Bosphorus Strait - The Bosphorus, known as Ox-ford in English, stretches for about twenty miles, sometimes resembling a river and at other times appearing as a land-enclosed lake. Before it merges with the Black Sea, it transforms into a rugged, wild channel. The Bosphorus flows with a calm and steady rhythm, mirrored by the slow splashes of caiques. The strait not only captivates travelers with its light but also mesmerizes them with the sun’s white brilliance reflecting off its surface, blending with the blue sky. It traverses the city of Istanbul, dividing it into two parts. The city, built on seven hills, was described by early admirer Julia Pardoe: Its clear, calm sky, sparkling sea, densely populated hills, strategic location, political significance, and above all, its astonishing novelty, make every day in this magnificent setting under the sunny sky a time of intense pleasure.

Dolmabahce Palace - Until the 17th century, the site of the palace was one of the bays along the Bosphorus where the legendary ship ARGOS, used by the Argonauts in their quest for the Golden Fleece, once anchored.

Ortakoy - Ortaköy Mosque, officially known as the Büyük Mecidiye Camii, is located at the waterside of Ortaköy pier square in Beşiktaş, Istanbul, Turkey, one of the most popular spots on the Bosphorus.

Bosphorus Bridge - Inaugurated on October 29, 1973, marking the fiftieth anniversary of the Turkish Republic, this bridge boasts the longest span in Europe and the fourth longest in the world. The suspension bridge measures 1560 meters (1706 yards) in total length and 33.4 meters (110 feet) in width. The span between the pylons is 1074 meters (1175 yards), with a clearance of 64 meters (210 feet) above sea level. Constructed by a British-German consortium, the second bridge connecting Europe and Asia over the Bosphorus is set to be completed in 1989, linking Emirgan and Kanlica.

Dolmabahce Palace - The Dolmabahçe Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, was commissioned by the queen’s mother, Bezmi Alem Valide Sultan.

Beylerbeyi Palace - Located on the Asiatic shore of the Bosphorus between Kuzguncuk and Cengelköy, this palace was built by Sultan Abdülaziz in 1865. Viewed from the Bosphorus, Beylerbeyi Palace appears like a white vision from a fairy tale. It is the most lavish royal residence of the 19th century, with millions spent on its construction. Made entirely of marble, it surpasses all European royal palaces. Empress Eugénie stayed here during her 1869 visit, as did Czar Nicholas II of Russia and Edward VIII in 1936. Stone lionesses rest on marble carpets set in lawns, swans glide in the discreet pool, and pigeons fly to catch the fountain’s spray on their wings.

KIz Kulesi - About 180 meters from the shores of Üsküdar stands this tower, known by two names. Europeans called it Leander’s Tower, believing Leander drowned here while swimming the Bosphorus to reach his beloved Hero, a priestess of Aphrodite. However, Leander never crossed here, even in legend. The story of the Maiden’s Tower, though unverified, goes like this: Constantine built the tower to protect his daughter after a magician predicted she would be bitten by a snake. She was imprisoned and grew up there until an officer of the Imperial Palace fell in love with her and sent her a basket of peaches and figs. A snake hidden under a fig leaf bit the princess, and the officer arrived just in time to suck the poison from her arm. The tower was rebuilt during the reign of Ahmet III.

Galata Koprusu - The Galata Bridge spans the Golden Horn in Istanbul, Turkey. Since the late 19th century, the bridge has been a prominent feature in Turkish literature, theater, poetry, and novels.

Galata Tower - The Galata Tower, known as Christea Turris by the Genoese, is a medieval stone tower in the Galata/Karaköy district of Istanbul, Turkey, just north of where the Golden Horn meets the Bosphorus.