MONDAY: THE IMPERIAL CITY

Sultanahmet – Eminönü – Golden Horn

Istanbul has been an imperial city for almost 1600 years. Grand empires – the Byzantine (the Eastern Roman), Latin Kingdom of Constantinople, and the Ottoman – chose this city as the center of their rule that expanded over continents. Napoleon Bonaparte’s words echo its glorious past: “If the whole world were one country, Istanbul would be its capital.”

The findings of recent metro excavations show that Istanbul’s first human settlements actually date back to 6000 BCE, almost five thousand years earlier than previously thought. As the popular saying goes, “even if you dig the earth with a teaspoon, you are bound to find something historical in this city.” Hence, a proper introduction to this megapolis must start in the old city, an area that’s been enclosed by sea and land walls since the 4th century CE. Eminönü and Sultanahmet are still among the liveliest neighborhoods of Istanbul, preserving traditional ways of living, trade, and commerce for centuries. A walk down these narrow and crowded streets will surely take you back in time.