasaray's new stadium. The Atatrk Olympic Stadium the largest multi-purpose stadium in Turkey is a 5-star UEFA stadium and a first-class venue for track and field; having reached the highest required standards set by the International Olympic Committee and sports federations such as the IAAF FIFA and UEFA. The stadium hosted the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final. The kr Saracolu Stadium home of Fenerbahe which is also a 5-star UEFA stadium hosted the 2009 UEFA Cup Final that went down to history as the last Final of the UEFA Cup football tournament. The UEFA Cup will be replaced by the UEFA Europa League starting from the 2009-2010 season.160161 The Sinan Erdem Dome one of the largest multi-purpose indoor arenas of Europe. The Sinan Erdem Dome the largest multi-purpose indoor arena in Turkey hosted the Final of the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship and will also be the venue for the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships and the 2012 FINA Short Course World Championships. The Abdi peki Arena hosted the Final of EuroBasket 2001 and was also the venue for the 1992 Euroleague Final Four. The final corner at the Istanbul Park Formula One Grand Prix racing circuit. Istanbul hosts several annual motorsports events such as the Formula One Turkish Grand Prix the MotoGP Grand Prix of Turkey the FIA World Touring Car Championship the GP2 and the Le Mans Series 1000 km (621 mi) races at the Istanbul Park GP Racing Circuit. From time to time Istanbul also hosts the Turkish leg of the F1 Powerboat Racing on the Bosphorus. Several annual sailing and yacht races take place on the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara. The Golden Horn is where the rowing races take place. Major clubs like Galatasaray Fenerbahe and Beikta and major universities such as the Bosphorus University have rowing teams. Air racing is new to the city. On 29 July 2006 Istanbul hosted the 5th leg of the spectacular Red Bull Air Race World Series as well as the 4th leg on 2 June 2007 in both cases above the Golden Horn. Personal sports like golf horse riding and tennis are gaining popularity as the city hosts international tournaments such as the WTA Istanbul Cup. For aerobics and bodybuilding numerous fitness clubs are available. The Paintball sport has recently gained popularity and is practiced by two large clubs in the proximity of Istanbul. Martial arts and other Eastern disciplines and practices such as Aikido and Yoga can be exercised in several centers across the city. Istanbul also hosts the annual MTB races in the nearby Belgrad Forest and Bykada Island. Two of the most prominent cycling teams of Turkey namely the Scott/Marintek MTB Team and the Kron/Sektor Bikes/Efor Bisiklet MTB Team are from Istanbul. Formula One Turkish Grand Prix at the Istanbul Park racing circuit. Twin towns: Sistership Cooperation and Goodwill agreements See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkey Main article: List of twin towns and sister cities in Istanbul Sister cities Rio de Janeiro (1965)162 Shimonoseki (1972)162 Lahor (1975)162 Johor Bahru (1983)162 Jeddah (1984)162 Houston (1988)162 Cairo (1988)162 Berlin (1989)162 Shanghai (1989)162 St. Petersburg (1990)162 Rabat (1991)162 Merv (1994)162 Barcelona (1997)162 Dubai (1997)162 Cologne (1997)162 Sarajevo (1997)162 Odessa (1997)162 Amman (1997)162 Osh (1997)162 Durrs (1998)162 Almaty (1998)162 Jakarta (1998)162 Plovdiv (2001)162 Constana (2001)162 Khartoum (2001)162 Busan (2002)162 Kazan (2002)162 Skopje (2003)162 Rotterdam (2005)162 Damascus (2006)162 Venice (2007)162 Bangkok (2009)162 Cooperation protocols Florence (1988)162 Berlin (1989)162 Stockholm (1990)162 Toronto (1990)162 Strasbourg (1991)162 Warsaw (1991)162 Budapest (1992)162 Havana (1992)162 Plovdiv (1992)162 Kabul (1992)162 Prague (1992)162 Venice (1993)162 Cologne (1997)162 Xi'an (1997)162 Athens (2000)162 Naples (2000)162 St. Petersburg (2003)162 Seoul (2005)162 Bucharest (2006)162 Shanghai (2006)162 Moscow (2006)162 Paris (2009)162 Casablanca (2009)162 Goodwill protocols Paris (2000)162 Rotterdam (2000)162 Milan (2005)162 Berlin (2005)162 Tbilisi (2006)162 Pcs (2008)162 Shanghai (2008)162 Further reading Gul Murat. The Emergence of Modern Istanbul: Transformation and Modernisation of a City (I.B. Tauris distributed by Palgrave Macmillan; 242 pages; 2010). Pays particular attention to modernization under the Democratic Party government (195060) of Prime Minister Adnan Menderes. Notes a b c The foundation