Istanbul, once known as the capital of capital cities, has many characteristics that make it unique in the world. It is the only city in the world, stretching over two continents, and the only one that was the capital of two empires, one after another - Christian and Islamic. Once the capital of the Ottoman Empire, Istanbul is today a business, historic and cultural center of Turkey, and its beauty lies in the ability to cover in one place many differences. Istanbul is both ancient and modern, religious and secular, Asia and Europe, mystical and everyday.

1. "If one had but a single glance to give the world, one should gaze on Istanbul." - Alphonse de Lamartine
2. "Istanbul, universal beauty which the poet and archaeologist, diplomat and merchant, a princess and a sailor, Northerner and Westerner equally admire. The whole world thinks that this is the most beautiful city in the world." - Edmondo De Amicis
3. "Istanbul is a magical seal that connects Europe and Asia since ancient times. Without a doubt, Istanbul is definitely the most beautiful place in the world." - Gerard De Nerval
4. "This is the place where the two worlds meet, slightly of Turkish culture and a city that cares for the Turkish nation. Istanbul has a place in the hearts of all citizens." - Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
5. "Istanbul was the capital of the world. There is no rival in the world in terms of geographic location." - Joseph Helle
6. "Either I will conquer Istanbul or Istanbul will conquer me." - Fatih Sultan Mehmet
7. "Istanbul is inspiring because it has its own code of architecture, literature, poetry, music." - Christian Louboutin
8. "If the earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital." - Napoleon Bonaparte
9. "Culture is mix. Culture means a mix of things from other sources. And my town, Istanbul, was this kind of mix. Istanbul, in fact, and my work, is a testimony to the fact that East and West combine cultural gracefully, or sometimes in an anarchic way, came together, and that is what we should search for." - Orhan Pamuk
10. "Chicago is constantly auditioning for the world, determined that one day, on the streets of Barcelona, in Berlin's cabarets, in the coffee shops of Istanbul, people will know and love us in our multidimensional glory, dream of us the way they dream of San Francisco and New York." - Mary Schmich
11. "The Taj, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Cracao Basilica and Polish church are some monuments that hold a special place in my memory." - Shaan
12. "Holy Istanbul! Your name is the most enchanting one of all names which enchants me." - Pierre Loti 
13. "Istanbul owes its extraordinary situation to Golden Horn, Marmara Sea and The Bosphorus." - Andrea Horn
14. "People were right when they say there is no other place on earth as beautiful looking as Istanbul." - Chateaubriand
15. "The beauty of a landscape resides in its melancholy." - Ahmet Rasim
16. "It should have been the Arabian Nights, but to Bond, seeing it first above the tops of trams and above the great scars of modern advertising along the river frontage, it seemed a once beautiful theatre-set that modern Turkey had thrown aside in favour of the steel and concrete flat-iron of the Istanbul-Hilton Hotel, blankly glittering behind him on the heights of Pera." - Ian Fleming
17. "I found that the loudest fans in the world are in Istanbul."- Roger Waters
18. "I ate fantastic Italian food in Croatia, which you wouldn't expect. The food in Istanbul was amazing. I never would've expected that and the food, I guess you're learning something about me, the food in Prague, they're very, very heavy meat eaters, like, a lot of meat, which is great." - Cliff Curtis
19. "There's different shopping in Paris than there is at a bazaar in Istanbul, but they're all wonderful." - Iris Apfel
20. "I have been on dialysis in Istanbul, Milan, Indonesia, Manila, London. It's - it's amazing." - Natalie Cole