"Surrounded by a garland of waters" on the narrow straits of the Bosporus dividing Europe and Asia, Istanbul, formerly known as Constantinople, has been an unrivaled locus of cultural exchange since its beginnings as the Greek colony Byzantium. In its more than twenty-six centuries of existence the city has survived countless natural and political catastrophes, foreign conquests, and dynastic upheavals, enduring fantastic changes in religion, language, political status, and name. Despite these onslaughts of time, a vibrant local character and spirit have abided. This fascinating history of the city from its foundation to the present is a guide for the curious traveler as well as an evocation of an illustrious past. Also included is a comprehensive gazetteer of all major monuments and museums

伊斯坦布尔 "被水的花环所包围"，位于分隔欧亚的狭窄的博斯普鲁斯海峡，以前被称为君士坦丁堡，自其作为希腊殖民地拜占庭开始，一直是一个无与伦比的文化交流场所。在其存在的26个多世纪中，这座城市经历了无数次自然和政治灾难、外国征服和王朝动荡，经历了宗教、语言、政治地位和名称的奇妙变化。尽管有这些时间的冲击，但充满活力的地方特色和精神却一直存在。这部关于这个城市从建立到现在的迷人历史是好奇的旅行者的指南，也是对辉煌历史的唤醒。此外，还包括一份所有主要古迹和博物馆的综合地名录。