With its many towers, mosques, churches and ornate palaces, Istanbul boasts one of the most romantic skylines in the world. The city is redolent of all things exotic, trailing a history of spice and silk trades, great empires and vibrant culture clashes. Much of this is to do with its location: it straddles two continents – one half in Asia, the other in Europe. Unsurprising then, that Istanbul was the seat of power for various civilisations for centuries, including the Byzantine and Ottoman empires.
Its grand and illustrious history is visible in the old parts of the city, where ornate buildings – Byzantine churches, glittering domes, towering minarets, Roman aqueducts – sit alongside huge open-air markets and narrow cobbled streets. The cosmopolitan past of the city is reflected in its vibrant…
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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, April 2019