Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul: these are only three names that
have been given to the city that straddles two continents, was the
capital of two multinational empires and is today a vibrant commercial
and artistic city, the largest in Turkey and, after Moscow, the largest
in Europe. With its location as a port, Istanbul has always absorbed
ideas, people and styles from north, south, east and west. Its
multiculturalism is a microcosm of the world's. Neither standard guide
nor conventional history, this is rather a celebration of an
extraordinary city, reviewing its imperial histories and exploring some
of its lesser known corners.