Private Istanbul Tours

Brief History of Istanbul

Byzantium:

Istanbul’s history dates back to the 7th century BC. According to the legend, a man called Byzas from Megara, one of the city states in Ancient Greece was looking for a colony for his people. He goes to the temple of Apollo in Delphi and ask where he should go. The oracle states that the lands on the opposite side of the “land of the blinds” would be the most ideal region for his people. Byzas sets out with this advice and arrives to the area that is called Sultanahmet of ​​today’s Istanbul. After being stranded in today’s Topkapı Palace area, he was so impressed by the beauty of the region. But when he looks at the opposite side of the Bosphorus, he realizes that there is another colony there. He thinks: “Why would these people build colonies in the face of such a beautiful place? These people must be blind!” He remembers what the oracle said to him and he knew he was in the right place.

This will be a colony that will be a source of income for the people. The region takes its name from its founder, Byzas, and becomes Byzantium. Byzantium was included in the Roman Empire in the 1st Century BC; but it remained a trivial town for several centuries.

Constantinople:

Constantine becoming the emperor of the Roman Empire in 312 was a turning point for this small town. Constantine was aware that Rome, the capital of the Roman Empire, was not safe anymore. Rome was now an old city with no space for change and expansion and there was a new city in Constantine’s mind. For this purpose, he began to look for a safe and less developed area within the empire that can be shaped according to his ideas. When he arrives to Byzantium, this small city, which is in the form of a peninsula, he sees that it is very suitable to realize this ideal. This city could be a new city formed similarly to Rome because it consisted of seven hills. The wall that would surround the city would be a very suitable defence mechanism.

Constantine, in 330, proclaims the capital of the Roman Empire and calls it Nova Roma, ie New Rome. After Constantine’s death, the people changed the name to Constantinople, which means the city of Constantine. Constantinople remained the capital of the Roman Empire for 1123 years. In 1453 the Ottomans conquered the city, called it Istanbul and it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire from 1453 to 1923. When the Republic of Turkey, founded in 1923, becomes the capital Ankara. The fact that Ankara is the capital does not lose its importance. Istanbul Republic of Turkey is still economically, culturally and politically the most important city.

Istanbul is one of the largest cities on earth. Because of its unique location and covering both European and Asian coasts of the Bosphorus it is one of the most beautiful and impressive cities in the world.

During the private Istanbul tours you will be able to go through this vast history of 2 empires, 2 major religions, cultures, architecture and art.

If you are interested in visiting Istanbul where west and east meets, please do not hesitate to contact us for your inquiries about the private Istanbul tours. We would be happy to assist you in any way we can.