Istanbul is one of the oldest cities in the world, situated on the shores of the Bosphorus straight. This straight divides, and connects the two continents of Europe and Asia, as well as joining the Black and the Marmara Sea. This historical city was once the capital of the Roman, Byzantine, and the Ottoman Empires. Istanbul still preserves the cultural, historical and artistic values of centuries past. Today Istanbul is the capital of tourism, business, and culture.