Istanbul Turkey |
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Istanbul is the largest city of Turkey and the third largest city in the world. It extends on both the European and the Asian sides of the Bosphorus Strait, and is thereby the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire, and the Ottoman Empire. The city has also been nicknamed The City on Seven Hills because the historic peninsula, the oldest part of the city, was built on seven hills (just like Rome), each of which bears a historic mosque. The hills are represented in the city emblem with seven triangles, above which rise four minarets. A wealth of museums, palaces, mosques, hamams (Turkish baths) and markets make Istanbul a fascinating tourist destination. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
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