With one foot in Europe and the other in Asia, Western European nations and the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires took turns ruling Turkey, cultivating an interesting sense of identity and cityscape adorned with palaces and mosques.
Naturally, Istanbul’s cuisine is as varied as its heritage, some traditional favorites including kebabs, mezes, catch-of-the-day seafood, signature brandy, and locally produced wine. But aside from this, Istanbul is most loved for its locals: a warm, inclusive community with a contagious zest for life, generosity of spirit, and strong observation of tradition as well as modernity.