Die Einrichtung eines neuen Museums in einem alten Lagerhaus mit der Dauerausstellung zur Umsiedlungsgeschichte von Türken und Griechen der Jahre 1922 - 24 veranlasste uns, die Stadt Çatalca in Thrakien, etwa 50 Autominuten von Istanbul auf der europäischen Seite entfernt liegend, zu besuchen.

Most hotels in Istanbul have three stars due to the peculiarities of the city development. Istanbul is huge, but has little free space. It has twenty million people! Therefore, there are few spacious hotels with an adjacent territory (even a super-luxurious hotel won't receive 5 stars without it).

İstanbul’s Journey to Becoming the European Capital of Culture

The ‘European Capital of Culture’ concept was launched for the first time in the 1980’s by Melina Mercouri, the Greek Minister of Culture of the period, and approved by the European Union Council of Ministers. This title that has been bestowed upon cities that contribute added value to European culture was first conferred to Athens in 1985 and then to one European city per year until 2000.

The visitor to İstanbul has not only museums and well known historic and natural sights available to him. There is also an extremely exciting night life as well as many chances for shopping, especially for silver, copper and gold jewellery and, of course, carpets. Nearly everything is possible in Istanbul. So, on the following pages, we will give you some ideas.