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For a thousand years, Constantinople was the cultural and political heart of Europe, standing as a bulwark against the western expansion of the arabs. Today, Istanbul is a huge metropolis connecting continents, cultures and religions, and it is exactly this fusion of hellenistic and Asian influences that gives the city its unique atmosphere.

The two biggest tourist draws in Istanbul are the six-minareted Blue Mosque and the sixth-century Aya Sofya, crowned by a 100ft dome and supported by brick and marble walls. The latter was built by the emperor Justinian in 532 and was the largest church in Christendom, before being mosquified by the Ottomans. Today, it is a museum.

But perhaps the most spectacular mosque, and the one most worth seeing is Sultan Suleyman's. It is the finest, most perfectly proportioned of them all, boasting a multi-domed complex of welfare institutions, where the poor, the sick and the starving were cared for. Another attraction worth visiting is the Beylerbeyi Palace. The palace, making up a complex with the palace in the yard and the surrounding buildings, was commissioned by Sultan Abdilaziz in 1864.

The attraction most associated with Istanbul are the baths. A Turkish bath, or Hamam as it is alternatively known is one of the most relaxing experiences you will enjoy on holiday.

Having stripped and wrapped a towel around yourself, a cold and then hot halvet follow. Then is the time to be scrubbed and massaged, if you have asked for this service by the natir. Finally you take a bath with soap and proceed to the warm section at the entrance. Beware, by this point you may be in need of a recuperative lie down as a pose to a hectic day of activity. But Istanbul has enough to offer the most diverse of visitors. The city's recent economic growth and increasing prosperity has had enormous effect on the variety of its nightlife. The range of night entertainment is huge, with new venues opening by the week.

But whether you visit for a quiet break or for a week of non-stop partying, Istanbul will fill your diary for your entire stay. For more information on car hire USA, car hire Rome, car hire in Liverpool, Florida, Orlando or any of the thousands of car hire locations we offer why not have a look in our Destination Guides.