20. Istanbul, Not Constantinople

Well before Turkey became Turkey, this city served as the capital of the Byzantine Empire. After the empire fell in 1453, it became the capital of the Ottoman Empire for almost 500 years. Today, the city’s historic region falls on its peninsula, featuring landmarks like the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern.

Anna Berdnik on Unsplash