İstanbul

This historic city, originally founded as Byzantium by Greek colonists around 657 BC, has long served as a major crossroads between East and West. Renamed Constantinople by Emperor Constantine in 330 AD, it became the capital of the Roman Empire and later the Byzantine Empire. In 1453, Sultan Mehmet II conquered the city, making it the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Today, Istanbul is where ancient history blends with vibrant culture and modern life. As Napoleon is often quoted: "If the world were only one country, Istanbul would be its capital!"

Istanbul is now a thriving cosmopolitan city with over 15 million inhabitants. Visitors can explore numerous museums, historical sites, and bustling shopping districts including the famous Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) and the Spice Bazaar.

Turkey, particularly Istanbul, has served as a filming location for many internationally acclaimed movies and TV series.

"Skyfall" (2012): Features scenes filmed in Istanbul, including the opening sequence set in the Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar.

"Taken 2" (2012): Includes scenes shot in Istanbul, notably the film’s final scenes set in the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı).

"Inferno" (2016): Based on Dan Brown’s novel, this film shot parts in Istanbul featuring landmarks like the Basilica Cistern (Yerebatan Sarnıcı) and Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya) museum.

"The International" (2009): Some scenes were filmed in Istanbul, including the Grand Bazaar (Kapalıçarşı) and the Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Camii).

https://turkeytravelplanner.com/go/Istanbul/index.html

Address: İstanbul, Türkiye

Photo: Pedro Szekely