Istanbul, historically known as Constantinople

Istanbul, historically known as Byzantium and later Constantinople, has a rich and complex history that spans thousands of years.

Early History and Foundation of Istanbul historically known as Constantinople

Early History

Byzantium (c. 660 BCE): Founded by Greek colonists, it was strategically located on the Bosporus Strait, linking Europe and Asia. The city thrived due to its advantageous position for trade.

Roman Era

Roman Rule (c. 196 CE): Byzantium came under Roman control, becoming an important commercial and military center. The city was renamed Constantinople in 330 CE by Emperor Constantine the Great.

Byzantine Empire

Capital of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453): Constantinople became the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, flourishing as a center of art, culture, and religion. The Hagia Sophia, an architectural marvel, was built during this period.

Ottoman Conquest

Fall of Constantinople (1453): Sultan Mehmed II led the Ottomans to conquer the city, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople was transformed into Istanbul, becoming the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

Ottoman Era

Cultural Flourishing (15th-19th centuries): Under Ottoman rule, Istanbul became a cosmopolitan center, known for its stunning architecture, such as the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. It was a melting pot of cultures, languages, and religions.

Modern Era

Republic of Turkey (1923): After World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul transitioned into a part of the newly founded Republic of Turkey. Although Ankara became the capital, Istanbul remained Turkey’s largest city and cultural hub.

Contemporary Period

21st Century: Today, Istanbul is a vibrant metropolis, blending its rich history with modern life. It attracts millions of tourists annually and serves as a bridge between East and West, embodying a unique blend of cultures and traditions.

Istanbul’s history reflects its strategic significance, cultural diversity, and resilience, making it one of the world’s most fascinating cities.

Tours

Turkey Tour Packages

Discover Turkey with our guided customized and private Turkey tour packages, you will discover important historical places in Turkey.

According to many happy customers, we do one thing good, Ephesus Tours!!!

          
   Flora C 
 2024-06-24
 
 
 Verified EPHESUS + CASA DE MARIA
EXCELENT TOUR! THANK YOU FOR EVEYTHING. Mr. Yigit Tural EXCELENT GUIDE TOUR. SEE YOU SOON. EPHESUS + CASA DE MARIA. EXCELENT
  
 
       
   Fanni Mudarris 
 2023-03-18
 
 
 Verified Recommended tour
Full day trip provided by Ephesus tour was amazing. Thanks to Ms Phyllis and , she was very informative and supportive. Transfer from Kusadasi to Pamukkale, also from from Pamukkale to Cappadocia were smooth and safe, thanks to the driver, understanding our condition, and the car was clean and spacious. Communication and trip detail given by the organizer were also comprehensive and accurate.
  
 
       
   toolworker 
 2022-06-09
 
 
 Verified Perfect Visit, Just as We Wanted It
If you want to make the most of your time and money during a cruise stop in Kusadasi, I recommend About Ephesus Tours. Most tours go to Ephesus, Mary's House, and maybe the small Temple of Artemis site. We wanted and saw lots more, for about the same cost. Three of us had already seen Mary's House and wanted to spend more time at Ephesus and the Terrace Houses. So Ösmür dropped the others at Ephesus, took the other two to Mary's House and then caught up with us at Ephesus. THAT'S a custom tour. We enjoyed a nice included lunch, a leisurely visit to Sirince, and after discussing alternatives with Ösmür, saw the Isa Bey Mosque, the ruins of St. John's Basilica, and the Ayasoluk Fortress in Selcuk. Ösmür gave our first time Turkey visitor plenty of attention and information, let our more experienced travelers set our own pace, and talked in depth with an international travel lecturer in our group. We were given swag bags with maps, a local guide book and small gifts, and enjoyed plenty of space in a 12 passenger air conditioned nonsmoking van. We prefer local private tours when we cruise. Agencies like About Ephesus Tours are the reason why.
  
 
       
   Chris 
 2022-06-08
 
 
 Verified Outstanding Ephesus and Mary's House Tour
OMG... I can't tell you how much we enjoyed our tour through Osman Tours. My wife and I fell in love with Selda Akyigit Tutkun our guide. She's the best! The tour certainly exceed our expectations and ended only because we were so tired. You guys made our trip, and it was without doubt the best stop we had on the curse. We got much more than our money's worth. I can’t say enough about Selda she was outstanding, she was very enthusiastic and passionate about Turkey, and was extremely knowledgeable, not only about Ephesus but Mary's House and Turkey in general. To top it all off, she took my wife and I shopping. This may not have been a good idea because we spent a lot more money, but we did help our Turkey’s economy. We enjoyed our time in Turkey and we will be coming back.
  
 
       
   Baloo282 
 2022-05-01
 
 
 Verified Great Ephesus tour with Phyllis
The whole experience from start to finish with Phyllis (guide) and Nico (driver) was so smooth. Phyllis greeted us at the Izmir airport and whisked us off to Ephesus. On the way, we stopped at a family-run ceramic store and demonstration of this millennial artwork. Then the Virgin Mary’s home, followed by historical Ephesus, lunch, St. John basilica and a good quality/price authentic leather store. I was with my mother and aunt and we were all impressed by Phyllis’ knowledge of biblical and Greco-Roman history. She quoted bible scripture so easily and could pin-point exact dates. She was also very friendly, patient and had good humour. Highly recommended.
  
 
       
   Vielka S 
 2021-12-31
 
 
 Verified Great
It was an extraordinary experience, to be able to see that there are still part of what were the five churches of the Bible's book of revelation.
  
 
       
   Jaime N 
 2021-12-18
 
 
 Verified Excellent tour
Ephesus tour was a great experience. The site is spectacular. Plus, Filiz was a wonderful guide. She is very knowledgeable, and I learned a lot.
  
 
       
   Ulrich K 
 2021-10-27
 
 
 Verified Großartige Tour nach Ephesus
Die Tour nach Ephesus verlief zu unserer vollsten Zufriedenheit. Die Abholung erfolgte pünktlich vom Flughafen Izmir. Die auf der Tour zu besichtigenden Highlights von Ephesus konnten von uns selbst bestimmt werdeh. Der Führer Herr Temirodaman war sehr gut informiert über Ephesus und konnte alle Fragen beantworten. Auch der Besuch des (vermutlich) letzten Wohnhauses der Mutter Maria war sehr interessant. Einen Dank auch an den hervorragenden Fahrer, der die Besichtigungen möglich machte.
  
 
       
   filiz ç 
 2021-09-30
 
 
 Verified Super enjoyable tour...
I had a perfect day with this tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and super fun. If you have limited time when you are on the cruise, I definitely recommend this tour to you.
  
 
  
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