of Byzantion (Byzantium) is sometimes especially in encyclopedic or other tertiary sources placed firmly in 667 BC. However historians have disputed the precise year the city was founded. Commonly cited is the work of 5th-century-BC historian Herodotus which says the city was founded seventeen years after the city of Chalcedon7 which came into existence around 685 BC. However Eusebius of Caesarea while concurring with 685 BC as the year Chalcedon was founded places Byzantion's establishment in 659 BC.8 Among more modern historians Carl Roebuck proposed the 640s BC 9 while others have suggested even later. Further the foundation date of Chalcedon is itself subject to some debate; while many sources place it in 685 BC10 others put it in 675 BC11 or even 639 BC (with Byzantion's establishment placed in 619 BC).8 As such some sources have opted to refer to Byzantium's foundation as simply located in the 7th century BC. a b c Sources have provided conflicting figures on the area of Istanbul. The most authoritative source on this figure ought to be the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (MMI) but the English version of its website suggests several figures for this area. An area of 1830.92 square kilometers (706.92 sq mi) is given by them for the "MMI Authority Area"60 while another page states that "Each MM is sub-divided into District Municipalities ("DM") of which there are 27 in Istanbul" emphasis added with a total area of 1538.9 square kilometers (594.2 sq mi).61 However the Municipal History Page appears to be the most explicit and most updated saying that in 2004 "Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's jurisdiction was enlarged to cover all the area within the provincial limits". It also states a 2008 law merged the Eminn district into the Fatih district (a point that is not reflected in the previous source) and increased the number of districts in Istanbul to 39.62 That total area as corroborated on the Turkish version of the MMI website63 is 5343 square kilometers (2063 sq mi).60 The end of Byzantium Empire is universally regarded as 1453 despite the temporary survival of remnants in Morea and Trebizond.32 References Statistics of the 2010 Turkey census Britannica Istanbul:When the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923 the capital was moved to Ankara and Constantinople was officially renamed Istanbul in 1930. "llere gre merkez ve belde/ky nfus toplamlar". Trkiye statistik Kurumu. 2008. http://report.tuik.gov.tr/reports/rwservletadnksdb2&reportbuyukbelediye.RDF&pil134&pkod2&pyil2009&pdil1&desformathtml&ENVIDnufus2000db2Env. Retrieved 16 July 2009.  "Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality: Districts of Istanbul". 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ISBN 0140168796.  Istanbul: Where the Continents Meet External links Find more about Istanbul on Wikipedia's sister projects: Definitions from Wiktionary Images and media from Commons Learning resources from Wikiversity News stories from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Istanbul travel guide from Wikitravel Official website of Istanbul Governorship Official website of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality: Interactive aerial photos (maps) of Istanbul from 1946 1966 1982 and 2005 Official Istanbul Travel Guide Coordinates: 410044N 285834E / 41.01224N 28.976018E / 41.01224; 28.976018  Links to related articles v d e Istanbul in Istanbul Province (in the Marmara region) of Turkey Urban districts Istanbul - (Adalar - Arnavutky - Ataehir - Avclar - Baclar - Bahelievler - Bakrky - Baakehir - Bayrampaa - Beikta - Beylikdz - Beyolu - Beykoz - Bykekmece - atalca - ekmeky - Eyp - Esenler - Esenyurt - Fatih - Gaziosmanpaa - Gngren - Kadky - Kathane - Kartal - Kkekmece - Maltepe - Pendik - Sancaktepe - Saryer - Silivri - Sultanbeyli - Sultangazi - ile - ili - Tuzla - mraniye - skdar - Zeytinburnu) Regions Provinces Aegean Afyonkarahisar - Aydn - Denizli - zmir - Ktahya - Manisa - Mula - Uak Black Sea Amasya - Artvin - Bartn - Bayburt - Bolu - orum - Dzce - Giresun - Gmhane - Karabk - Kastamonu - Ordu - Rize - Samsun - Sinop - Tokat - Trabzon - Zonguldak Central Anatolia Aksaray - Ankara - ankr - Eskiehir - Karaman - Kayseri - Krkkale - Krehir - Konya - Nevehir - Nide - Sivas - Yozgat Eastern Anatolia Ar - Ardahan -Bingl - Bitlis - Elz - Erzincan - Erzurum - Hakkri - Idr - Kars - Malatya - Mu - Siirt - Tunceli - Van Marmara Balkesir - Bilecik - Bursa - anakkale - Edirne - Istanbul - Krklareli - Kocaeli - Sakarya - Tekirda - Yalova Mediterranean Adana - Antalya- Burdur - Hatay - Isparta - Kahramanmara - Kilis - Mersin - Osmaniye Southeastern Anatolia Adyaman - Batman - Diyarbakr - Gaziantep - Mardin - anlurfa - rnak v d eMayors of Istanbul Province Governors (19241960) Yulu  Erkul  stnda  Krdar  Gkay  Hadml  Tarhan  Yetkiner  Aygn Military-appointed (19601963) Tulga  Erensu  Ertu  lkay  Grgn  Ak  Uur Elected (19631980) can  Ilgaz  Atabey  svan  Kotil Military-appointed (19801984) Akansel  Kutay  Trtl Greater stanbul (1984 to date) Dalan  Szen  Erdoan  Grtuna  Topba v d e UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Turkey Aegean Hierapolis / Pamukkale  Xanthos / Letoon1 Black Sea Hittite Capital of Hattusa  Safranbolu Central Anatolia Greme and Rock Sites of Cappadocia  Great Mosque and Hospital of Divrii Marmara Archaeological Site of Troy  Historic Areas of Istanbul Mediterranean Xanthos / Letoon1 Southeastern Anatolia Mount Nemrut in Commagene 1 Shared with other region/s v d e Turkey Topics People and Biographies Turkish people   Ottoman Sultans   Atatrk History  (timeline) Early Sultanate of Rm  Anatolian Turkish Beyliks Ottoman Foundation   Interregnum   Rise   Growth   Stagnation   Decline   Dissolution   Partitioning Republic War of Independence  Single-party period   Multi-party period By topic Constitutional  Economic   Military Politics and Government President   Prime Minister  Parliament  Council of Ministers   Political parties  Elections   EU accession  Foreign relations  Military  Human rights   LGBT rights   Secularism   Ottomanism   Kemalism   Neo-Ottomanism   Deep state Legal System Constitution   Constitutional Court  Official Gazette   Crime   Law enforcement   Article 301 Geography Anatolia   Thrace   Regions  Provinces   Districts   Cities   Metropolitan centers   Environmental issues   Mountains   Islands   Rivers  Lakes   Peninsulas   Capes   Bays   Turkish Riviera Economy and Transport Industries   Companies   Stock Exchange   Central Bank   Other banks   EU Customs Union   Southeastern Anatolia Project   Tourism   Currency  Railways  Aviation Demographics and Religion Turkish language   Languages of Turkey   Education   Religion   Islam   Turkish population   Turkish diaspora   Immigration Culture and Media Ottoman architecture   Art   Cinema   Cuisine   Dance   Festivals   Folklore   Public holidays   Literature   Music   Smoking   Sport   Theatre   Wine   Newspapers   Radio stations   Television Symbols Emblem   Flag   Presidential Seal   National Anthem Portal v d eEuropean Capitals of Culture 1985 Athens  1986 Florence  1987 Amsterdam  1988 West Berlin  1989 Paris  1990 Glasgow  1991 Dublin  1992 Madrid  1993 Antwerp  1994 Lisbon  1995 Luxembourg City  1996 Copenhagen  1997 Thessaloniki  1998 Stockholm  1999 Weimar  2000 Reykjavk  Bergen  Helsinki  Brussels  Prague  Krakw  Santiago de Compostela  Avignon  Bologna  2001 Rotterdam  Porto  2002 Bruges  Salamanca  2003 Graz  2004 Genoa  Lille  2005 Cork  2006 Patras  2007 Luxembourg City and Greater Region  Sibiu  2008 Liverpool  Stavanger  2009 Linz  Vilnius  2010 Essen  Istanbul  Pcs  2011 Turku  Tallinn  2012 Maribor  Guimares  2013 Koice   Marseille v d eHost cities of the Eurovision Song Contest 1950s Lugano  Frankfurt  Hilversum  Cannes 1960s London  Cannes  Luxembourg  London  Copenhagen  Naples  Luxembourg  Vienna  London  Madrid 1970s Amsterdam  Dublin  Edinburgh  Luxembourg  Brighton  Stockholm  The Hague  London  Paris  Jerusalem 1980s The Hague  Dublin  Harrogate  Munich  Luxembourg  Gothenburg  Bergen  Brussels  Dublin  Lausanne 1990s Zagreb  Rome  Malm  Millstreet  Dublin  Dublin  Oslo  Dublin  Birmingham  Jerusalem 2000s Stockholm  Copenhagen  Tallinn  Riga  Istanbul  Kiev  Athens  Helsinki  Belgrade  Moscow 2010s Brum   Dsseldorf v d eWorld's fifty most-populous urban areas Tokyo Yokohama Delhi Seoul Incheon Jakarta Manila Mumbai New York So Paulo Mexico City Shanghai Cairo Osaka Kobe Kyoto Kolkata Shenzhen Los Angeles Beijing Moscow Karachi Istanbul Buenos Aires Dongguan Rio de Janeiro Guangzhou Foshan Dhaka Lagos Paris Nagoya Chicago Kinshasa Lima Bogot London Taipei Ho Chi Minh City Chennai Johannesburg East Rand Bangalore Lahore Tehran Ruhr Area  (EssenDsseldorf) Bangkok Hong Kong Hyderabad Tianjin Chonqing Bandung Baghdad Santiago Kuala Lumpur Toronto Hamilton v d e Metropolitan centers in Turkey Adana   Ankara   Antalya   Bursa   Diyarbakr  Erzurum   Eskiehir   Gaziantep   stanbul   zmir   Kayseri   Kocaeli   Konya   Mersin   Sakarya   Samsun