Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey and second largest metropolitan area in Europe, the only metropolis in the world that is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Latin Empire and the Ottoman Empire.
Istanbul is home to ancient structures like the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in the Old City, as well as modern businesses, hotels, restaurants and nightlife in the New City. The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010 and the historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.