Rumeli Fortress
Rumeli Fortress, dating to 1452, at the narrowest point (600 metres) of the Bosphorus Strait. It helped restrict the passage of ships and played a vital role in the Ottoman siege of Constantinople (Istanbul) in 1453. Image Credit: Shyam A. Krishna/Gulf News

History and culture remain entwined in Istanbul, and every step is a journey into the past. Istanbul was Constantinople, and Turkey was Anatolia and Asia Minor: that’s history. Today, the signature of the Ottoman Empire is visible in the palaces and mosques that lie on the banks of the Bosphorus Sea. Have a look.

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