The Bosphorus Strait divides the city of İstanbul in half, with one half of the city on Asia and the other on Europe continent. The strait, which is only 500 meters apart from the other side in some locations, has become a popular trading centre and tourist attraction thanks to its dream-like image.
The attraction of getting on a local ferry at the harbour and arriving a new continent in a few minutes never seems to fade away. The region is harbor to a lot of unique sights and architectural masterpieces drawing you into history, such as the distinctive Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace, and the Galata Tower which create the narrow waterway of Haliç (The Golden Horn).
There is also the Beylerbeyi Palace, the Rumeli Castle, the Dolmabahçe Palace, Küçüksu Pavilion, the Çırağan Palace, the Beylerbeyi Mosque and of course the Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Grand Mosque used to be an important church), which offers one of the most famous scenes in the world’s history.
The Ottoman-era mansions known as Yalı along the banks of the Bosphorus are considered exact examples of the architecture of the period. Some 360 villas and mansions on both sides have been able to reach to the present times and are symbols of Türkiye’s history and cause of tranquillity.
