Fodor's Pocket Istanbul: What to See and Do If You Can't Stay Long - Couverture souple

Lesser, Natasha; Adler, Stephanie

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 067900291X ISBN 13 : 9780679002918

Editeur : Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.,U.S., 1999

Synopsis

Book by Eugene Fodor

A propos du livre

Extrait :

Tales of the City
Though it is often remarked that Turkey straddles Europe and Asia, it is really Istanbul that does
the straddling: the vast bulk of the country resides comfortably on the Asian side. European Istanbul
is separated from its Asian suburbs by the Bosporus, the narrow channel that connects the Black Sea,
north of the city, to the Sea of Marmara, to the south. Already 1,000 years old when conquered by
Emperor Constantine in AD 326, Istanbul (then Byzantium, later Constantinople) was made capital
of the Roman Empire in the East and survived long after the western capital fall.
Most of the finest Ottoman buildings in Istanbul date from the time of Süleyman the Magnificent who
led the Ottoman Empire to its highest achievements in art and architecture, literature, and law.
Süleyman commissioned the brilliant architect Sinan to design buildings that are now recognized as
some of the greatest examples of Islamic architecture in the world.
Istanbul has its modern side, too, with all the concomitant traffic jams, air pollution,
overdevelopment, and brash concrete-and-glass hotels creeping up behind its historic old palaces.
But the city is more than grime and noise. Paradoxically, its beauty lies in part in the juxtaposition
of the ancient and the contemporary. Some of the perks that come with modernity are luxury hotels,
designer clothing stores, and Western-style department stores. These are today's monuments, which,
alongside the elegant mosques and majestic palaces built by and for yesterday's titans, dominate and
define splendid Istanbul.

Présentation de l'éditeur :

Pocket Guides are designed for leisure and business travelers who want the highlights of a
destination.  They contain full, rich descriptions of the best a destination has to offer -- the most
worthy sights, the best restaurants and lodging in all price ranges, plus shopping, nightlife, and
outdoors highlights.
The Best of Istanbul -- with all the essentials

All the must-sees, including the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofya, and the Spice Market
Top shopping -- how and where to buy one-of-a-kind kilims, colorful textiles, and hand-crafted jewelry
Essential excursions to the Princes Islands, Edirne, and the fishing villages along the
Bosporus

        

The best dining and lodging in every price range
Romantic bistros, waterfront fish houses, authentic kebab stands, and the lowdown on local
cuisine
Luxurious palaces, modern high-rises, Ottoman-style town houses, and cozy antiques-filled
pansiyons
Endorsed by the American Society of Travel Agents

Pocket Istanbul is excerpted from Fodor's Turkey
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À propos de cette édition

• Éditeur: Fodor's Travel Publications Inc.,U.S.
• Date d'édition: 1999
• ISBN 10: 067900291X
• ISBN 13: 9780679002918
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 88