Istanbul is one of the world's great cities.  Turkey might struggle with its identity, caught between Europe and the Middle East, but it is a boon for tourists: Istanbul is just as eclectic as one would expect from a city straddling two continents.  Its history only adds to the charm.  Two millenia of powerful empires have left their mark with an amazing collection of palaces, churches, mosques, and markets, but Turkey is also a modern city with gleaming towers and modern infrastructure.

Like Rome, Constantinople was originally built across seven hills on a peninsula.  Known as the Eminönü...Read More