Istanbul (Blue Guide)

Istanbul is the only city in the world that stands upon two continents. The main part of the city, located at the southeastern tip of Europe, is separated from its suburbs in Asia by the Bosphorus. Huge, busy, full of atmosphere and with a tremendously rich architectural heritage, Istanbul is also one of the world's most beautiful cities. This guide covers all of Istanbul's monuments in a series of carefully planned walks - celebrated Haghia Sophia, one of the most extraordinary buildings in the history of architecture; Topkapi Sarayi, for more than 400 years the imperial residence of the Ottoman sulturans; the Archaelogical Museum, with a collectoin of Graeco-Roman antiquities; the Covered Bazaar, like a small city with its thousands of shops. Away from the centre of the city, the guide describes a walk along the Byzantine land walls, and trips along the historic and beautiful Bosphorus and to the Princes' Isles. The guide also provides hotel and restaurant listings; details of local transport; museum opening times; and useful addresses.