Istanbul (Turkish: İstanbul) - the largest and most populous city of Turkey and its cultural, commercial and financial center. It stretches on both sides of the Bosphorus strait, from the northern coast of the Sea of Marmara to the southern coast of the Black Sea. The location of the town both in European Thrace and Asian Bithynia makes it the only metropolis of the world located on two continents.
One of the largest cities in the world, the most populous city in Europe, the capital of the province (il) İstanbul. Developed industrial center, producing about ¼ of the country's production. The main financial center of Turkey, the seat of several dozen banks and the stock exchange. The seat of five universities, the oldest of which - the University of Istanbul - was founded in 1863
