- Istanbul (ancient Byzantium) was founded on Seven Hills like Rome.
- Istanbul is the only city in the world which is both in Europe and Asia geographically.
- Istanbul is one of the biggest cities in the world, with over 13 million population.
- Istanbul was the most crowded city of the world in 1502, then London took this title in 1840.
- Istanbul was the capital city of the Byzantine Empire and then the Ottoman Empire during their rule.
- Tulips, the symbol of Holland, originated in Istanbul and were sent from Istanbul to Netherlands.
- Blue Mosque is the only mosque in Istanbul with six minarets, which is the maximum number you can have in a mosque.
- There are two suspension bridges on the Bosphorus Strait connecting Europe to Asia. And a third one is planned.
- Istanbul has the third oldest subway in the world, built in 1875. It´s 573 meters long and located in Tunel neighborhood at Beyoglu district. London subway was built in 1863 and New York subway in 1868.
- Grand Bazaar is the biggest old covered bazaar in the world, with over 3.000 shops.
- Hagia Sophia was the largest church in the world for about 900 years.
- Istanbul was the European Cultural Capital City in 2010.
- Biggest light house of Turkey is in Sile district on the Black Sea coast. It´s 19 meters (62 feet) high and 1,1 meters (3,6 feet) wide.
- Four bronze horses which are decorating today San Marco Cathedral in Venice, were taken from Istanbul (Constantinople back then) by the Crusaders in the 13th century.
- British author Agatha Christie wrote her famous novel “Murder on the Orient Express” at Pera Palas Hotel in Istanbul.
Did you know these interesting facts on Istanbul ?
