Istanbul, the former Constantinople is unique because it is  the only city in the world that straddles two continents – Europe and Asia. While it is no longer the capital of Turkey  (the capital was moved to Ankara in 1923 when the Turkish Republic was established), in our opinion, it is still  the heart of Turkey.

This magical city is a history buff’s delight, with a history  dating back more than 1,500 years. The city started life as a Hellenic outpost to New Rome, the world’s first Christian  capital, and later became the headquarters of the Ottoman Sultans. Today, Turkey is a secular country, and this is  very apparent in Istanbul.  One of Istanbul’s charms is that it displays both Eastern and European characteristics. Its position on the Bosphorous Strait, the famous body of water which connects the Black Sea to the Sea of  Marmara and the Mediterranean means that Istanbul has  been a protectively guarded centre of world trade since the  Byzantine era.

Istanbul is known as the “city of seven hills” because the  oldest part of the city is surrounded by seven hills, each with a mosque. As you wander around, look out for the city  logo which has a picture of the seven hills. In recent years, Istanbul has undergone a period of rapid  industrialisation, with thousands of poorer people from Turkey’s rural areas moving to Istanbul to seek work. Rapid development has also mean there are significant pockets of wealth in Istanbul.

The official population is around 13million, although any  local will tell you it is believed to be more in the region of 15 or 16 million as a result of workers from regional areas  flooding into the city every week. Istanbul’s climate is said to be “transitional” – this is  because of its location near the black sea, the humid Balkan peninsula and the south-west with its mediteranean  climate – the result is that the summers are very hot and humid, and the winters can be very cold – it is common to  have a few good snow days in an Istanbul winter. However, even in summer it is a good idea to pack at least  a cardigan or a shawl as the nights can cool significantly with the breezes coming off the sea.