IstanbulThe Imperial City

Front Cover
Viking, 1996 - History - 414 pages
Straddling the narrow straits of the Bosphorus dividing Europe and Asia, Istanbul has been an unrivaled locus of cultural exchange since its beginnings more than 26 centuries ago, under three different namesfirst as the Greek colony Byzantium, then Constantinople in A.D. 330, and Istanbul in 1453. Despite the onslaughts of time, a local character and spirit have abided. This is a guide to the city for the curious traveler as well as an evocation of its illustrious past. color & 25 b&w illus. 4 map.