Istanbul is a city born from the sea. Starting a colony of Megaran Byzantium settled here 2,700 years the pagans, Christian, and Muslim societies who settled here not only built their cities according to the unique topography of the land, but also -to varying degrees- preserved the monuments of the civilizations that had preceded them. ...

In the 16th century, the Ottoman Empire was a world leading political power. It was also at the peak of its artistic production. ...

Ara Güler is one of Turkey’s most important photographers and Ara Güler’s Istanbul: 40 Years of Photographs is a collection of his work taken between 1940-1980 which brings out the historical and cultural richness of the city. ...

“Istanbul, one of the world’s great cities, was going to be our home for the next 91 days. Minarets, mosques, harems, hamams, kebab, coffee, Turkish delights, towers, castles, islands, whirling dervishes, Greeks and Ottomans, hills, ferries, markets and music… it’s enough to make the experience-hungry traveler delirious. We knew we’d have to hit the ground running, because there was going to be a lot to do. ...

Written by the Nobel Laureate Orhan Pamuk, Istanbul: Memories and the City tells the story of the writer’s family. The book takes us through the streets, stone avenues, and wooden houses of the city, and the difficulties and spiritual reflections of the author has he moves between the destruction of an old culture and the birth of a new one. ...

If you want to know which book to read before coming to Istanbul, then Rick Steves Istanbul should be toward the top of your list. The book is prefered for its easy reading, and is full of Rick Steve’s personal experiences as he introduces the magical city of Istanbul. ...