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City with Many IDs Over
the centuries, Istanbul has been one of the "lucky" cities in the world, owning
more than one single identity. With its protean identity and with the different
names it has taken throughout history, the city embraces different civilizations,
various ethnic and religious groups and different sets of mind. Thus, multifacetedness
and diversity could be the key words to define Istanbul.
| | Istanbul:
The Bridge | | | The
two bridges over the Bosphorus are physically essential for Istanbul as the city
is located on two continents, Europe and Asia. Apart from those real bridges,
Istanbul, itself, has also served as a metaphorical bridge between two distinct
cultures and minds, namely the East and the West, Asia and Europe and the Moslem
and the Christian World. Even within Turkey, it accommodates two contrasting groups
of people; the urban and the more "Westernized" as opposed to the traditional,
the rural and the more "Easterner". Thus, Istanbul provides a home for all people
from different cultures and social classes. |  Istanbul
Bridge | | | | | Istanbul:
The Cosmopolitan | | | Istanbul
welcomes various minority groups from different ethnic cultures. There are Kurdish,
Greek, Jewish and Armenian populations residing in Istanbul. As a result, the
city has preserved its religious diversity and displays a tolerance for different
religions. In Istanbul it is possible to find churches, chapels, synagogues and
mosques located almost side by side. Most of those religious places are founded
in particular areas such as in Beyoglu, Galata, Fener, Balat and The Prince Islands,
which hosted a significant non-Muslim community. |  Saint
Sophia Museum | | | | | Istanbul:
The Capital | | | Being
a major center and the former capital of the three successive empires -- Roman,
Byzantine and Ottoman --, Istanbul has the honor of preserving the legacy of a
remarkable past and cultural heritage, which has bestowed and decorated the city
with numerous historical places such as Süleymaniye and Blue Mosques, Hagia Sophia,
Yerebatan Cistern, Galata Tower; palaces (Topkapi, Dolmabahce and Ciragan being
the most prominent ones); and a number of museums such as The Archeological Museums,
The Museum of the Ancient Orient and Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, which
display and preserve the multi-colored history of the city. |  Blue
Mosque | | | | | Istanbul:
The Intellectual | | Being
"addicted" to cultural diversity and heritage, being "addicted" to the idea of
being the capital and the emperors’ number one, Istanbul has become a capital
for cultural and intellectual activities. Having a significant number of universities
–six state universities and a dozen of private universities-, Istanbul hosts a
large number of university students, professors, libraries and cultural centers.
In addition to the weighty number of theatres, cinemas, modern dance and music
activities, it hosts international festivals of film, theatre, music and jazz
organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts every year. Last but
not least, the beautiful scenery of Bosphorus and the Golden Horn and its tranquilizing
impact have fascinated many international artists, authors and intellectuals such
as James Baldwin and Pierre Loti, who chose to live in this gorgeous city. When
you look at the map of Istanbul, it seems as if the whole city is scattered, almost
torn into three pieces; the Asian side, the European side and the Golden Horn.
With all the bridges over the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, Istanbul fervently
clings to its diverse parts. Thus, even geographically, Istanbul has the mission
to bring together and connect differences. | |
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