The Old City of Istanbul is the oldest part of Istanbul, and the location of most of its historical sights. Encircled by the Golden Horn, the Bosphorus and the Marmara Sea; this was the land of ancient city Constaninople. Istanbul, or Byzantium as it was called then, was first settled by Greek colonists in 667 BC which is now occupied by Topkapı Palace. The peninsula was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985.
Sultanahmet, walking distance to the all historical sights of Istanbul is named “Old City”.
Istanbul, being the only city in the world who have served as a capital to three empires. The old city is surrounded by historic and cultural treasures, a legacy of its time as the capital for the Eastern Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. Many of Istanbul’s historical gems, mostly consisting of Byzantine and Ottoman-built are in the Old City so there is never a dull moment.
You can have a glimpse of history while enjoying comforts of modern life. Most of the sights are located at a short walking distance from Sultanahmet Square.
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