Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, the starting and concluding point of our comprehensive multi-day tour. As a scholar of history, one cannot help but be struck by the profound geographical and temporal weight of this city. …

In the heart of Istanbul lies the Sultanahmet district, an area that serves as the epicenter of the city’s historical gravity. Here, the architectural dialogue between the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque represents one of the…

To understand Istanbul is to understand the Bosphorus. This natural strait is the lifeblood of the city, a maritime highway that has dictated its fortunes for millennia. …

As we conclude our initial exploration of Istanbul and prepare to fly toward the Anatolian heartland, we must reflect on the city's role as a conceptual anchor. Istanbul is the prism through which the rest of Turkey must be…