Istanbul, also known as Constantinople, is one of the most fascinating cities in the world. It is a city where two continents, Europe and Asia, meet, and where ancient history blends seamlessly with modernity. Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and the fifth-largest city in the world, with a population of over 15 million people.
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The history of Istanbul dates back to ancient times when it was known as Byzantium. It was later renamed Constantinople by Emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD, and it served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire until the Ottoman conquest in 1453. The city then became the capital of the Ottoman Empire until the Republic of Turkey was founded in 1923, with Ankara as its capital.