Istanbul Istanbul Istanbul (, or or ; ), historically known as Byzantium and before 1924 as Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey and the country's economic, cultural, and historic center. Istanbul is a transcontinental city in Eurasia, straddling the Bosporus strait (which separates Europe and Asia) between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies on the European side and about a third of its population lives on the Asian side. The city is the administrative center of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (coterminous with Istanbul Province), both hosting a population of around 15
Names of Istanbul form of "Istambuł" is also universally accepted and employed in many translations), Latvian, Lithuanian, Georgian and Albanian. The Albanian form is "Stamboll"; the Spanish form is "Estambul"; the Portuguese form is "Istambul", with an "m" instead of an "n". Armenian uses "Bolis", based on the Greek "Poli(s)" 'City'. Icelandic preserves the old Norse name "Mikligarður", though the form "Istanbúl" is generally used. In Slovene "Carigrad" is still largely used and often preferred over the official name. Names of Istanbul The city of Istanbul has been known by a number of different names. The most notable names besides the modern Turkish