Historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople, Istanbul is a modern metropolis that lies in both Europe and Asia. Turkey’s largest and liveliest city has grown on both sides of the Bosphorus strait. Istanbul has at least two faces. The magnificent Ottoman monuments in the old part, including the Blue Mosque, the Topkapı Palace and the Grand Bazaar, provide a stark contrast to the skyscrapers in the new part of the city, which boasts all sorts of modern bars, clubs and restaurants.