Historical Areas of Istanbul

Historical Areas of Istanbul

The Historical Areas of Istanbul were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. Founded in 667 BC, Istanbul has historically served as a center of trade, politics, and religion, and is now the capital city of Istanbul Province. The heart of Istanbul is surrounded by water on three sides and a city wall on the fourth (built in 413 AD and continuously expanded thereafter), reportedly built on seven hills, much like Rome. The city center was the focal point of overland routes leading to the empire; a major east-west thoroughfare extended toward the city gates.

Even today, this early urban structure can still be seen amid Istanbul’s dense modern architecture. The Historical Areas of Istanbul encompass unique monuments and outstanding examples of architecture. The central city’s landmarks (such as the city walls and Hagia Sophia) have had a considerable influence on the architectural development, immortal art, and spatial organization of both Europe and Asia. “Istanbul bears unique testimony to Byzantine and Ottoman civilizations,” and “Topkapı Palace and the Süleymaniye Mosque with its associated buildings provide the best examples of the palatial architecture and the composite religious ensemble of the Ottoman period.”