Visit the city that has a long, rich history. First known as Byzantium in 660 BC, this city has been home to many different civilizations. Beginning in 330 AD, the city was renamed to Constantinople during the Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman empires. After the country’s establishment in 1923, the city was renamed again to Istanbul. The city served a hub for the growth of Christianity until the Ottomans conquered, whose religion was Islam. The city has so many different layers of history, making it an exciting place to explore! The city itself is split by the waters of the Bosphorus strait, onto two different continents, Europe and Asia. This makes it easy to hop from one continent to another without even leaving the city! Istanbul is well known for its landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sofia, the Grand Bazzar, and the popular Turkish hammams(Turkish bath houses). This city has so much to offer!