Edens of Turkey

It is not possible to fully appreciate Istanbul unless one makes a traditional and unforgettable tour by sea on the Bosphorus separating Asia from Europe, towards the Black Sea.

The magnificent and purely beautiful European and Asian coasts connected to one another with two modern suspension bridges, make up symbols of both today and the past. There are modern hotels next to seaside mansions, rustic palaces adjacent to rock castles and elegant buildings in districts carrying the nostalgia of little fishing villages… The best way of seeing the Bosphorus, is to take a voyage by boarding one of the passenger ferries zigzagging along its coasts.

The tour starting at Eminonu continues by stopping respectively at the Asian and European sides of Istanbul. This wonderful trip takes approximately 6 hours.
Located at the prettiest part of the Bosphorus, used as the holiday resort of the sultans in its time, Ortakoy has been an attractive settlement center, ever since Ottoman times. Sitting today within the triangle of mosque, church and synagogue, Ortakoy, is one of Istanbul’s major entertainment and shopping centers of Istanbul, with its bazaar and the “intellectual market” within, gift shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. If you go on further towards Europe from Ortakoy, you will encounter respectively Kumcesme, Bebek and Rumeli Hisan.

AtHisar in 1452,, within the framework of the preparations to conquer the city, Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror had built the Rumeli Castle, which is a proud looking fortress on the liuropean side with the work of 1000 craftsmen and laborers within 4 mouths. It purpose was to cut off any assistance that could be given to Byzantium from the North. Rumeli Castle is probably the best looking example of classical Ottoman castle architecture. On the other hand, at the Asian side of the Bosphorus, once the suspension bridge is crossed, the Beylerbeyi Palace and the highest point of Istanbul, the (^amhca Tepesi is located. The Kucuksu Palace next to the Anadolu Hisart decorates the Asian side. When the castles are passed, the Bridge connecting either continent to the other, the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, joins both parties of the water way.

A popular fishing village Kanhca, is known in association with its famous yogurt on the Asian side. After Kanhca and Qubuklu, comes a popular recreation area, the Beykoz Woods (Ibrahim Pasa Woods). After Tarabya on the European side, starting as from the next turn, it is possible to see the Bosphorus joining the Black Sea. From here, all the way into the interior oflstinye, Yenikoy, Sartyer districts, old summer residences belonging to individuals and embassies and fish restaurants are lining up the boulevard. Sartyer and subsequently Rumeli Kavagi are the last piers for those touring the Bosphorus by ferry on the European side.

Both neighboring cities, which are famous for their fish restaurants and the Anadolu Kavagi resort across on the other side, are among the most crowded locations during the holidays. The Bosphorus possesses hillsides covered solely with green woods. Final settlements on both sides are the Anadolu and Rumeli Lighthouses and fishing villages.