Istanbul is an important Turkish city on the Bosphorus, located at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. The old city reflects the cultural influences of numerous empires that have ruled over the city over time. Chariot races were held in the open-air Roman Hippodrome in the Sultanahmet neighborhood for several centuries. Egyptian obelisks are also still preserved. The famous Byzantine Hagia Sophia features a high 6th-century dome and rare Christian mosaics.
