The Historic Areas of Istanbul are inscribed as a UNESCO site since 1985. Due to its strategic location on the Bosphorus peninsula between the Balkans and Anatolia, Black Sea and the Mediterranean, Istanbul has been associated with major political, religious and artistic events for more than 2.000 years. Its masterpieces include the ancient Hippodrome of Constantine, the 6th. century Hagia Sophia and the 16th. century Süleymaniye Mosque.
